Students prepared to buy first car

Senior students from the Woy Woy Campus of the Brisbane Water Secondary College are now better prepared to face the pitfalls, problems and potential rip-offs when they go to buy their first car, according to Fair Trading Minister Ms Diane Beamer.

Ms Beamer and Member for Peats Ms Marie Andrews visisted the school recently to get a first hand look at a program that is "helping students become fully informed car buyers".

Ms Beamer was visiting the Peninsula in the lead0up to the NSW Regional Cabinet meeting at Everglades Country Club, Woy Woy, on Tuesday, September 12.

"Buying a car is a big step for young people but unless they do their homework, they can end up losing a lot of money," Ms Beamer said.

"That's why experts from Fair Trading have developed the Revved Up program.

"Revved Up gives students hands-on experience at checking the mechanical condition and registration details of used cars.

"Students also get advice on buying a car privately, at auction or through a licensed dealer, as well as all the pitfalls and options in financing their purchase.

"Fair Trading resolves or mediates thousands of disputes each year involving consumers who believe they have not received a fair deal when buying motor vehicles."

Ms Andrews said students came away with a clear and simple message from the program.

"When it comes to buying your first car or any vehicle, don't let you're heart rule your head," Ms Andrews said.

"The program also emphasized the importance of doing a REVS check before buying a vehicle to avoid any embarrassing and costly repossessions."

The Register of Encumbered Vehicles (REVS) handles 1.5 million enquiries a year, holds details of more than 2.6 million financial encumbrances on vehicles and boats and also holds information on nearly 200,000 vehicles and boats which have been reported stolen or written off.

Press release, September 11 Dianne Beamer, Minister for Fair Trading