Before you start kicking tyres or looking under the hood, there are some broader questions you might need to ask yourself. Do you want a new or used car? What safety features are important to you? Our general guide to cars will answer these questions and more, steering you carefully through the first part of this important – and potentially expensive – journey.
General
General car news
CHOICE helps you find your way through all you need to know about cars, to keep you on track for a happy and safe purchase.
Buying guides
How to get the best roadside assistance plan for you
Should you get cheap roadside assistance, get it with your car insurance, or sign up to a motoring club like NRMA, RACV or RACQ?
How to buy the best car for your budget and needs
Deciding between a used or new car? Here are the pros and cons of each.
A guide to rideshare and taxi apps: Uber, Ola, Ingogo and more
Are ridesharing services better than traditional taxis?
Articles
UberX vs taxi – which is best?
We trial UberX and taxi services to find out which performs best on price and reliability.
Lemon cars and the law
Are Australians protected well enough by consumer law when it comes to dud cars?
Car share services
Should you jump on the car-sharing bandwagon?
The best apps for finding cheap fuel
These handy browsers for nearby bowsers can help you save money on petrol.
Caravan industry says Aussie caravans are 'best in class', despite complaints
Ongoing reports suggest major faults and failures, but the caravan industry stands by its products.
Faulty caravans issue not going away
With caravan owners continuing to come forward to report serious faults, the ACCC has launched a survey to find out more.
Still paying too much at the petrol pump?
Prices have tumbled on the back of the drop in global oil prices, but they should have come down even further.
Car companies reject refund policy: Ford, Hyundai, Nissan and more
"You get better treatment with a $40 toaster than a $40k car."
Taxi vs rideshare: what do Australians prefer?
We asked more than 3000 people about their experiences using taxis and rideshare services.
The most complained-about car brands in NSW
Ford, Hyundai and Volkswagen are streets behind when it comes to customer care.
Takata airbag recall: what you need to know
Thousands of cars still listed as critical
Lemon caravans and the law
The fast-growing caravan industry seems to be making up its own rules.
What to do if your car needs towing after an accident
Don't get taken for a ride by dodgy towing companies and tow trucks.
Mandatory recall of Takata airbags announced
Nine car makers forced to recall cars, pushing the tally to 25 manufacturers replacing faulty airbags.
First Takata class action lawsuit filed against Toyota
Seven car makers will face court cases for their handling of the Takata airbag recall.
Dangerous Takata alpha airbags found in popular Mazda cars
The carmaker comes clean on alpha airbags.
Airbags that kill: Australia stalls on Takata airbag recall
With over a million defective models yet to be replaced, will Australia's first fatality be its last?
Eleven car makers reveal their models caught in the Takata airbag recall
They will recall 1.3 million cars, pushing the total cars recalled to 4 million.
'Fixed' dieselgate VWs are burning more fuel, test finds
Real-world pollution levels still exceed Australian standards.
Record petrol margins costing drivers $750m a year
The ACCC is rallying drivers to shop around so they're not slogged at the petrol bowser.
GoGet hacked, waits 6 months to inform customers
Number of accounts affected still being determined.
ACCC takes Australia's largest caravan maker to Federal Court
Jayco denied rights over major failures, ACCC claims.
Fatalities prompt quad bike investigation
Government bodies band together.
We're spending thousands more on fuel, real world tests reveal
Some cars use up to 59% more fuel than what's stated in the paperwork.
Dyson has been secretly working on an electric car
It's in the early stages of development with a scheduled launch in 2020.
Car safety features
Not all cars are made equal and the safety features are an important consideration.
Volkswagen ordered to notify Australians of 'dieselgate' class action
Corporate websites and Facebook pages to clarify owner rights.
Car makers gouge drivers on repair costs: ACCC
The industry hoards valuable information from independent mechanics to keep profits thick.
'Deeply concerning' car industry leads to ACCC push for refund rights
Widespread use of non-disclosure agreements are among the findings that have left the ACCC concerned.
Audi taken to court for using defeat devices
Popular diesel models including the Audi A1, A3, A4 and TT are affected.
Emissions tampering: no comment from Jeep Australia on Grand Cherokees
17 Jan 2017 | Fuel discrepancies greater than 50%, finds a CHOICE published review.
Uber update enables location tracking
7 December 2016 | An update to Uber's app is sparking privacy concerns.
ACCC action for unhappy Jeep, Fiat owners
14 September 2015 | Consumer watchdog addresses numerous complaints about poor customer service.
ACT to legalise ridesharing services
30 September 2015 | Ridesharing services such as UberX will be legal in the ACT as of 30 October.
Car makers like VW should come clean on fuel efficiency
The Volkswagen emissions scandal is just one symptom of a flawed system.
GoCar launches as competitor to UberX
A new ridesharing service, GoCar, has launched in Sydney as a competitor to UberX.
More cars failing emissions test
20 January 2016 | Testing reveals dozens of vehicle models fail to meet pollution standards.
Car rear visibility ratings
How well can you see out the back of your car?
Toyota recalls 98,000 RAV4 SUVs across Australia
19 February 2016 | Seatbelt flaw affects more than 2.9 million vehicles worldwide.
NSW government to legalise Uber?
Controversial ride-sharing services could be allowed under new laws: reports.
UberX legalised in NSW
The NSW government has given the green light to ridesharing services such as UberX.
Volkswagen denies breaking the law
18 December 2015 | German carmaker doesn't agree it used illegal defeat devices in Australian cars.
VW scandal widens
5 November 2015 | Volkswagen admits over 800,000 more cars are affected.
VW recalls cars due to mechanical problems
Mechanical issues cost customers thousands and potentially put lives at risk.
Related
Cars and accessories
Expert advice on cars, car accessories, maintenance, fuels, tyres, safety, GPS and more.
Bike accessories
CHOICE helps you find all the bells and whistles for your bike...well, the bells, anyway!
