En bref
- Check your contract's delivery clause first: Queensland's Fair Trading office suggests one that cancels the sale and refunds the deposit if a set date is missed.[1]
- A business must not take payment if it knows it can't supply within the promised or a reasonable time, and must keep you informed about delays.[3]
- Keep your trade-in until the new car is ready if the dealer agrees; otherwise you're carless for the whole delay.
- Unresolved disputes with a licensed dealer can go to the Fair Trading office and then QCAT (up to $100,000).[1]
- Renting by the week bridges an open-ended wait. At Rentzy: Each car has its own minimum rental, shown with the car (at the moment 8 weeks for every car).
Your new car is late: what should you do first?
- Read the delivery clause in your contract. Find the date, and whether it says what happens if it's missed.
- Ask the dealer in writing for a new date, the reason for the delay, and whether a loan car is available. A written answer is what you'll rely on later.
- Hold on to your current car if you can. If it's a trade-in, ask whether you can keep driving it until the new one is ready.
- Arrange transport for a period you can extend, rather than guessing the delivery date.
The ACCC says a business that knows of a delay outside its control should give clear, accurate information about likely timing and the solutions it will offer, and keep customers updated after the sale.[3] Asking in writing puts that on the record.
What does your sale contract say about delivery?
A new-car contract is legally binding as soon as you sign, and there's no cooling-off period on a new vehicle.[1][2] Queensland's Office of Fair Trading (OFT) tells buyers to make sure the contract shows a specific delivery date and any trade-in amount, and never to sign one with blanks.[1]
The OFT also suggests writing special conditions into the contract. Its sample delivery clause reads: "(car details including colour and build date) is to be delivered by (date) otherwise the contract will be cancelled and deposit refunded."[1] If your contract has a clause like that and the date has passed, you have a clear choice: cancel and get the deposit back, or agree in writing to a new date.
If it only gives an estimate, your position is weaker, so negotiate. On deposits, the OFT's advice is to pay only the minimum the dealer will accept, check that it's refundable and get a receipt for every payment.[1] The dealer must also tell you every mandatory cost of the purchase, such as vehicle registration duty and dealer delivery charges.[2] If a later quote adds a charge that wasn't disclosed, question it before you agree to the new date.
What are your rights if the delay drags on?
Under consumer law, a business must not take payment if it knows, or should know, that it can't supply by the promised date or within a reasonable time.[3] Where a delay is genuinely outside its control, the ACCC says to give the business a chance to offer a solution, such as a refund or a replacement.[3] When a third party prevents supply, the consumer guarantees don't require a refund, and your rights then generally depend on the contract's terms,[3] which is why the delivery clause matters so much.
If you can't agree, the OFT sets out the steps: talk to the dealer, then write to the manager stating the problem and the fix you want; if the dealer is a member of the Motor Trades Association of Queensland you can complain there; then make a complaint to the OFT; and finally lodge a claim with the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT), which hears motor vehicle disputes up to $100,000.[1]
Should you hand over your trade-in before the new car arrives?
Not if you can avoid it. The contract should show the trade-in amount,[1][2] but it usually can't promise when the new car will come, and once the old car is gone you're without one for as long as the delay lasts.
- Ask to keep the trade-in until handover. The dealer will want it in the condition and kilometres it was valued at, so agree in writing on how many kilometres you can add.
- If you're selling privately instead, time the sale for when the new car has a confirmed date. Selling takes its own steps, such as a safety certificate; see selling your car before you leave Queensland for the paperwork.
- If finance depends on the new car, check whether a delay affects your approval; the OFT suggests making a contract subject to finance where you need it.[1]
How do you get around while you wait?
| Option | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Dealer loan car | Short delays, if offered | Usually limited and not guaranteed; get the terms in writing |
| Keep the trade-in | Any length of delay | Extra kilometres and wear can reduce the trade-in value |
| Public transport, taxis | A week or two, near the city | Hard for shift work, school runs or outer suburbs |
| Weekly or monthly rental | Several weeks to months, unknown end date | The minimum period, kilometres and how to extend |
For a delay measured in months, what you pay to rent and what to ask any provider are in long-term car rental in Brisbane. If buying a cheaper used car to bridge the gap is tempting, the cost of owning a car in Brisbane shows the fixed costs you'd take on.
When the car finally arrives
Before you drive away, the OFT suggests checking for paint damage and interior marks, that every extra you ordered is fitted, and that the build date matches what the dealer told you.[1] TMR adds that the build date shows the car's true age, which affects resale value, so it's worth checking after a long wait.[2] A new car comes with consumer guarantees as well as the manufacturer's warranty.[1]
Then book the return of any hire car for the day after delivery, not the day itself, in case the handover slips again.
Sources
- Queensland Government (qld.gov.au) — Office of Fair Trading: Buying a new car (consulté le 5 novembre 2026)
- Queensland Government (qld.gov.au) — Department of Transport and Main Roads: Buying a new vehicle (consulté le 5 novembre 2026)
- Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC): Not receiving products or services that are paid for (consulté le 5 novembre 2026)
Rédigé par Équipe Rentzy (Rentzy Car Rentals). Les prix, frais et règles Rentzy de ce guide proviennent de nos conditions publiées et sont mis à jour avec elles ; les règles fixées par d'autres (routes, péages, permis, transports) proviennent des pages officielles ci-dessus, telles que consultées aux dates indiquées. Une information n'est plus à jour ? Signalez-le-nous.
