Buying your first car in Tasmania? Start with these five dealerships

A first car has a tight brief: affordable, reliable, easy to park, cheap to insure and, ideally, bought from someone who'll still answer the phone after the sale. The right dealership matters as much as the right car, because a first-time buyer is the person least likely to spot what's missing.

We picked five Tasmanian dealerships from our researched profiles whose stock and services suit first-car buyers, spread across Hobart, Launceston and the north-west.

01

The small yard that isn't in a hurry

North Hobart Motor Co. · North Hobart, Tasmania

North Hobart Motor Co. is an independent, family-owned yard on Elizabeth Street. Its stock leans towards four-cylinder automatics, compact SUVs, sedans and wagons at lower and mid-range prices, which is exactly the first-car sweet spot.

It's a smaller inventory than Tasmania's big multi-franchise sites, which some first-time buyers find less overwhelming. Warranty varies by vehicle, so ask about each car, and finance and trade-ins are available.

North Hobart Motor Co.Read the full CDR profile →

02

The budget specialist in Launceston

Cheap Cars Tasmania · Esplanade, Tasmania

Cheap Cars Tasmania, on the corner of Tamar Street and The Esplanade in Launceston, is upfront about its focus: affordable used cars rather than late-model premium stock, particularly hatches, sedans and smaller SUVs.

That makes it a natural first stop for students and commuters on a strict budget. At this end of the market, look hard at service history, age, kilometres and condition for every car.

Cheap Cars TasmaniaRead the full CDR profile →

03

For a first car that's actually new

Jackson Suzuki Launceston · Launceston, Tasmania

If the budget stretches to new or demonstrator, Jackson Suzuki Launceston's range is built around small, efficient cars: Swift and Fronx for town, Vitara and S-Cross for more space, and the Jimny for a first car with character.

Finance, trade-ins, servicing and parts are all handled through the dealership, and the wider JMC Launceston network gives you used alternatives to compare.

Jackson Suzuki LauncestonRead the full CDR profile →

04

The north-west option on the Bass Highway

Economy Cars Burnie · Cooee, Tasmania

Economy Cars Burnie at Cooee is one of three branches of Tasmania Economy Cars, with a mix of compact cars, SUVs, wagons and lower-priced used vehicles, plus finance and trade-in support.

Because the network spans Burnie, Launceston and Hobart, check which branch holds the car you want before you travel.

Economy Cars BurnieRead the full CDR profile →

05

For warranty-minded first new-car buyers

Chery Hobart · Hobart, Tasmania

Chery Hobart on Brisbane Street sells compact and family SUVs in petrol, hybrid and electric form, with warranty, roadside assistance and capped-price servicing promoted alongside finance and trade-ins.

For a first new car, that ownership support can matter as much as the price. Compare resale expectations and running costs alongside the sticker.

Chery HobartRead the full CDR profile →

First-car checklist

• In Tasmania, the statutory warranty covers cars under 7 years old and under 120,000 km, for 3 months or 3,000 km.
• Tasmania has no statutory cooling-off period, so read the contract before paying a deposit.
• Run a $2 PPSR check on any used car.