People attempting to pay their vehicle registration fees find themselves faced with complicated processes and financial jargon that can be very confusing.
Australia has no federal guidelines for vehicle registration, which means local governments do everything on a state-by-state basis. You need to investigate the laws in your region to find how much you will pay in licence fees and registration costs.
This ultimate guide is here to help you figure out how much car registration costs in your local area. Check out the sections below to learn more.
How Much Is Car Rego Typically?
Car registration costs vary enormously from state to state. In some states, the onus is on you to hunt for the best deal, whereas in others, the overall registration fee includes compulsory third-party insurance (CTP), also known as a green slip. Notably, CTP differs from Third-Party Property Damage (TPPD), which covers damage you make to other people's cars or property. Both are essential types of insurance, but only CTP is necessary for registration.
The fact that each state operates differently makes it difficult to directly compare registration prices in each state. Some demand extra costs such as a traffic improvement fee or plate fee, and others segregate registration costs based on vehicle type.
While some states require different costs based on the number of cylinders a car has, others separate fees based on the area of the state where the car is garaged.
Overall, the cost of registering your vehicle in Australia can vary from a few hundred dollars to over a thousand per year. Notably, plenty of states offer discounts for concession card holders. Most states offer annual vehicle registration, but some also offer three-month and six-month terms.
1. Queensland
The Sunshine State includes registration fees, CTP insurance, and a traffic improvement fee in one lump sum. The traffic improvement fee contributes to improving roads in the area and maintaining the road network.
However, the process of finding your bracket is relatively straightforward: the registration fee depends on the number of cylinders on the car in question.
Electric vehicles (EVs) and steam-powered cars are charged at the same rate as a car with 1-3 cylinders. Meanwhile, heavy vehicle fees depend on the number of axles.
You can register a vehicle for a 6-month period or up to a year. The charges for a 12-month period are as follows (as of 1 July 2022):
- EVs, steam-powered vehicles or cars with 1-3 cylinders: $699.05
- Cars with 4 cylinders: $773.55
- Cars with 5-6 cylinders: $976.95
- Cars with 7-8 cylinders: $1,198.05
- Cars with 9-12 cylinders: $1,331.65
- Motorcycles: $573.15
Heavy vehicles, meanwhile, cost between $561.95 and $878.25. A certificate for a caravan or a motorcycle also has different rates.
Read more about registration fees in Queensland here.
2. New South Wales
New South Wales charges an annual registration fee of $70, then adds extra charges based on the car you register.
Light vehicles (weighing under 3.5 tonnes) require Motor Vehicle Tax in accordance with their mass, with those used for business purposes also attracting a higher rate. For example, a Toyota Camry weighs 1.5 tonnes. Fees for personal use are $486 annually, but for business use, the same car costs $756 annually.
For business cars over 3.5 tonnes, an additional $282 fee is added to the cost.
Insurance is deregulated in NSW, which means the individual driver has to apply for Compulsory Third Party insurance. Before registering your vehicle, you need to acquire CTP insurance from one of the state's approved providers. This adds to the overall cost of vehicle registration.
Please note that an inspection is required to register all vehicles over 5 years of age. The inspection must be performed in the registered state (i.e. NSW). In some cases, it's possible to renew via telephone (not online), but the process is quite complicated.
Read more about the NSW registration process here.
3. Victoria
VicRoads, the state department for transport, lumps together registration fees, CTP insurance, and a number plate fee. The garden state therefore makes the process of acquiring registration much easier.
Vehicle registration fees vary depending on where you live, with a risk assessment determining the total amount.
For a sedan, station wagon, hatch, or 4WD, the fees are:
- Melbourne Metropolitan Area (High-Risk Zone): $864.40
- Outer Metropolitan Area (Medium Risk Zone): $808.30
- Rural Areas (Low Risk Zone): $742.30
Alongside these fees for new registrations, you must pay motor vehicle duty and a number plate fee.
These registration fees differ if you have a goods-carrying vehicle, with costs varying from $602.60 to $865.50. Caravans, meanwhile, have a flat fee of $62.40.
There are also discounts for concession card holders.
Find out more about VicRoads' process here.
4. South Australia
Registration fees in South Australia are quite complex. On the government website, you must enter details about your car before finding out how much you will pay. Before beginning, you will need to pay the CTP insurance fee and obtain a green slip from a provider of your choice.
There are four state-approved providers, and the prices are pretty similar whichever one you go with.
Vehicle registration fees vary depending on the type of vehicle you drive, with light vehicles costing less than trailers and heavy vehicles. To make matters more complicated, the district you live in separates the fees even further.
As an estimate, a four-cylinder car garaged in District One (the highest risk), costs around $650 annually, but the same car would cost just under $530 if garaged in District Two.
For each vehicle type, you also need to pay stamp duty before you can register.
Find out more about South Australia's registration system here.
5. Western Australia
In Western Australia, you will need to know the vehicle's kerb mass (weight) to determine its registration fee. Notably, WA refers to car registration fees as the "car licence fees".
Instead of CTP, WA charges a Motor Injury Insurance (MII) Charge, which costs between $468.70 and $436.00 for personal use vehicles. The fee is $316.60 for motorcycles and anywhere up to $2,252.95 for charter and hire vehicles.
Car licence fees themselves begin with administration fees of at least $10.30. Transfer fees, meanwhile, cost $19.40.
Then, the registration fee depends on gross vehicle mass (GVM) going up to 4.5 tonnes for light vehicles. The WA government charges per 100kg, so there is some maths involved.
To calculate your total registration fees, divide the total weight of your vehicle by 100, then multiply that number by the fee per 100kg. Add on the flat fee, administration cost, and MII charge.
For example, a standard motor vehicle like a Toyota Camry costs $368.40, plus the standard MII of $442. In total, you are looking at around $810, not including administration costs. Meanwhile, the registration fee for a lightweight vehicle like a Suzuki Swift is around $202.12.
You can also register your car for a 3-month or 6-month period, but a 12-month registration offers a small discount.
Read more about the way WA breaks down its fees here.
6. Tasmania
Tasmania, like Queensland, also bases registration costs on the number of cylinders in the car. On the Apple Isle, CTP insurance is replaced by the Motor Accident Insurance Board fee, which costs $314 for a normal car with a private owner.
The light vehicle registration fees (for cars with a gross vehicle mass of up to 3 tonnes) as of 1 December 2022 are:
- 3 cylinder: $578.57
- 4 cylinder: $599.57
- 5-6 cylinder: $636.57
- 7-8 cylinder: $705.57
- 12 cylinder: $736.57
These prices include number plate fees, and are cheaper if you already have a registered number plate. There are also plenty of concessions available.
Heavy vehicle fees are much more expensive, and there is also a special interest vehicle fee for those under the axle limit.
The third number to add to the total amount is Tasmania Motor Tax, which ranges from $115 to $388 depending on your vehicle.
Learn more about the licence fees in Tasmania here.
7. Australian Capital Territory
The ACT process is complex, and again, it's difficult to find out how much your car's registration fee will be until you have entered all your details.
Simplified, you will need to pay:
- CTP insurance
- CTP regulatory component
- A road rescue fee
- Road-safety contribution
- The actual registration fee
The average cost for a regular family car is around $1140 per year. Plus, to obtain a certificate, you also need an inspection if the car is older than 6 years.
The Access Canberra website has more information.
8. Northern Territory
Things are slightly complicated in the Northern Territory. Not only is the registration fee based on the number of cylinders in your car, but also the size of the engine.
Drivers can pay for one month, three months, six months, or a year. On a 12-month basis, the registration cost starts at $649.30 for a motor vehicle with less than four cylinders and an engine size of 0001-0500 cc. At the other end of the scale for light vehicles is a car with more than four cylinders and an engine size of 7001-8000 cc, costing $1305.30.
So, a Holden Commodore with a V8 engine (5700cc) costs roughly $1,198.30.
Aside from the registration costs, you must also pay:
- Insurance fee
- Admin fee
- Number plate fee
Plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) are subject to concessions as of 1 July 2022, which provides incentives to switch to an EV.
The government website has a full breakdown of the fee brackets.
Are There Other Fees I Should Know About?
Most states require you to pay stamp duty on a new car, which typically costs between 2-4% of the purchase price. Most also require number plate registration fees, too, especially if you want a set of personalised number plates.
Transfer fees are common if you move states, change cars, etc. All of these factors can push up the registration cost, making the costs of running your motor vehicle pretty expensive.
Another factor to consider is obtaining a roadworthy certificate (also called a pink or blue slip). In some localities, you need to obtain a new certificate every 12 months before you can renew your registration certificate. For this, there could be an inspection fee.
Cars may also need to be inspected if they have been imported from overseas, recently damaged, or left out of registration for too long.
Final Thoughts: How to Register Your Car
For each state or territory, you will need to go through the relevant process listed on the government website. Use the links above to find out what you need to do. Remember, for localities where the compulsory third-party fee is separate, you need to obtain a green slip before you register your vehicle.
At the end of the day, car registration costs are unavoidable expenses you need to run a car. Make sure you budget accordingly and keep your papers in order in case you need them for certification purposes.
FAQs
How Long Can I Drive in Another State without Registering?
If you move address, there is a deadline to fill out a transfer form and pay the relevant fees and registration costs. Most states view cars garaged in their state as falling under their authority, which means you need to register the car sooner rather than later. The exact time period varies; Queensland and NSW have a deadline of 14 days, while Western Australia allows up to 3 months.
Can I Get Free Vehicle Registration?
Some individuals are eligible for a free year of vehicle registration. For example, in NSW, toll relief is available for those who have spent more than $1462 on tolls in the previous financial year. You can also obtain half-price registration if you have spent more than $877 in the previous financial year.
How Do I Know if My Vehicle Is Registered?
Some local government websites provide a service for you to check if your vehicle is already registered and when it last had a roadworthy check. You can also obtain a car history check to find out everything you need to know about your motor vehicle, using either the rego or the VIN number.
Do I Need an Australian Licence to Register a Car?
Technically, you can register a vehicle without an Australian licence, or without a driving licence at all. However, you will need to fill out extra forms. For example, in New South Wales, you can apply for registration as long as you have a customer account on the government website.
What Does Rego Cover in Australia?
Car rego fees, or registration, goes into a government fund used to pay for transport services, road maintenance, and more. CTP insurance, often included in rego, covers damage and injury in case of a motor accident, which is why it is part of a compulsory fee.
