Vehicle Registration in Australia – Rego Guide

In Australia, all vehicles are registered in one State or Territory. It is called ‘The Registration’ or ‘The Rego’. Regulations vary from state to state, which can make the process of buying and selling vehicles a bit complicated. Check out our complete guide below, with all the information you might need on the ‘Rego’ to help you through the process of buying or selling a vehicle in Australia.

The Rego – What is it?

Car registration in Australia is the process of registering a vehicle with the relevant authorities. This typically includes registering the vehicle with the State Highway Traffic Department, verifying the identity of the owner, verifying that the vehicle meets safety standards, and establishing the date of expiration of registration.

Thus, the rego is a document that identifies your vehicle. It is mandatory to have a current rego to drive in Australia. The rego must also be in the name of the vehicle owner, so it is necessary to transfer the rego to your name at the time of purchase.

Compulsory insurance (CTP) is included with the Rego, except in New South Wales (NSW) where it is necessary to buy it separately from an insurance company when you renew the Rego. It is called a ‘green slip’. This insurance covers all bodily injury inflicted on a third person in the event of an accident. The CTP does not cover material damage so you should buy additional insurance.

Also note that the CTP of the states of VIC, TAS, ACT and NT also cover drivers at fault. And for an accident in the NT all passengers and drivers of vehicles from any state are covered by the NT CTP.

In general it is best to buy a vehicle with a current Rego. However, sometimes a vehicle is available without Rego or with a Rego about to expire and you will have to pay the Rego at time of purchase. The owner can choose the duration of the Rego (1, 3, 6 or 12 months depending on the state).

Note: To transfer the rego to your name you must go, in person, to the state/territory of registration to present your papers (except for Western Australia (WA) which is the only state that accepts documents by mail). So the transfer will be easier if you choose to buy a vehicle registered in WA.

Car Registration – How does it work?

The rules concerning the Rego differ from one state to another. It is therefore important to learn about the legislation of the state where you want to buy a vehicle in Australia.

Some states require a mandatory technical checkup when renewing the Rego (NSW, NT) or when purchasing/selling (ACT, QLD, VIC). You must therefore be in the state at the time of the change of ownership to carry out the technical checkup. If ever you are not in the NT or NSW at the time of renewal, consult the steps to follow in the section “Buying a vehicle outside its state of registration” of this article or contact the transport center of your state for instructions.

For any purchase the seller of the vehicle must provide you with a receipt for the purchase with the following information: the make, model, colour and year of the vehicle. It must also include the plate number and the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number), as well as the date and the price of the sale and the names, addresses, and signatures of the seller and the buyer.

To transfer the rego to their name, the buyer will have to present these papers IN PERSON at the transport offices of the state of registration. The only exception is the WA which accepts the sending of papers by mail.

See below in this article for the rego rules specific to each state.

Buying or selling a vehicle in its registered state: State by state information

The process is simpler is you sell or buy a car within the state where it is already registered.

The buyer and seller both complete the transfer form. The seller will have to send their part (‘sellers copy’ or ‘notice of disposal’) to the transportation department. The buyer must present their papers IN PERSON at an office of the transportation department in in the state of registration (except for WA).

Australian Capital Territory

Here is the procedure to follow if you are in Canberra or another ACT city:

1. If the car is older than 6 years a technical inspection is required, the ‘Certificate of Inspection’. This can be done by the seller before the sale or by the buyer (maximum 14 days after purchase);

2. The seller and buyer complete the transfer form and the ‘Notice of Disposal’ together. These forms can be found on the back of the Registration Certificate or on the Access Camberra-Website.

3. The seller provides a receipt that shows: the names, addresses and signatures of the buyer and seller, the make, model, colour and year of the car. The plate number and the VIN (vehicle identification number). The date and price of the sale.

4. The seller sends the ‘Notice of Disposal’ to: Access Canberra – Road Transport Authority, PO Box 582, Dickson ACT 2602.

5. The buyer must provide in person: the “Registration Certificate” signed by the seller or the receipt of the purchase, the “Certificate of Inspection”, three proofs of identity including his passport, as well as a notification of the address in the ACT where the car will be parked.

5. The buyer pays the tax and the transfer fee.

New South Wales 

The procedure to follow in NSW:

1. The seller and the buyer together fill out the ‘Application of Transfer’ and ‘Notice of Disposal’ forms;

2. The seller delivers the Notice of Disposal to the NSW Service by postal mail or email at noticeofdisposal@service.nsw.gov.au;

3. The seller provides a receipt showing: name, address, buyer’s and seller’s signatures, date of sale, price, plate number, Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and the Registration certificate or other proof that he is the owner;

4. The buyer delivers in person to the NSW Service office: The transfer form, the receipt, two documents proving identity, an official proof of address in NSW. You can go to your bank to request a ‘Letter of Introduction’;

5. The buyer pays the tax and transfer fee.

Northern Territory 

In this territory, the procedure is:

1. The seller and buyer complete the transfer form together;

2. The seller sends the ‘Notice of Disposal’ section to the MVR (Motor Vehicle Registry) by email or mail: mvr@nt.gov.au – Department of Transport GPO Box 530 Darwin NT 0801;

3. The seller must provide and sign the ‘Registration Certificate’ or a receipt for his original purchase. The seller must provide a receipt that shows: names and adresses of the seller and buyer, the make, model, colour, the year of the car and the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). The date of the sale and the price;

4. The buyer delivers in-person to an MVR office: The form, the receipt, three documents providing proof of identity as well as proof of an address in the NT. A copy of a bank statement that shows the address in the NT should be enough;

5. The buyer pays the tax and transfer fee.

Queensland

In this state, the steps are as follows:

1. The seller must pass a technical inspection (Roadworthy) to obtain the Safety Certificate. This is valid for two months or 2000 kilometers. It is therefore necessary to be in QLD to perform this check;

2. The seller and buyer complete the “Vehicle Transfer Application Form” together;

3. The seller sends a part of the form (part B ‘Sellers Copy’) to the QLD Transport. This must include a receipt that shows the names, addresses and signatures of the buyer and seller, date of sale, price, plate number and VIN (Vehicle Identification Number); The Buyer keeps Part A of the form.

4. The buyer completes the form: “New Customer Application“. (The CRN – Customer Reference Number – will be issued when you submit the forms);

5. The buyer delivers the following in person to the QLD Transport office: The two forms, the safety certificate, the receipt for the purchase, three forms of proof of identity including a passport as well as proof of residence in QLD;

6. The buyer could also submit his identity documents and his bank statement as well as the “New Customer Application” form in person before his purchase to obtain a Customer Reference Number (CRN). With a CRN, the transfer can be done online as long as the seller has already submitted the Safety Certificate and its transfer form.

7. The buyer pays the tax and the transfer fee.

South Australia

1. The seller and buyer together complete the transfer form. This form is on the back of the registration certificate.
Note: If the seller has lost the registration certificate he can order another certificate online but first he must create an account here: https://www.sa.gov.au. Another option is to submit the MR 15 form “Application for Replacement Registration Certificate“, in person at a Service SA office.

2. The seller sends the SA Transport office the part of the form called ‘Notice of Disposal’. He must provide a receipt for the purchase, which shows: names, addresses, signatures of the buyer and seller, make, model, colour and year of the vehicle, date of sale, price, plate number, Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

3. The buyer goes to his bank to ask for an official letter (Letter of Introduction) or a copy of his statement which shows his address in SA.

4. The buyer delivers the following in-person to the SA Transport office: The transfer form, three proofs of identity including a passport with the number of your visa, proof of address in SA (in the form of an official letter of the bank which also server as proof of identity) and the receipt for the purchase;

5. The buyer pays the tax and transfer fee.

Note: A non-registered car that was previously registered in SA does not need a Vehicle Identity Inspection.

Tasmania

For this state, the formalities are as follows:

1. The seller and buyer together complete the transfer form. The form is on the back of the Registration Certificate and on the Transport Tasmania website.

2. The seller provides a receipt for purchase, which shows: names, addresses, signatures of buyer and seller, make, model, colour and year of vehicle, date of sale, price, plate number, Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

3. The seller sends the part ‘Notice of Disposal’ to: Tasmania Service by email tes@stategrowth.tas.gov.au, together with a copy of the transfer form or by post to Tasmania Service – The Registrar, Motor Vehicles, GPO BOX 1002 Hobart Tasmania 7001. The seller provides a receipt which shows: The name, address signatures of buyer and seller, date of sale, price, license plate number, Vehicle Identification Number (VIN);

4. The buyer delivers the following in person to the Tasmania Service Office: The transfer form, the receipt for the purchase, three proof of identity and proof of address in Tasmania (e.g. bank statement copy);

5. The buyer pays the tax and the transfer fee.

Victoria

If you are in the state of Victoria at the time of purchase, you must:

1. The seller must pass a roadworthiness test to obtain the VIC Roadworthy Certificate (RWC). This certificate is valid for one month;

2. The seller and the buyer complete the form together; ‘Application for Transfer of Registration’.

3. The seller provides a receipt for purchase, which shows: names, addresses, signatures of buyer and seller, make, model, color and year of vehicle, date of sale, price, plate number, Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

4. The buyer presents in the following in person at the VicRoads office: the form, the RWC, the receipt for purchase and two proofs of identity including a passport and proof of residence in Victoria (for instance a bank statement);

5. The buyer could also hand over their ID and bank statement in person before their purchase to obtain a Vicroads Customer Number. With the Customer Number the transfer is possible online as long as the seller has already submitted the Roadworthy Certificate online.

6. For the seller it is not mandatory to inform VicRoads of the sale. It is the sole responsibility of the buyer. So it may be a good idea to send a letter to Vic roads with all the details of the receipt in case the buyer does not do this.

7. The buyer pays the tax and the transfer fee.

Western Australia 

You will find many backpacker vehicles registered in WA. The main reason is that WA is the only state where paperwork does not have to be handed over in person so buying and selling is quite easy anywhere in Australia.

1. The seller and buyer complete the Transfer form together. The buyer must also complete the form ‘Proof of Identity’
Note: the buyer must enter a home address in WA. The seller must send the green part of the form (seller’s copy) to the WA Department of Transport. Buyer must fill the red section;

2. The seller must provide a receipt for purchase, which shows: names, addresses, signatures of buyer and seller, make, model, colour and year of vehicle, date of sale, price, plate number, Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

3. The buyer delivers the following to the DOT WA office in person: the 2 forms and two proofs of identity (passport and credit card). In addition, he must provide a home / garaging address in WA and a proof of address in WA (a copy of a bank statement with an address in WA);

4. The buyer pays tax and a transfer fee

Note: If you want to buy a vehicle from WA from another state see the ‘special case’ part in the next section.

Buying a car without a Rego

Two problems can arise when purchasing a car without Rego:

1. It is illegal to move the vehicle. Unless the buyer buys an Unregistered Vehicle Permit (or in the QLD simply the compulsory insurance) and moves it straight to a garage. Without a valid Rego the vehicle is not insured for damages caused to third parties. If you get into a accident the financial and legal consequences could be enormous. Another option is to hire a mobile mechanic who will come to the owner’s home and do the technical checkup on the spot.
   
2. You have to pass a technical inspection to get a Roadworthy certificate and register the car (except in SA) and this comes with the risks of expensive repairs. If possible insist that the person selling you the car obtains this certificate before you buy the vehicle.

To purchase a car without Rego it is necessary to follow the same steps as for buying a car from outside the state of registration. Except that, obviously, the seller will not have to go to the transportation department to bring back the licence plates.

Be aware that a vehicle inspection will be mandatory (except in SA) to register the car if the rego has expired for more than 3 months (TAS, WA, NSW) or more than 12 months in the NT. Of course an inspection is also mandatory for vehicles from the VIC, QLD and ACT.

Buying a vehicle from outside its registration state

If you buy a vehicle outside its state of registration, you have 14 days to go to the state of registration to make the transfer, otherwise you will have to change the plate.

For changing the plate: insist that the seller pass a technical control to obtain the RWC of this state (or Vehicle ID Check in SA) (it is compulsory in the VIC and in the QLD). Otherwise you will have to do it after your purchase. The seller must also provide you with a formal receipt.

Note that for vehicles from Victoria and Queensland, changing the plate is mandatory at the time of purchase and it is not possible to cross the border to keep the same plate. In this case, the seller must remove the plates from QLD or VIC at the time of the sale and you can take the plates from the new state of registration.

• In the ACT if the car is less than 10 years old, a Vehicle ID Check is also mandatory.
• In NSW you must buy the compulsory insurance (CTP – Green Slip) from an approved insurance company before the transfer of ownership.
• In the VIC, you have to make an appointment in advance at Vicroads to make the transfer.
• The Vehicle ID Check in SA is done at the inspection station at Regency Park Aéelaïde or at Mt Gambier. If you have an address more than 40km from an inspection station, the Vehicle ID Check is done at a police station.

You must insist that the seller provide proof of ownership (normally the Registration Certificate) as well as a formal receipt that shows: vehicle make, model, color and year, plate number, VIN (vehicle identification number) , the date, price as well as the names, addresses and signatures of the seller and the buyer.

Then you will have to go to the transport department to submit the registration form, (in the QLD – New Customer Application), your proof of identity (passport and bank statement linked to an address in this state/territory). The Transportation Department will give you a receipt for the plates.

💡 A specific case: Western Australia

WA is an exception. This is the only state that accepts transfer papers via mail, so it is possible to buy a vehicle from WA anywhere in Australia without changing the plate and without a RWC.

Transfer forms must be completed with the seller. On the form you must put a residential and garage address in WA. You must also tick ‘YES’ to the question: Will this vehicle be kept primarily in WA?
You send the Purchaser’s Copy of the form to DOT WA within 14 days with the “Proof of Identity” form as well as the certified copies of your passport and your bank card.
About 2 weeks later the invoice for the transfer will arrive on the DOT WA site. They also send it to the mailing address you put on the form. You can pay that bill online.
If you want to change the plate, the seller must remove the plates and hand them over to the transportation department at the time of sale. An RWC will also be mandatory. (Vehicle ID Check in SA).

Selling a vehicle outside its state of registration

To sell a vehicle outside its state of registration, there are two options:

Option 1: Sale without plate change and with the RWC of the state where you are going to sell it.

In principle, it is possible to sell a vehicle from any state (except Victoria and Queensland), outside of its state of registration by simply completing the transfer form with the buyer. However, in reality, it is difficult to find a buyer without a Roadworthy Certificate (RWC) from the state where you are going to sell it because the buyer will have to change the rego themselves.

So, you have to pass an inspection to have an RWC and give it to the buyer, along with the transfer form and a formal receipt (keep a copy). After the sale, the Notice of Disposal/Seller’s Copy must be sent to the Department of Transportation in the state of registration.

If there are days left on your rego and you want a refund for these, you must accompany the buyer to the transport department to return the plates. They will give you a receipt for the plates that you send with the reimbursement form to the transportation department of the old state of registration. Note that for a vehicle from NSW or ACT it is the buyer who takes the reimbursement for the remaining days of rego.

South Australia

In South Australia, there is no RWC but rather a Vehicle ID Check which is done at the Inspection Station at Regency Park, Adelaide or Mt Gambier. If you live more than 40km from an inspection station, the Vehicle ID check can be done at a police station.

If there are days left on your rego and you want a refund for these, you must accompany the buyer to the transport department to return the plates. They will give you a receipt for the plates that you send with the reimbursement form to the transportation department of the old state of registration.

Victoria and Queensland

It is not possible to leave the VIC or QLD plates on the vehicle at the time of resale. You must therefore accompany the buyer to return the plates, even if you are not going to ask for a refund. Also, selling without RWC from the state you are in is not an option unless the rego is canceled.

Western Australia

WA is an exception. This is the only state that accepts transfer papers in the mail. So if the buyer is a backpacker (non-resident), it is possible to sell a WA vehicle anywhere in Australia by completing the transfer form with the buyer. It is not necessary to provide an RWC or change the plates.

Note that on the form the buyer must put a residential address in WA and must tick ‘YES’ to the question “Will this vehicle be kept primarily in WA?” “. Send the ‘Seller’s Copy’ of the transfer form to DOT WA in 7 days.

Also note: if the buyer is an Australian resident or the buyer wants to change the plate, it is mandatory to accompany the buyer and hand over the plates at the time of transfer. In this case it is likely that the buyer will require the RWC.

NOTE: If the buyer is willing to go to the state of registry in 14 days to make the transfer, the RWC is not required and you can follow the procedure as if you were in the state of registry .
For example, often buyers of NSW cars in Melbourne or Brisbane go to NSW to make the transfer because the border is not far.
Often buyers of SA cars in Melbourne are ready to go to Mt Gambier to make the transfer.
However, unfortunately this option is not available for cars from Victoria or Queensland.

Option 2: Changing the rego before resale

If you change the rego to the state where you are going to sell the vehicle, it will be easier to find a buyer. Of course, this is not necessarily the case for a WA state vehicle.

The procedure here is a little more complicated, and you will have to pay the new rego. However, you can request a refund for the remaining days of the rego.

Changing the rego is much cheaper in the NT where the minimum rego is 1 month. In the VIC, TAS, ACT, WA and SA, the minimum is 3 months. In the QLD, 6 months. In NSW, it is quite an expensive strategy because you have to pay 12 months of rego to change the plates.

You must submit a registration form, your proof of identity including your passport and a copy of your bank statement linked to an address in the state in which you are going to change the rego.

Once you change the rego, you then follow the procedure for selling a vehicle in its state of registration.

In all states, except SA and VIC, you must pass the RWC to change the plate.

South Australia

In SA, a Vehicle ID check is not necessary if you have your Registration Certificate from another state. Otherwise, a Vehicle ID Check is mandatory at the Inspection Station in Regency Park, Adelaide or Mt Gambier. If you have an address more than 40km from a station, the Vehicle ID check is done at a police station.

Victoria
In Victoria, the RWC is not required to change the plate if you have your current Registration Certificate but the RWC will still be required for resale.

💡 Refund of remaining Rego days

The transportation department will give you a receipt for the plates. If you want to request a refund for the remaining days of the rego, you must send this receipt along with the reimbursement form to the Department of Transportation in the current state of registration.

For NSW cars, it is prudent to contact the company that covers the Green Slip (compulsory insurance) to request the procedure for a refund. Normally the Green Slip is worth more than the rego.

Rego Renewal

You will be able to renew the rego of all states by internet, telephone or in person. To pay online: in NSW, ACT and WA all you need is the plate number. In Tasmania and NT you also need the transaction / payment number, which can be found on the Renewal Notice. For the states of VIC and QLD the customer number is mandatory and in SA the customer number or billing number is required. In addition, if at the time of the transfer you open a myVicRoads or mysaGOV account it is possible to renew the rego with your account. Otherwise you have the option of paying by phone or in person.

For cars from NSW (over 5 years old) or NT (from 5 years old) a technical check is required to renew the rego. Usually, the technical control must be done in the state that requires it. For NSW and the NT, the technical inspection is required annually. So if the former owner has passed a technical inspection six months ago and it was renewed it is not necessary to renew it for six months.

NB: For NT vehicles, if you are not on the territory and an inspection is mandatory for renewal. NT will accept out-of-state RWC but MVR in Darwin should be contacted for information on how to proceed. For NSW vehicles, if you are not in the state, be aware that there is a procedure by email and telephone where NSW accepts RWCs from other states but the procedure is quite complicated and can’t be done online.

Rego state by state table in Australia

Find a summary of the rules for each state here:

LPG vehicles

For an ACT or TAS LPG vehicle, a gas inspection is required from an accredited gas company.

Article by Tom Kimmet (Rego expert) – Updated 9/7/23