How to re-register a car

Rego transfers go paperless.

Vehicle registration. Nobody likes to pay for it, but the fines for getting caught on the road without it will soon be worth a lot more than the registration you would have agreed to. 

Driving without a license also comes at a huge expense if your car damages anyone or anyone's property, whether it was your fault or not. 

And with electronic license plate recognition now being used in every state, the chances of being caught doing the wrong thing are greatly reduced.

Registration fees were once used to maintain roads and infrastructure, but these days they are more likely to find their way into consolidated income and are used to buy more speed cameras. But no matter what, this is a price that all car owners have to pay.

One consequence of this is the transfer of vehicle registration to maintain legality. There are two main reasons for this: either you purchased a used car previously registered to someone else, or; You have moved to a new state or territory and need to change your vehicle registration number to comply with legal requirements.

In most cases, authorities offer online vehicle registration and transfer services (check out the various government requirements below), but there are exceptions. This includes:

• The vehicle is transferred between spouses or actual partners.
• Transferring a car to a family member.
• Heavy vehicles.
• Cars with personal license plates.
• Sale of property of the deceased.
• Transfer to or from a company or corporation.
• Where there is a gap in legal records.
• Cars on club licenses or other conditional registration.
• The buyer is a resident of another state or territory.

Again, different states and territories have different views on this matter, so check with the appropriate authority. Most of them offer pretty good online advice and information.

Generally speaking, transferring your registration to a new state or new owner requires filling out the appropriate form, providing proof of sale, proof of identity and residence, and payment of fees and charges.

The fees usually include a set registration transfer fee and then a stamp duty element charged according to the market value of the car. Again, most government websites have a calculator to determine this fee.

Proof of ownership is usually an invoice from the seller. But make sure it includes all vehicle information, including make and model, VIN, engine number, year, color, and the seller's full personal and license details. And, of course, the purchase price.

Some states also require a valid roadworthiness certificate when the car changes hands (this must be provided by a licensed used car dealer), and the seller is usually responsible for providing it. If this remains with the buyer, the vehicle will generally have to be sold with registration suspended and cannot be used again until the transfer is completed.

Here's how we can pass the rego manual around by state:

VIC

When you sell a registered car in Victoria, the seller has 14 days to notify VicRoads that the sale has gone through. This can be done online once the seller has created a personal account on the VicRoads website, including the relevant information including the buyer's license number. If the buyer is located outside of Victoria, this process cannot be completed online.

In Victoria, the seller also needs to provide a Roadworthiness Certificate (RWC) in order for the transfer to be completed. If the vehicle is sold without an RWC, the license plates must be transferred to VicRoads and registration is suspended until the new owner provides the RWC.

After the transaction is closed, both the seller and the buyer must complete a transfer form (which can be downloaded from the VicRoads website) and the buyer and seller must sign it. 

As a seller, you must take a photo of the completed form because the buyer is responsible for submitting the form to VicRoads to complete the transaction. You can then confirm online that the vehicle is no longer registered in your name.

NSW

NSW gives the car seller 14 days to submit an online notice (after you have logged into your MyServiceNSW account) that the car has been sold. If you spend more time than this, you may be liable for a late payment. 

As in Victoria, if the new owner is not from your state, you will need to submit a paper form rather than online. The new owner will not be able to transfer ownership until the seller submits these documents.

You then need to download the Application for Transfer of Registration, which the buyer and seller must complete and sign. 

This form can be submitted to the ServiceNSW Customer Service Center along with ID, vehicle registration documents and all associated fees including transfer fee and stamp duty. However, in many cases you will be able to do this online and pay electronically.

If you are transferring ownership of a currently registered vehicle, you do not need a new pink sheet (similar to a Victorian RWC) and the green sheet (third party insurance applicable to the vehicle) will automatically transfer to the new owner. .

QLD

Queensland has a similar arrangement with Victoria and New South Wales with an online rego transfer option available to private sellers and buyers that begins with the seller notifying the authorities within 14 days of the sale being made. 

To complete an online transaction, the merchant must obtain an electronic security certificate before the transfer can take place.

In order to make the transfer in person, you need the buyer and seller to complete the details on the vehicle registration application form and then visit the service center with identification, proof of residence and related fees and charges to be paid.

WA

While most other states give you 14 days to notify the department of vehicle registration, in Western Australia you only have seven days before you are liable for a late payment. 

From there, you can conduct the vehicle registration transfer online through your DoT Direct Online account. Or you can do it on paper by getting a copy of the vehicle transfer form, filling it out by filling out the rather loudly titled "Notice of Change of Ownership" form.

The next step is to provide the buyer with the red copy of the completed form, provide the buyer with registration documents and any other relevant documents, and mail the blue copy of the form to the Department of Transportation. It is then the buyer's responsibility to complete the process, including paying the applicable fees and charges.

SA

The transfer of a vehicle registration that has changed hands in South Australia must be completed within 14 days or a $92 late fee will be charged. 

To complete this procedure online, you will need to have a MySA GOV account and follow the instructions. Completing the online transfer requires the seller to provide the vehicle registration number, South African driver's license number and name.

You can also do this in person by visiting a Service SA customer service center with a completed registration transfer form and paying the applicable fees. 

The buyer and seller must sign this form, so you must download it prior to the actual sale. SA also has a system where the seller can mail these forms and fees for payment either by check or money order.

Tasmania

Tassie car owners can transfer ownership of the vehicle online, but this only works if the buyer and seller have a Tasmanian driver's license. Online payment is only possible with Mastercard or Visa.

In other cases, the buyer must visit the Service Tasmania storefront and provide detailed information, including your proof of entitlement (bill from the seller for the purchase), their Tasmanian license or other form of identification, and a complete transfer form signed by all operators. or intended operators (believe it or not).

NT

In the Northern Territory, the transfer of registration begins with the completion of the territory's R11 form, followed by the submission of a certificate of ownership and, if required, a roadworthiness test report. 

The list of vehicles and circumstances requiring inspection is long and complex, so check out NT.gov.au for full details.

The buyer will also be required to provide proof of identification and visit the MVR office to submit paperwork and pay fees and charges.

An alternative is to email the form and supporting documents to: [email protected] and wait for notification of receipt before you can pay the fees. You have 14 days to report a change in ownership.

ACT

The ACT requires most vehicles to be inspected before a transfer can be made. And all vehicles from out of state or not previously registered with the ACT must pass inspection at a central inspection. 

You will also need to provide proof of identity and residence, proof of ownership (invoice of sale) and the address of the garage. As in many other jurisdictions, you have 14 days to notify the authorities of a transfer of ownership before late fees apply.