23 October 2009

Canberra's car registration - the most expensive in Australia?

| deezagood
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I just received this year’s rego bill; a whopping $853.00, which includes rego of $405.30 and Compulsory Third Party Insurance of $448.60. The fees seem to have increased by about $80.00 per year over the past few years. Ouch. A quick scan of other State’s regos confirms that the ACT is, indeed, paying the highest premiums … do other Rioters find this acceptable?

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I agree since I have to pay nearly double the amount for the same car I used to pay for the rego in VIC. But this is not for the rego only. In VIC you can have a learner’s permit by passing the knowledge test for about $30 and then the permit valid for 10 years cost about $28. In the ACT you have to attend a 2 days road ready course (of no use) for about $150. Not only that if you are late for 10 minutes in any of the day, they will not allow you to enter the class and you need to pay the fee and book the course again. Then the learner’s permit valid for about 2 years will cost you another $30. SO in total you have to spend $180 for the permit while you can get it for $58 in VIC.

bigred said :

My understanding of why the CTP premiums are higher in the ACT is that the ACT scheme is far more generous in case of an injury being incurred, ie the same injury would attract less compensation in other places. Hence, the NRMA is the only provider because the others are more than a bit frightened of big payouts. Sure we grizzle about the premiums, but think about the larger safety net if injured.

Red’s on the money. ACT is ‘open’ to other insurers but none are at all keen it seems.

And unlike, for eg Victoria – where injurered parties end up in the hands of a Centrelink-like gestapo (the TAC, I think), with capped payments and no access to normal common law rights to seek compensation for damages, ACT drivers avoid those pitfalls, but have to pay for it.

My understanding of why the CTP premiums are higher in the ACT is that the ACT scheme is far more generous in case of an injury being incurred, ie the same injury would attract less compensation in other places. Hence, the NRMA is the only provider because the others are more than a bit frightened of big payouts. Sure we grizzle about the premiums, but think about the larger safety net if injured.

Wanon time to put the pipe away.

What drugs are you guys on? My partner recently registered her car in NSW and it set her back almost $1200 for rego+ctp+roadworthy (not including the things the mechanics always seem to find wrong with it).

She drives a tiny little Mazda 121.

I drive an Accord Euro and I just paid $700 for rego+ctp from Queensland.

We are both under 25, so that may affect prices you guys pay, but $1200 is a hell of a lot more expensive than anything the ACT can offer.

dvaey said :

Interestingly, NSW and ACT are the only states that vary registration fees depending on the weight of the vehicle.

WA is totally about the weight of the vehicle.

It’s a Kluger, seven seats, filled to capacity most of the time. Not premium fuel and reasonable economy compared to the Territory and others in its class. I am certainly guilty of driving a big heavy car, but we use every inch of it and couldn’t downsize.

#23.

The business vehicle is a Commodore wagon. Over 1500Kg, so business rego=$1103.00. Same as the guy over the road with his 3500Kg 4WD. Methinks TAMS will not be re-visiting the weight breaks in any hurry. When you can screw this much out of the common fleet, why would you change it?

I did a quick check of quotes for CTP ACT/NSW. Using my postcode (which covers both sides of the border), the diference was over $100PA for the same vehicle. The NRMA is making a killing, and seem to receive automatic approval for increases by the local Gov. There seems to be a very cosy relationship, where the NRMA ‘contribute’ funds to various road safety campaigns, and the Gov rubber stamp any price increase they request.

I am puzzled as to why other insurance companies have not jumped at offering CTP insurance. Have our local NRMA loving pollies somehow made the business commercially unviable for additional players? CTP in Queanbeyan is well covered by the major players.

Can someone on the inside throw some light on this?

I find the situation here in the ACT absolutely obsurd. Having moved here from another state where there was no choice of CTP provider, and with *much* cheaper rego, I can only assume someone somewhere is sorting themselves out a nice retirement.

I also find it a little strange that rego here is based on car weight. It makes much more sense to base rego on the amount of cylinders in the cars engine – thus encouraging people to drive smaller cars that are more environmentally friendly.

deezagood said :

Thoroughly Smashed said :

You could drive a vehicle that weighs less than 1505kg, that’ll save you at least $120 a year…

I can’t – we tow a boat, car pool with a bunch of people and often ferry tonnes of kids about the place.

I drive a 4-cyl 4wd 5-seater ute, with tare weight of under 1300kg, and has no problems towing a campervan with a boat on the roofracks. I presume with that much weight, youve also got a V8 or turbo V6, probably running on premium fuel too? Unless youre hauling commercial goods or need to move more than half a dozen people, theres no reason why youd need such a large heavy vehicle, other than by choice.. and if its by choice, then youve no-one else to blame for the weight bracket your vehicle fits into other than yourself.

Clown Killer3:55 pm 23 Oct 09

The ACT has always been the most expensive in Australia, why do you think you see so many vehicles on our roads with Victorian or NSW rego?

I’m guessing that ‘always’ must have started sometime after 1990.

Thoroughly Smashed said :

I was going to ask what on earth you drive that costs $850 to register, but having checked the RegoACT website it seems the costs have gone up since I last paid.

You could drive a vehicle that weighs less than 1505kg, that’ll save you at least $120 a year…

I can’t – we tow a boat, car pool with a bunch of people and often ferry tonnes of kids about the place.

Thoroughly Smashed3:18 pm 23 Oct 09

bd84 said :

The ACT has always been the most expensive in Australia, why do you think you see so many vehicles on our roads with Victorian or NSW rego?

As for the NSW plates, that might be something to do with the fact that a significant number of Canberra workers live just across the border…

The ACT has always been the most expensive in Australia, why do you think you see so many vehicles on our roads with Victorian or NSW rego?

Thoroughly Smashed12:25 pm 23 Oct 09

I was going to ask what on earth you drive that costs $850 to register, but having checked the RegoACT website it seems the costs have gone up since I last paid.

You could drive a vehicle that weighs less than 1505kg, that’ll save you at least $120 a year…

The Axe Man said :

The ACT is the one of the most expensive places to register your car if not the most expensive.
This is partly due to the NRMA; they are the only ones offering CPT insurance.

Its CTP not CPT. Compulsary Third Party. Its one thing to mis-spell it once, but to mis-spell it 4 times in the one post, do you know what the abbreviation means?

I know in the past, my parents would travel to Sydney to buy cars, because if you bought a car with 6 months NSW rego, you could cancel it and the refund would pay for 12 months of ACT rego. Have the prices really changed that much that theyre now in-line, or even the opposite (NSW less than ACT?).

Just for comparison…

NSW: $248 — Victoria: $183.30 — QLD: $308.25 — SA: $201

Interestingly, NSW and ACT are the only states that vary registration fees depending on the weight of the vehicle.

I also just quickly checked CTPI costs in NSW, and for a 1990 model ford, with youngest driver being 30 with no accidents or infringements (none of which is asked in the ACT), the quoted insurance rate is $660-$680. This is more than the entire cost of my ACT rego (incl CTPI).

Looking at my most recent rego reminder, it clearly states in the Payment Details that the process starts with:

1. Select a Compulsory Third Party Insurance (CTPI) provider.

The NRMA is the default CTPI Provider on my reminder. I guess I would have to change my CTPI provider and then get a new registration renewal slip sent out.

I did a comparision with a colleague and yes his NSW was a little cheaper, but when you factor in all the running around he had to do (red slip blue slip, green slip – any other colored slip) compared to what I had to do ie log on to website, pay then wait for the sticker in the post – I decided I was happy to pay my ACT rego.

VYBerlinaV8_the_one_they_all_copy11:17 am 23 Oct 09

Been discussed before. ACT NRMA insurance doesn’t seem to include the various discounts that can be applied (age, history, bundling, etc).

I live in NSW, and am happy with the current arrangement. Although getting your car inspected each year is a pain, at least cars are brake tested yearly, and looked over for structural problems.

grunge_hippy10:43 am 23 Oct 09

one good thing is the ACT allows you to pay in instalments of 3, 6, etc months at a time if finances are tight. yes, it costs more in the long run, but if you cant find that huge chunk of cash at the time, its a nice option. i dont know if other states do that.

but agreed, it is too expensive!

I have no idea why there is a little smiley face emoticon next to my last post. I didn’t place it there. The appropriate icon for my post would be a frowny, grumpy face.

It is really tempting to register in NSW; we have plenty of good friends at Jerra who probably wouldn’t mind getting an annual rego letter (and the odd speeding fine :-)) sent their way. Tempting. I do wonder how people struggling to keep on top of their finances cope with such a HUGE annual bill … it seems ridiculously high.

The ACT is the one of the most expensive places to register your car if not the most expensive.
This is partly due to the NRMA; they are the only ones offering CPT insurance.

There are plans to open it up and you will be able to choose your CPT provider though.
The NRMA know this and have raised their cost of CPT because they know their time is running out as a sole provider (all allegedly / my opinion of course. Don’t want to get in trouble)

This is why when you look at your rego renewal notice there is a section that says you can choose which CPT provider you’d like but then it only lists 1 – the NRMA

I can’t remember the reason why there aren’t any others yet but the time is coming when there will be more than the NRMA

Gungahlin Al9:21 am 23 Oct 09

Chop71 said :

It is partly due to the ACT governments decision of locking NRMA into being the sole provider of green slips in the ACT, hence charging plenty due to them holding the monopoly. Chop

Precisely Chop! All NRMA members should remember this next time we are asked to vote for the NRMA’s local representative Alan Evans, who presided over this farcical situation, with the NRMA taking ACT members for a ride financially.

At one stage during his disastrous period as NRMA president, plus on the IAG board, I recall he was pocketing almost $300,000 per year.

Chop71 said :

The government is missing out on considerable revenue due to people easily registering ACT cars to a NSW address.
Chop

And more revenue because of the many unregistered cars that drive around.
(Don’t crash into one…)

icantbelieveitsnotbutter9:09 am 23 Oct 09

Pandy said :

What? Other insurers will be approved? Why haven’t I been told?

It was in the paper the other day. One of the pollies announced that Canberrans will be able to choose their insurance provider when paying rego… but I wasn’t aware that no other insurance company has signed up? That’s another win for Govt!

I despise NSW’s annual rego checks, and the green slip competition here is a farce. It still costs more here than it did in the ACT once you factor in pink slip, green slip, and NSW’s absurdly high rego charges. Plus you can more or less guarantee the inspector will find $100-200 worth of work that ‘needs’ to be done.

What? Other insurers will be approved? Why haven’t I been told?

Blingerific said :

Having lived in most Australia States and Territories Canberra isn’t the most expensive, NSW has that honour, but it’s not the cheapest either. Then again we do have yearly rego checks, as lackadaisical as they are, that the cheaper states (NT, Vic, SA) don’t have. Not to mention the absolutely abysmal level of ability of the ACT’s drivers, their absolute dependence of vehicles (highest per capita in the country) and the consequent accident rate…

WTF? we have not had yearly rego checks here for well over 10 years..the only 12 mnth inspection required in canberra is for lpg vehicles and that is only a check on the gas equipment not the entire car …and A.C.T is currently the most expensive place in australia to register a vehicle…..especially commercial vehicles….check a few facts before you mouth off next time

I really like how we get to turn the page to choose our insurer only to find that there is only one approved choice. I suspect they will be forced to go lower next year, when other insurers are approved.

Having lived in most Australia States and Territories Canberra isn’t the most expensive, NSW has that honour, but it’s not the cheapest either. Then again we do have yearly rego checks, as lackadaisical as they are, that the cheaper states (NT, Vic, SA) don’t have. Not to mention the absolutely abysmal level of ability of the ACT’s drivers, their absolute dependence of vehicles (highest per capita in the country) and the consequent accident rate…

It is partly due to the ACT governments decision of locking NRMA into being the sole provider of green slips in the ACT, hence charging plenty due to them holding the monopoly. I contacted AAMI after they offered me a deal in registering a new car and they said the policy had now been changed yet they had “forgot to put in the form” to request for them to be added to the ACT’s green slip program.

I was amazed thet that response and she checked with her supervisor and yep, that was the excuse they stuck with.

Lets hope other insurance companies can break open this monopoly and reduce the costs.

The government is missing out on considerable revenue due to people easily registering ACT cars to a NSW address. If they had prices inline with NSW people would not go to the trouble of trying to dodge the system.

Chop

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