6 July 2012

What happens if you don't transfer interstate rego?

6 July 2012 | longshanks

Hey all – quick query for the hive mind…

We’re thinking about buying a car up in Sydney, which has 9 months NSW rego left. Now, as I understand it (never having bought a car interstate before) when you transfer rego to the ACT you can apply to the NSW RTA for a refund of the unused NSW rego.

Now if you fail to transfer interstate rego within 14 days you pay a $90 fine – but given that ACT rego is so damn expensive ($970 for this car, compared to about $470 in NSW), I would still end up a couple of hundred dollars ahead if I let the NSW rego expire before registering the car in the ACT.

I’m thinking it’s probably not worth the effort, but I’d be interested to know if there are any additional penalties for failing to transfer interstate rego, beyond a $90 late fee?

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rosscoact10:47 am 08 Jul 12

screaming banshee said :

rosscoact said :

I moved to NSW from Queensand for work. My license ran out so I got a NSW license but continued to ride a Qld registered motorcycle.
Pulled over by cops, fined for unregistered and uninsured vehicle because it wasn’t registered in the state where my licence was held and I could not prove that I bought it less than two weeks before the offends. $100 fine for each offense 30 years ago, I believe it’s closer to $1000 for each offence now.

Did the whole thing start with “you ain’t from around here, are’ya boy?”

:-))

Elizabethany10:22 am 08 Jul 12

screaming banshee said :

Elizabethany said :

From the ACT rego page: If you acquire, or become the operator of, an interstate vehicle, you must establish the vehicle registration in the ACT within one month of the purchase date. An establishment fee and duty is payable. (http://www.rego.act.gov.au/registrations/regobuyinginterstate.htm)

Tell that to all the hire companies that operate vic registered motor vehicles. I must say its a smart move on Victorias behalf, collecting registrations dues on thousands of vehicles that they do not have to maintain roads for.

Hire companies have a legal address where the cars are registered. The OP doesn’t.

screaming banshee9:44 am 08 Jul 12

Elizabethany said :

From the ACT rego page: If you acquire, or become the operator of, an interstate vehicle, you must establish the vehicle registration in the ACT within one month of the purchase date. An establishment fee and duty is payable. (http://www.rego.act.gov.au/registrations/regobuyinginterstate.htm)

Tell that to all the hire companies that operate vic registered motor vehicles. I must say its a smart move on Victorias behalf, collecting registrations dues on thousands of vehicles that they do not have to maintain roads for.

screaming banshee9:40 am 08 Jul 12

rosscoact said :

I moved to NSW from Queensand for work. My license ran out so I got a NSW license but continued to ride a Qld registered motorcycle.
Pulled over by cops, fined for unregistered and uninsured vehicle because it wasn’t registered in the state where my licence was held and I could not prove that I bought it less than two weeks before the offends. $100 fine for each offense 30 years ago, I believe it’s closer to $1000 for each offence now.

Did the whole thing start with “you ain’t from around here, are’ya boy?”

Elizabethany9:27 am 08 Jul 12

From the ACT rego page: If you acquire, or become the operator of, an interstate vehicle, you must establish the vehicle registration in the ACT within one month of the purchase date. An establishment fee and duty is payable. (http://www.rego.act.gov.au/registrations/regobuyinginterstate.htm)

rosscoact8:20 am 08 Jul 12

I moved to NSW from Queensand for work. My license ran out so I got a NSW license but continued to ride a Qld registered motorcycle.
Pulled over by cops, fined for unregistered and uninsured vehicle because it wasn’t registered in the state where my licence was held and I could not prove that I bought it less than two weeks before the offends. $100 fine for each offense 30 years ago, I believe it’s closer to $1000 for each offence now.

Sandman10:31 pm 07 Jul 12

The previous owner will fill out a notice of disposal and send it to the RTA so they will know who is responsible for the vehicle. It’s rego is still valid, therefore so is the ctp. I’ve never had any hassles with letting interstate rego run it’s course.

helium9:02 pm 06 Jul 12

You might want to check your CTP. I don’t know if any insurance company has given it a go but I wouldn’t be surprised to see a clause that says they won’t cover you for very long if you don’t notify them of a change of address – especially if you move interstate.

I would agree (not a lawyer) but if you deliberately don’t transfer rego and you are an ACT resident (easy to prove), then that would seem to be fraud.

Also you are not to lie to insurance companies…e.g from NRMA CTP, if you said you were a NSW resident with NSW rego, but reside ACT…
“We will also refuse a claim if: you are not truthful and frank in any statement you make in a claim or in connection with a claim”

You are unlikely to be left without some sort of CTP cover, outright refusal is technically possible.

Also please register in ACT so that the community benefits from the additional funds and (theoretically) lower CTP premiums for all.

CoffinRX28:04 pm 06 Jul 12

CTP is valid for the period of the certificate, and is valid in all states and territories until it expires.

As for insurance companies in police? lol … I’ve had 2 cars written off here in ACT, 1 was owned by me and still registered in SA, insurance had no issue, … another was owned by me, driven by housemate and registered still in NSW … once again no issue. In the last case, the person involved was an international driver on an international drivers licence for the past 2 years living in the ACT and the police didnt care.

Just run out the rego, then transfer to ACT. .. You cant transfer to your name in the ACT without a Safety Certificate either

Pandy4:35 pm 06 Jul 12

If you are involved in a car accident, the cops will fine you.

Trust me.

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