Moving Interstate? Here’s What You Need to Know About Your Car Rego
If you are moving interstate, don’t forget to add ‘register car’ to your sizable to-do list. Whether you decide to drive your car yourself or use interstate car transport, the law in every state requires you to register your vehicle in your new home jurisdiction within a set time frame. This is where you’ll need to do your homework, as each state has different time periods. For example, Queensland only allows 14 days, whereas Victoria allows a more generous 30 days, and South Australia and Tasmania give new residents 90 days. So, be sure to check out the specific requirements in the state you’re moving to, as failure to comply within the time set means you’ll be considered unregistered which could result in costly fines. Moreover, in the event of an accident your insurance company may also refuse to cover you.
Transporting Unregistered Vehicles
If your vehicle is unregistered, as in the case of a restoration project you are working on for example, you will need to obtain an Unregistered Vehicle Permit, as it cannot be driven on public roads without one. However, a work around to avoid this would be to use door-to-door interstate car freight.
Another thing to be aware of is that many states require a safety check or inspection to be done as part of the registration process. In Victoria this is referred to as a ‘roadworthy,’ in New South Wales as a ‘blue slip’ and in Queensland as a ‘safety certificate.’ No matter what you call it, the implications are the same. If your car doesn’t pass the required safety inspection, you’ll need to get it fixed and registered within the set time frame. So be sure to factor this time and cost into your moving plan, or ensure your vehicle is up to standard before you move.
In most cases you’ll need to present at the local transport centre with your registration documentation, safety certificate, surrender your old plates and apply for new ones. When the old plates are returned to the transport centre they came from you may be entitled to a refund of a portion of the registration paid.
Interstate Drivers License
Another thing to note is that some states will require you to transfer your driver’s license to that state before you can register your vehicle. We recommend keeping all relevant documentation in a safe, easily retrievable space so you aren’t digging through mountains of boxes as the registration clock ticks!