Short Term Registration

Short Term Registration (STR) options for light vehicles provides Roads and Maritime Services (replacing Roads and Traffic Authority) customers with the flexibility of renewing their vehicle's registration for a shorter period, or moving their renewal date, at no additional cost.

The option of short term or standard 12 month registration periods can be made at the time of renewal.

Short term options include:

• six month registration on light vehicles (GVM 4.5 tonnes or less), including motorcycles and trailers
• three month registration on trailers only.

Customers can take up short term options in four ways:

• Online at myRTA.com
• By phone: 1300 360 782 (IVR)
• By mail: to Roads and Maritime Services, PO, Box 21, Parkes NSW 2870
• At any motor registry.

CTP greenslips and e-Safety Check reports

A Compulsory Third Party (CTP) green slip and an e-Safety Check (if applicable) must be received electronically by Roads and Maritime Services before short term registration can be processed. An e-Safety Check inspection is only valid for 42 days.

The period of your green slip and registration period must match.

Note: All green slips have a use-by date. The use-by date means they must be used with your registration renewal by the date specified or they will no longer be valid. Green slips for short term registration have a use-by date of 21 days after the registration expiry date. For example, if you purchase a green slip with a start date of 1 June, you must use it to renew your registration by 22 June. If you do not you cannot renew with the short term registration option. Instead, you may only renew the registration for 12 months, and a new 12 month green slip will be required. This should be considered if you wish to mail your short term registration renewal.

If you have any queries regarding the use-by date of your green slip, you should contact your CTP insurer. Registration labels If you renew online or use the IVR and change your registration term, please allow up to seven days (10 days if paying by BPAY) for a new registration certificate and label to be mailed to you. You must declare that you will destroy your original registration certificate and label. If you renew in person and change your registration term, a replacement registration certificate and label will be provided for you.

Short Term Registration (STR) – frequently asked questions

About STR

1. What is STR?

   STR provides options for registration renewal for six months for most light vehicles and three months for trailers via myRTA.com or through the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) telephone system 1300 360 782.

   From 6 August 2010, STR renewal is also available at any NSW motor registry.

   STR is not available when:

   • establishing registration
   • transferring and renewing at the same time.
2. What are the benefits of registering a vehicle for six months?
   It allows customers greater flexibility in managing their vehicle registration without paying extra registration costs.

Changing registration period

3. I have received a renewal notice showing six months' registration. Can I change it to 12 months?
   Yes. When you renew your registration you can choose the registration period you want. However:

   • Your vehicle may require an inspection if the period is changed. Please see the inspection table for more information.
   • Your CTP policy period must match the registration renewal period.
   • If you are renewing online or using the IVR system, you must declare that the registration label you received with the renewal notice will be destroyed. A Registration Certificate and label for the new period will be mailed to you. Alternatively you may phone the Contact Centre on 13 22 13 or attend a motor registry to apply for a no-fee replacement. Important: If you decide to change the registration period when renewing online or using the IVR system, you must allow enough time for a replacement Registration Certificate and label to be sent to you before the registration expires. Remember it is an offence to drive a vehicle with an expired label, with a label showing the incorrect registration period, or without a label.
   • If you are renewing in person, a replacement Registration Certificate and label with the new registration term will be printed and given to you.
4. Do I have to nominate the next term for my registration?
   
   No. A renewal notice for the same period as your current registration will be sent to you.
5. I've received a renewal notice for a six month period, but now I've changed my mind and want the next period to be 12 months. How do I advise Roads and Maritime Services (replacing Roads and Traffic Authority) to make sure my next renewal notice has the correct period?
   A new renewal notice for the desired period is not required. When you renew your current registration, you can nominate the period you want to renew during the renewal process. Roads and Maritime Services (replacing Roads and Traffic Authority) will issue you with a new Registration Certificate and label with the correct period. See Question 3 for more information on changing your registration term.
6. I've received a renewal notice showing six months registration, but now want to change the period to 12 months. Can I obtain a registration renewal notice at a motor registry or from Roads and Maritime Services (replacing Roads and Traffic Authority) Contact Centre for the new period?
   Yes. A registration renewal notice showing the term you have nominated can be obtained from a motor registry or by post from the Contact Centre on request. If you elect to renew your registration at a motor registry, a new registration certificate and label with the correct period will be printed and given to you at the time of renewal, or will be posted to you if you elect to pay through the Contact Centre on 13 22 13 or by mail.

   Important: If you decide to change the registration period when renewing online or via our Interactive Voice Response telephone service, you must allow enough time for a replacement Registration Certificate and label to be sent to you before the registration expires. Remember it is an offence to drive a vehicle with an expired label, with a label showing the incorrect registration period, or without a label.

7. I've received a renewal notice showing six months registration, but now want to change the period to 12 months. My insurance company is requesting a renewal notice showing the 12 months?
   Insurance companies do not require a registration renewal notice to issue a new policy for a change of period.

Eligible vehicles and transactions

8. Which vehicles are eligible for STR?
   1. Light vehicles (GVM of 4.5 tonnes or less)
      • Six-month STR is available.
      • Applies to all usage codes that are eligible for online renewal except hire cars
      • You must purchase a CTP green slip for the correct registration period. For online and IVR renewals, your CTP details must have been received electronically by Roads and Maritime Services. Important: The CTP policy period must match the registration period. CTPs for STR have a use-by date of 21 days after the registration expiry date. Renewals made more than 21 days after expiry can only be for 12 months, and a 12-month CTP green slip will be required. If you have any questions regarding the use-by date of your green slip, contact your CTP insurer.
      • Your vehicle must have passed an e-Safety Check inspection (if required). For online and IVR renewals, this must have been received electronically by Roads and Maritime Services (replacing Roads and Traffic Authority). An e-Safety Check inspection is valid for 42 days.
   2. Trailers
   • Three and six-month STR is available for trailers.
9. I've just purchased a new vehicle. How do I know if it's registered with STR?
   To find out the period of the registration, you can: check online at Vehicle history check, or phone the Contact Centre 13 22 13, or go to a motor registry.
10. I have bought a vehicle with a six-month registration term. What happens when I transfer the registration?

    The six-month registration term continues until its expiry date. If the registration is not due for renewal, you only need to attend a registry to transfer the registration.

    Note: If the registration is due for renewal at the time of transfer, you must attend a registry to transfer the registration.

    When the registration renewal becomes due, you can renew for another six-month term, or switch to a 12-month term.

    Important: If you decide to change the registration period when renewing online or using the IVR system, you must allow enough time for a replacement Registration Certificate and label to be sent to you before the registration expires. Remember it is an offence to drive a vehicle with an expired label, with a label showing the incorrect registration period, or without a label.

11. Can I establish registration for a new or second-hand light vehicle for six months?
    No. STR is only available for registration renewals. New and second-hand vehicle registrations must be established for 12 months. Establish registration transactions must be completed in person at a motor registry.

Charges and payments

12. How much do I have to pay for a six-month registration?
    Registration charges are one half of the annual rate.
13. How much do I have to pay for a three-month registration?
    Registration charges are one quarter of the annual rate.
14. How will my annual plate fees be calculated for STR?
    Plate fees are one half of the annual fees for 6-month STR and one quarter of the annual fees for 3-month STR.
15. How can I pay for STR?
    The following payment methods are acceptable:

    • Credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club International)
    • BPAY (online and IVR only)
    • Cash
    • Cheque
16. I paid my registration online using BPAY, but there was some delay before the bank transferred the money to Roads and Maritime Services (replacing Roads and Traffic Authority). During that time I received a restriction (eg from State Debt Recovery Office for fine defaults). Do I still have the option of STR once the restriction is resolved?
    Yes, provided it is still within 21 days after the registration expiry date.

Inspection requirements

17. When do I need an inspection report?

    Annual inspection requirements apply unless the vehicle is exempt. Your registration renewal notice will advise if your vehicle needs an inspection.

    An inspection is needed when the new expiry date is greater than 12 months since the last renewal date where an inspection is submitted.

    This means if you have chosen a six month period for a second time and inspection was produced for the first six month period an inspection is not required unless the month and year on the compliance plate (or month and year of manufacture for imported vehicles) is more than five years old. Download the inspection table for more details.

Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance requirements

18. Can I use an annual CTP policy for a STR?
    No. The CTP policy period must match the STR period.
19. Do I need to stay with the same CTP insurer for 12 months?
    You can change CTP insurer at time of renewal.
20. How long is a CTP green slip valid? What happens after this date?

    All green slips for short term registration have a use-by date of 21 days after the registration expiry date. For example, if you purchase a green slip with a start date of 1 June, you must use it to renew your registration by 22 June. If you do not you cannot renew with the short term registration option. Instead, you may only renew the registration for 12 months, and a new 12 month green slip will be required. This should be considered if you wish to mail your short term registration renewal.

    If you have any queries regarding the use-by date of your green slip, you should contact your CTP insurer.

21. I tried to renew my registration online and received the following error message: 'We have no current CTP details. If you have just purchased a CTP, please allow an hour before contacting your insurer'. What should I do?
    There are two reasons why the system may display this message:

    1. Your insurer hasn't sent your details electronically to Roads and Maritime Services. Try renewing your registration again in one hour. If you are still unsuccessful, contact your insurer.
    2. You purchased a six-month CTP, but your registration expired more than 21 days ago. This exceeds the CTP use-by-date set by your insurer for short-term renewals. You therefore need to contact your insurer and purchase a 12-month CTP, then renew your registration for one year.

Registration Certificates and labels

22. I renewed my registration online (or using the IVR) (on the expiry date) and I have changed the registration period. Do I use the label from the renewal notice (even though the expiry date has changed) or must I wait until I receive the new label by mail before driving the vehicle?

    You must wait for the new label. This will be posted to you within seven days. Alternatively you may phone the Contact Centre on 13 22 13 or attend a motor registry to apply for a no-fee replacement.

    Remember, it is an offence to drive a vehicle with an expired label, with a label showing the incorrect registration period, or without a label.

23. didn't receive a renewal notice in the post, but I renewed my registration online (or using the IVR) anyway. What do I need to do to get a new label?

    If the term you renewed for is different to the previous period, Roads and Maritime Services will post you a new Registration Certificate and label.

    Otherwise you may phone the Contact Centre on 13 22 13 or attend a motor registry to apply for a no-fee replacement.

24. I renewed my registration online (or using the IVR) for a different period, but have not received the new certificate and label. What do I need to do to get a new label?
    Phone the Contact Centre on 13 22 13 or attend a motor registry to apply for a no-fee replacement.