Driving an unregistered vehicle is illegal and could have enormous financial implications for both the driver and the owner of the vehicle.
If your vehicle is unregistered, go to the 'Get a new rego' page (above left) to find out how to register your vehicle.
When your vehicle is unregistered your Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance is not valid. This means the driver will be held personally liable for any property damage resulting from an accident in which they are at fault.
The vehicle’s driver is also open to be sued by CTP insurers for any personal injuries coming from such an accident.
Driving an unregistered and uninsured vehicle is also an offence attracting on the spot infringement notice fines of at least $972 ($486 for being unregistered and $486 for being uninsured). If the matter goes to court, the maximum fine is $2200 for driving unregistered and $5500 for driving uninsured.
Some drivers believe that they can get away with driving an unregistered vehicle if they stick to the local streets around their home. This is not true – many accidents occur within a short distance of a driver’s home.
Unregistered vehicles can be driven for the purpose of obtaining registration by the most direct or convenient route:
- to the nearest convenient motor registry, or
- to the nearest convenient vehicle inspection station or authorised inspection station to determine whether the vehicle complies with the applicable vehicle standards, or
- in the course of inspecting or testing the vehicle to determine if it complies with the applicable vehicle standards, or
- to the nearest practicable weighbridge to determine the weight of the vehicle, or
- from a motor registry or inspection station where the registration of the vehicle has been refused, to the nearest convenient place where necessary repairs can be made or where the vehicle can be garaged, unless a direction has been issued that the vehicle must not be driven before the necessary repairs have been made, or
- from an authorised inspection station to the nearest convenient place where necessary repairs or adjustments can be made or where the vehicle can be garaged, or
- to the nearest convenient office of a licensed insurer for the purpose of obtaining Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance, or
- to the nearest convenient location for any other purpose directly associated with the registration process.
If you are caught driving an unregistered vehicle on any other route, you will be fined and police may remove the vehicle's number plates on the spot or they may seize the vehicle.
You can renew your registration in person at a motor registry, by phone, by mail or online myRTA.
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