Review of registration labels for light vehicles - submissions open until 7 October 2011
Roads and Maritime Services (replacing Roads and Traffic Authority) and the Better Regulation Office are conducting a review of registration label requirements in NSW for light vehicles with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of up to 4.5 tonnes (including passenger vehicles, motorcycles, small trailers and light trucks).
Currently, NSW legislation sets out requirements for vehicles to be registered, and requires that registration labels be provided by Roads and Maritime Services (replacing Roads and Traffic Authority) and displayed on a vehicle. There is potential to substantially reduce costs for business and the community by removing the need for registration labels for the 5.9 million light vehicles registered in NSW.
An Issues Paper is available on the Better Regulation Office website, with further information for public consultation. Submissions to the review are invited to be made by 7 October 2011, to the Better Regulation Office (details are provided in the issues paper).
A final report and recommendations are expected to be presented to the NSW Government by the end of 2011.
Written-Off Vehicles
The New South Wales Government has introduced legislation on January 31, 2011 to prohibit the registration of NSW written-off vehicles. The reform aims to improve road safety and consumer protection and to clamp down on car rebirthing and vehicle theft. Following the introduction of the reform, all NSW written-off light vehicles will be classified as statutory (permanent) write-offs. This means they will not be permitted to be registered anywhere in Australia (with some limited exemptions). These written-off vehicles will still be able to be sold for parts or scrap metal. See Written-off vehicles for more information.
Roads and Maritime Services (replacing Roads and Traffic Authority) will continue to offer the Vehicle History Check service for consumers who are considering purchasing a used vehicle. The service provides a wide range of information about used NSW registered vehicles, including whether it has been written-off in NSW or anywhere else in Australia since 2004. See Vehicle History Check for more information.
Camera detection of unregistered vehicles
In April 2010 NSW Parliament approved legislative changes to allow the use of Roads and Maritime Services (replacing Roads and Traffic Authority) enforcement camera images to detect unregistered and uninsured vehicles.
From 1 July 2010, warning letters were issued to persons caught committing a camera recorded offence, such as speeding, who are also driving an unregistered or uninsured vehicle, The warning letters are issued to inform the registered operators that their vehicle has been identified as unregistered and they are required to register their vehicle for use on NSW roads.
Infringements began being issued from 30 August 2010. Driving an unregistered and uninsured vehicle is an offence attracting infringement notice fines of at least $1032 ($516 for unregistered and $516 for uninsured). If the matter goes to court, the maximum fine is $2200 for unregistered and $5500 for uninsured. The penalties for heavy vehicle offences are higher and may include demerit points.
Unregistered vehicles pose a significant safety risk to the community. Driving an unregistered vehicle is illegal and could have significant financial implications for both the driver and the registered operator of the vehicle.
See Driving unregistered vehicles for more information on how these changes affect you.
Short Term Registration
Short Term Registration (STR) options are now available for most light vehicles.
Customers can take up short term options in four ways:
- Online at myRTA.com
- By phone: 1300 360 782 (IVR)
- By mail:
Roads and Maritime Services
PO Box 21
Parkes NSW 2870 - At any motor registry
The options include six months registration on cars and light vehicles, and three months on trailers. To take advantage of short term rego, your CTP insurance policy (or 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 STR 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 STR 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 STR renewal. If you have any queries regarding the use-by date of your green slip, you should contact your CTP insurer.
Both the green slip and an e-Safety Check (formerly known as a pink slip) must be received by Roads and Maritime Services (replacing Roads and Traffic Authority) electronically before short term registration can be processed.