Seasonal registration is an alternative option for vehicles that are used for agricultural or over-snow purposes to coincide with seasonal needs. Seasonal registration caters for situations where the vehicle is used for only part of the year and eliminates the need to re-establish the registration when the vehicle is required for the next season.
Obtaining a seasonal registration
You need to go to a motor registry, or send an authorised representative, to obtain seasonal registration for your vehicle. For more information see Get a new rego.
Inspection requirements
New rego
To seasonally register a vehicle for the first time (eg never been registered in NSW before) you must provide a vehicle identity and safety check.
For more information see:
Renew rego
You must provide a vehicle safety check if required (see below requirement). For more information see:
Seasonally registered vehicles only need one inspection report within a 12-month period. The inspection must be valid for the term of the registration. A new inspection report is required if the registration term requested results in a registration expiry date more than 12 months after the current inspection report was first used for registation.
Important: If a vehicle that falls under the Heavy Vehicle Inspection Scheme (HVIS) is seasonally registered for more than nine months within a 12-month period, a Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) heavy vehicle inspection is required within 28 day of renewal. This is to avoid seasonally registered vehicles being continually registered without an RMS heavy vehicle inspection. Fees apply for inspections carried out under this scheme. For more information see Heavy Vehicle Inspection Scheme (HVIS).
Vehicles in the National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme and Hire Trailer Maintenance Management Accreditation Scheme are exempt from inspection requirements.
Registration terms
Seasonally registered vehicles can be registered for any combination of quarterly (three months) or half-yearly (six months) term in a 12-month period, however, a single annual registration term of 12 months is not available.
Managing a seasonal registration
Renewals
RMS does not send out registration renewal notices for seasonally registered vehicles. Seasonal registrations can be renewed up to 12 months after the expiry date. If the registration has expired more than 12 months, the numbr plates must be surrendered and then the vehicle needs to be re-registered.
Seasonal registration can be renewed at any motor registry, by mail or by phoning the Contact Centre.
Transfers
Seasonal registration may be transferred (except to motor dealers) up to 12 months after the expiry date, provided the new operator uses the vehicle for agricultural or over-snow purposes. For more information see Selling a vehicle.
Seasonal registration cannot be transferred more than 12 months after the expiry date. The new operator must surrender the number plates and re-establish registration of the vehicle.
Number plates
The same number plates may be used for seasonally registered up to 12 months after the expiry. No order fees apply but any existing annual fees continue to apply.
If you are converting your registration from general use to seasonal, the same plates may be used up to three months after expiry. No order fees apply but any existing annual fees continue to apply.
Cancellation
If you wish to voluntarily cancel your seasonal registration at any time see Cancel your rego.