Thread: watch your rego date!

G'day Brendan.

I'm in the New South Wales Police (Highway Patrol), so whilst each State and Territory has its own regulations for vehicle registration, this information is from the Australian Road Rules which was created in 2000 to give some sort of uniformity across the country.

Basically if the vehicle you temporarily import and drive has current registration for the country of origin and you continue to display the registration plates and rego label (Tax disc etc), then you're okay. Obviously your licence and visa must also be valid.

Insurance is another issue..... It might also pay to read a copy of some of the road rules that exist here - not that they'd be much different from the UK but there are some varioations from State to State - and Territory.

The issuing Authority for registrations and licences (in NSW) is called the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA Home Page). Bear in mind they're a Government department and as you might discover, are VERY keen on speed cameras to raise revenue under the pathetic guise of ensuring road safety. So keep and eye out mate.

So that's my perspective of your requirements for NSW. The regulations do say this covers all other States and Territory but some of the other guys on here might know more.

Good luck and I hope you have a fantastic time.

but there are some varioations from State to State - and Territory. ...


wasn't that sorted some time ago, National Road rules or something

Good Advice mudmouse!

I will add to it if i may

Hi Brendan,

I used to work for RACQ - the Royal Automobile Club of Queensland.

To drive a UK registered car on Australian Roads, you'll need to arrange a Carnets du Passage en Douane - basically these are a security bond which says you aren't going to sell the vehicle in the country you are visiting. (Because of the different Roadworthy/Design standards from country to country, among other things). If you cover this privately its roughly 300-400 percent of the vehicles saleable value!!!!
Thankfully Automobile Associations run a Carnet scheme, whereby you pay a much smaller fee and they put up the security on your behalf.
Contact your RAC, or check out RAC Know-How - Going on a journey - Driving abroad - Carnet de Passage

Originally Posted by procrastination inc

but there are some varioations from State to State - and Territory. ...


wasn't that sorted some time ago, National Road rules or something

Yeah, they got almalgamated in 1999-2000 to be the Australian Road Rules. Funny though that licensing and rego stuff didn't - must have been the money thing.

quote from ARR (Vehicles temporarily in NSW): 'The registration provisions do not apply to a registerable vehicle that; is registered in another State, Territory or in a foreign country if; that the vehicle carry, conspicuously displayed in the required manner and condition, all number plates and labels that it is required to carry; in the State, Territory or country in which it is registered. Phew.

BTW - this system is the same for all Australian States & Territories.

And for us Aussies, it works in the opposite direction too. chat to your State Auto Club if planning a trip with your Landy overseas.

Originally Posted by mudmouse

It's great that bloke did offer you his discretion and it all ended well. Rego's such a b*stard in NSW and with everything else going on it's not hard to overlook. Even displaying an expired label can cost you $79! You should see the penalties for class B and C vehicles (heavies) with expired rego .

Lastly, you can drive an unregistered vehicle to a place of inspection or repair or for the purpose of being registered, but it's a bit hard to get away with that one on an easter weekend.....

1. Yes there are some decent fellows out there - the threat of losing that amt of money and points was pretty scarey.... (why don't we ahve a system like you see on motorway patrol in NZ where a sticker or like is attached which allows driving straight back home or to registry station? Getting a trailer at short notice was very lucky indeed.... I didn't relish the idea of leaving my car where it was left - probably wouldn't have come back to a car in one piece.... )

2. Driving to the place of inspection was my next question - I could just see myself being pulled up on Tuesday for driving an unregistered car, when I was driving to service station for rego check..

3. Was the plod right when he said the fine would have been $1200 each?? Extraordinary amount of money for a simple oversight.

Cheers

Originally Posted by 29dinosaur

That's not quite right.... older vehicles need an inspection in NSW and you then need to wander off to registry with papers in hand.

Most places (in Sydney at least) do electronic Pink Slips. Get your inspection done, pay your Greenslip beforehand & they notify the RTA right away. You can then process your rego over the net - easy peasy .

Originally Posted by 29dinosaur

1. Yes there are some decent fellows out there - the threat of losing that amt of money and points was pretty scarey.... (why don't we ahve a system like you see on motorway patrol in NZ where a sticker or like is attached which allows driving straight back home or to registry station? Getting a trailer at short notice was very lucky indeed.... I didn't relish the idea of leaving my car where it was left - probably wouldn't have come back to a car in one piece.... )

2. Driving to the place of inspection was my next question - I could just see myself being pulled up on Tuesday for driving an unregistered car, when I was driving to service station for rego check..

3. Was the plod right when he said the fine would have been $1200 each?? Extraordinary amount of money for a simple oversight.

Cheers

1. In NSW registration offences DO NOT attract demerit points for class A vehicles (cars, bikes, tractors, trailers...anything with a GVM less than 4500kg). It's only class B and C vehicles (basically a GVM over 4500kg) that have demerit point provisions.

2. The Act allows for an unregistered vehicle to be driven to 'the nearest convenient place of repair or inspection for the purpose of registration' - now what does convenient mean - where your mate works or the stickler around the corner... That's the Act - not your insurance company if you have a prang. The onus will always be on the driver - to ensure the vehicle is safe to be used on a road. My opinion is that if a bloke has his rego papers with him accompanied with the right attitude, then he's doing the right thing. No one can give you permission to use and unregistered vehicle on the road (unless you've got an unregistered vehicle permit) and strictly speaking you can still be fined for driving it to the servo - offences such as 1) display expired label $79, 2) not return plates $79, 3) not display current label $79 etc etc. It can get totally rediculous, but that's the law ain't it. Years ago you'd type up a short 'Letter of intent' that you'd produce if you were stopped - just to say you weren't making up stories about why you were driving - you also had to remove the plates. Things have changed a little but the penalties have gone through the roof.

3. Again, strickly speaking, the offences are: (Driver) 1) use unregistered vehicle $477, 2) use vehicle with road tax unpaid $477, 3) not return plates after rego expiry $79, 4) expired label $79, 5) not display current label $79 6) if rego out for more than 14 days - use uninsured vehicle $477. Thats for your daughter...for you (Owner) 1) permit use of unregistered vehicle $477, 2) permit use of uninsured vehicle $477, 3) permit contravention of reg (road tax) $477 plus the 'permit' offences of the others.

Technically those offences were committed, however, if anyone managed to secure those for themselves I'd be letting a Magistrate look at it. Pleading guilty with an explanation (it was an oversight, genuine mistake etc) will end with a more reasonable result. The Court is required to discount monetary penalties with an early guilty plea (in NSW) even dismissing them.

Police are not permitted to caution for demerit point offences and I guess that bloke was explaining the maximum penalties. Unfortunately the cost to the community of collisions involving unregistered/uninsured vehicles is massive and as such the RTA and Police invest a huge amount in detecting and prosecuting those drivers who do it. Usually without mercy.

I'm really happy of the outcome for you. That's good news when it's a genuine oversight.

Hope this helps.