Registering a vehicle in Australia for the first time: CTP, inspection and costs

What vehicle registration means in Australia

Vehicle registration (rego) is the process of officially recording a vehicle with the state or territory transport authority and receiving number plates. All vehicles driven on public roads in Australia must be registered in the state or territory where the owner lives.

Registration is renewed annually (or every 3 or 6 months in states that allow shorter periods) and requires:

Compulsory third party (CTP) insurance — also called green slip in NSW.
A safety inspection (roadworthy or pink slip) in most jurisdictions.
Payment of registration fees to the state transport authority.

Compulsory third party (CTP) insurance

CTP insurance is mandatory across all of Australia. It covers personal injury compensation for people injured or killed in an accident involving your vehicle — it does not cover property damage or damage to your own vehicle.

How CTP is administered varies by state:

NSW: you choose a CTP insurer (four licensed insurers: AAMI, Allianz, GIO, QBE, NRMA). The premium is paid when you register.
VIC: CTP (TAC Transport Accident Charge) is included in the registration fee automatically.
QLD: similar to NSW — choose from licensed CTP insurers (RACQ, Allianz, Suncorp, QBE, Youi).
SA, WA, TAS, ACT, NT: CTP is included in the registration fee via a government-run scheme.

In states where you choose your insurer, compare prices at the state scheme’s comparison website before purchasing.

Safety inspection (roadworthy)

Most states require a safety inspection before first registration or when a vehicle is sold privately. The inspection checks that the vehicle is safe to drive — brakes, tyres, lights, seatbelts and general mechanical condition.

NSW: an e-Safety Check (pink slip) is required for vehicles more than 5 years old. The check costs around $40–$65 at an authorised inspection station.
VIC: a roadworthy certificate (RWC) is required when transferring registration from one owner to another (private sale) but not for annual renewal.
QLD: a Safety Certificate (safety check) is required for all private sales.
SA, WA, ACT, TAS: varying requirements — check your state transport authority’s website.

How to register a vehicle for the first time

If you are registering a vehicle purchased from a dealer:

The dealer typically handles the registration transfer as part of the sale.
You will need to confirm the address on the registration matches your current address.

If you are registering a privately purchased vehicle:

Obtain the safety inspection certificate (where required).
Have the seller complete the transfer-of-ownership form (usually a section on the paper certificate of registration).
Submit the transfer to your state transport authority within the required timeframe (typically 2–5 business days of purchase).
Pay transfer duty (also called stamp duty on vehicle transfers) — calculated on the vehicle’s purchase price or market value.
Arrange CTP insurance (in states where you choose your own insurer).
Pay the registration fee.

Most state transport authorities allow this process online (Services NSW, VicRoads, TMR Queensland), at a branch or through a licensed registration agent.

State-by-state differences

State/Territory	CTP model	Inspection required (private sale)	Transfer deadline
NSW	Choose insurer	Yes (pink slip, 5+ yr old vehicles)	14 days
VIC	Included in rego	Yes (roadworthy certificate)	At time of transfer
QLD	Choose insurer	Yes (safety certificate)	3 days
SA	Included in rego	No	15 days
WA	Included in rego	No (but roadworthy recommended)	5 days
TAS	Included in rego	No	14 days
ACT	Included in rego	No	7 days
NT	Included in rego	No	14 days

Registration fees

Registration fees include a base registration component plus (in some states) motor vehicle tax based on engine size or vehicle weight. Fees differ significantly across states and are updated periodically. Check your state transport authority’s fee schedule for current amounts before budgeting.