Car registration costs in Queensland

If you live in, or are moving to Queensland and you’ve just purchased a new or used car, you might like to know how much car registration costs in the Sunshine State.

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If you live in, or are moving to Queensland and you’ve just purchased a new or used car, you might like to know how much car registration costs in the Sunshine State.

KEY POINTS

The cost of car rego in QLD for light motor vehicles is charged according to the number of cylinders it has.
Other factors such as registration type, vehicle type, and registration period also affect the rego’s overall costs.
There are a range of registration concessions available in Queensland, which could help you save if eligible.

How is the cost of your car registration calculated in Queensland?

According to the Queensland Government, the cost of car registration in Queensland for light motor vehicles is calculated and charged according to the number of cylinders a vehicle has. But the overall cost of your car registration will also be influenced by the following factors:

New:

You may need to apply for a new registration if:

You buy a new vehicle that has never been registered
You buy a used vehicle that is unregistered
You are moving to Queensland and your vehicle is registered interstate
Your registration has been expired for more than three months

Renewal:

In Queensland, the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) sends a registration notice about four weeks before your registration expires, detailing how much it will cost and how you can pay.

You must renew your registration on or before the due date so that your vehicle can legally be driven. The TMR advises that there is a fee for late payments.

The cost of your registration will differ depending on the type of vehicle you register. For example, a light commercial vehicle, such as an ute, generally costs more to register than a passenger car or motorcycle.

Vehicles, trailers and caravans can be categorised as light or heavy, depending on its gross vehicle mass (GVM), or aggregate trailer mass (ATM). Vehicles with a GVM of 4.5 tonnes or less are categorised as light, while vehicles with a GVM more than 4.5 tonnes are categorised as heavy.

All Queensland-registered motor vehicles must have Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance cover. You can choose to include CTP insurance in your registration cost, or you can pay for it separately.

If you choose to include CTP in your rego quote, all current CTP insurers available in Queensland will be displayed, along with their price. You can then select a provider from the list.

The price for CTP insurance is usually very similar across providers, but may differ depending on the insurance class you have entered into the quote (i.e. your vehicle type and purpose of use).

Price may not be the only consideration when choosing your CTP provider. For example, you may also want to check to see how much cover is available from each insurer and whether any of them offer add-on products or incentives before making a decision.

If you plan to use your vehicle for commercial purposes; for example, as a taxi, limousine, rideshare or rental car, then the cost of your CTP insurance may be greater than if it is used for private purposes. If CTP is included in your registration costs, then the overall price for your registration may also increase.

The Queensland Government states that in addition to a registration fee, you may need to pay a registration duty (tax) when applying for a new registration, or when requesting that an existing registration of the vehicle be transferred to you.

To work out the duty you may need to pay, you first need to work out the suitable value of your car. This is the list price or market value of the vehicle, which includes any additions such as tow bars or roof racks. The higher the dutiable value of your car, the more expensive your registration will likely be.

It is worth noting the government’s advice that registration duty does not apply to renewals, and that there are circumstances where you may be able to apply for an exemption from having to pay the duty.

Cylinders:

Cylinders are a vital component of an engine in which fuel is combusted and power is generated. Most petrol and diesel cars have four, six or eight cylinder engines, with a greater number of cylinders typically producing greater power.

As a general rule, the higher your cylinder number, the more expensive your registration will be.

Fuel type:

There are many fuel varieties, including petrol, diesel, electric, gas, and hybrid options (electric/petrol or electric/diesel). Unless you have an electric vehicle, the fuel type of your vehicle does not affect your overall car registration costs.

Electric cars are cheaper than petrol, diesel and gas varieties when it comes to registration.

Light vehicles:

6-month or 12-month options

(1-month or 3-month options are available if you’re renewing through direct debit)

Heavy vehicles:

3-month, 6-month, or 12-month options

According to the Queensland Government, there will be a surcharge for registration periods less than 12 months. This surcharge covers updating the vehicle register and other costs associated with the production, manufacture and mailing of additional registration notices.

Please note: A vehicle with a total mass of over 4.5 tonnes is considered a heavy vehicle. Vehicles below this weight are considered light.

How much does car registration cost in Queensland?

Costs will differ based on the factors outlined above. For a list of approximate costs (at the time of writing) for registration of a light vehicle for private use in Queensland, see the tables below.

New Registration

Light passenger vehicle (for private use) | fuel type – petrol | CTP insurance included.

← Mobile/tablet users, scroll sideways to view full table →

Registration period	Dutiable value ($)	4	6	8
		Cylinders
6 months	10,000	$739.95	$895.10	$1,059.45
6 months	15,000	$889.95	$1,070.10	$1,259.45
6 months	20,000	$1,039.95	$1,245.10	$1,459.45
12 months	10,000	$1,127.00	$1,387.35	$1,666.00
12 months	15,000	$1,277.00	$1,562.35	$1,866.00
12 months	20,000	$1,427.00	$1,737.35	$2,066.00

Source: collected in April 2024 from the Department of Transport and Main Roads – Registration Quote Tool.

Registration renewal

Light passenger vehicle (for private use) | fuel type – petrol | CTP insurance included.

← Mobile/tablet users, scroll sideways to view full table →

Registration period	4	6	8
	Cylinders
6 months	$406.05	$511.20	$625.55
12 months	$793.10	$1003.45	$1232.10

Source: collected in April 2024 from the Department of Transport and Main Roads – Registration Quote Tool.

Car registration fee inclusions

Vehicle registration fees are made up of three components:

the vehicle registration fee
the traffic improvement fee
a CTP insurance premium (if you choose to have it included in your registration, though note it is a legal requirement to have CTP coverage before you can drive your car)

Other related fees

There are other fees for your car that you may be required to pay, depending on your circumstances. These may include:

vehicle registration transfer fee for vehicle or plate
fee to issue or replace a standard number plate
personalised number plate transfer fee
customised plate fee
customise and replace plate fee
late payment renewal fee (for 3, 6, or 12 months)

For the current costs and charges, visit the Queensland Government website on registration costs.

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How do you register a car in Queensland?

If you are registering a vehicle (not renewing), and you bought it privately, or a motor dealer hasn’t organised this for you, you must visit a transport and motoring customer service centre.

If you live in a remote or rural area, you can alternatively visit a mobile customer service unit, Queensland and Government Agent Program (QGAP) office, Magistrates Court or police station, according to Queensland’s Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR). But TMR recommends calling to confirm if registration services are provided prior to visiting these locations.

If you are attending a QGAP office, Magistrates Court or local police station that provides registration services, you’ll need to complete a vehicle registration application, and, if it is your first time doing business with TMR, a new customer application, both of which are available to download from TMR.

You will be asked to take your vehicle with you as it may need to be inspected prior to registration. A pre-registration inspection may be required for some light motor vehicles (vehicles with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of 4.5 tonnes or less), but all heavy motor vehicles must undertake this (vehicles with a GVM more than 4.5 tonnes). Pre-registration inspections for heavy vehicles can be carried out by an accredited person under the Heavy Vehicle Registration Assessment Scheme.

To drive an unregistered car to the relevant centre, you must ensure you have a CTP insurance certificate, remove any number plates, and only drive to the centre.

If you are looking to renew your registration, you can log into your TMR or QGov account and select the registration you would like.

How could you save on your registration fees in Queensland?

You may be able to save on your vehicle’s registration fees in Queensland by considering doing the following:

Pay for a 12-month registration. There is a surcharge for the 1-month, 3-month and 6-month rego options, so in most cases, opting for the longer period will save you money over the year.
See if you qualify for a registration concession. There are a range of concessions available in Queensland. Some may include those for seniors or pensioner concession card holders, charitable or community organisations, or vehicles used in a restricted area in Queensland.
Make sure you renew your vehicle registration before it expires to avoid any late fees — renewal fees are also generally cheaper than paying for a new registration.
Opting for standard rather than personalised plates. When purchasing a new registration you will have to pay for plate fees. Standard plate fees are cheaper than personalised custom plates.

And if you haven’t purchased your vehicle yet, you could consider doing the following:

Purchasing a lower-cylinder vehicle, which are also generally cheaper and lower-valued. The lower the number of cylinders your car has, the cheaper the registration costs.
Purchasing an electric vehicle — which can be either a battery electric vehicle or fuel cell electric (hydrogen) vehicle. Electric vehicles come with lower registration costs, and you may also be eligible to apply for the Queensland Zero Emission Vehicle Rebate Scheme.

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This article was reviewed by our Editor-in-Chief Nina Rinella before it was updated, as part of our fact-checking process.

Karen Yang

Content Producer

Karen is a Content Producer at Canstar, working to help the company produce informative yet easy-to-digest financial content for Australian consumers. Karen has a background in allied health, having completed a Bachelor of Podiatry from the Queensland University of Technology. Karen recently embarked on a second career to rekindle her childhood passion for writing, while still maintaining her earnest intentions from her health professional background — to help the general public. In 2023, she completed a Graduate Certificate in Writing, Editing and Publishing at the University of Queensland. Karen strives to bring a fresh perspective and accurately represent the average consumer. You can connect with Karen via Linkedin.

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