How much could your NSW car registration cost?

Below is a guide to the average costs of NSW car registration, including what factors influence the price, plus other fees you may face in the process of registering your vehicle. We’ll also reveal some ways you may be able to save money on your registration. Remember, registration of all vehicles – including cars, trailers, caravans and motorcycles – is a legal requirement before being permitted on public roads.

In this article we look at:

• • How is the cost of your NSW car registration calculated?
  • How much does car insurance cost in NSW?
  • What is included in registration fees?
  • What are other potential fees?
  • How you could potentially save money for your car registration.

How is the cost of your NSW car registration calculated?

According to the New South Wales Roads and Maritime Services, the cost of car registration in NSW depends on the following factors:

Type of registration

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
• Your registration has been expired for more than three months.

Renewal:
In NSW, the Roads and Maritime Services will send a registration notice a few weeks before your registration expires, detailing how much it will cost to renew and how you can pay. You must renew your registration on or before the due date for it to legally be on the road. The Roads and Maritime Services said you must ensure you have an up-to-date CTP (compulsory third party) insurance policy and have your vehicle undergo a safety inspection report, known as a pink slip (generally required annually if the car is older than five years) before you can renew your registration.

Compare Comprehensive Car Insurance

If you’re considering car insurance policies, the comparison table below displays some of the policies currently available on Canstar’s database for a 30-39 year old male seeking comprehensive cover in NSW without cover for an extra driver under 25. Please note the table is sorted by Star Rating (highest to lowest) followed by provider name (alphabetical) and features links direct to the providers’ website. Use Canstar’s car insurance comparison selector to view a wider range of policies.

Type of vehicle you’re registering

The cost of your registration will differ depending on the body type of the vehicle. The vehicle types listed on the Roads and Maritime Services website are –

• A car, station wagon or small bus
• Light goods vehicle
• Light trailers
• Motorcycles

Purpose of use

If you plan to use your vehicle for business purposes, for example as a taxi, limousine, Uber or rental car, then the cost of your registration will generally be greater than if it is used for private purposes. This is because vehicles used for business purposes attract a higher vehicle tax. This tax is included in the cost of your registration.

Market value/purchase price of vehicle

According to the NSW government, you will generally have to pay stamp duty on your motor vehicle when you’re registering a new vehicle for the first time or transferring a vehicle’s registration to another person. Stamp duty is the tax paid on the application documents required to register a motor vehicle in NSW.

The amount of stamp duty payable for your vehicle in NSW is based on the market value or purchase price of your car (whichever is higher). The stamp duty is then included in the cost of your registration. In other words, the higher the value or purchase price of your car, the more you will pay in stamp duty, which will push up the price of your registration.

There are a number of circumstances where you may be able to apply for an exemption from having to pay your vehicle’s stamp duty. Stamp duty does not apply to registration renewals.

Tare weight

Roads and Maritime Services uses the tare (unladen) weight of a vehicle to determine the amount to charge for motor vehicle tax. This motor vehicle tax is included in the cost of your registration. The more your car weighs, the higher the vehicle tax and therefore the more expensive your car registration will be.

According to CarsGuide, the tare weight is the weight of an empty standard vehicle with all of its fluids (oils, coolants) but with only 10 litres of fuel in the tank. To find the tare weight, check your vehicle’s manual or look for a stamped plate either located inside the frame of the driver’s door or on your engine.

Roads and Maritime Services break down tare weight into these four categories to choose from:

• Small: Up to 975kg
• Medium: 976kg to 1,154kg
• Large: 1,155kg to 1,504kg
• Extra Large: 1,505kg to 2,504kg

The amount of vehicle tax payable by tare weight depends on whether you are using a vehicle privately or for business use, with a full breakdown of fees available on the Roads and Maritime Services website.

Registration period

When registering a vehicle, you generally have choices around the amount of time you want to pay for. These are:

Light vehicles: 6 or 12 months

Heavy vehicles: 3, 6, or 12 months

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 NSW?

Canstar has compiled costs for car registration in NSW for car, station wagons or small buses for private use, both new and as registration renewals. Costs for car registration will vary based on factors previously outlined.

For approximate costs for car registration in NSW, at the time of writing, see the tables below.

New registration

Car, station wagon or small bus – for private use

Source: Roads and Maritime Services NSW, 2019 – Registration Calculator

What is included in car registration fees in NSW?

The fees for a new registration are made up of four components:

1. The vehicle registration fee (which is currently $67 annually for all vehicles)
2. The motor vehicle tax
3. Plate fee
4. Stamp duty

The fees for registration renewal comprise the vehicle registration fee and motor vehicle tax.

Other potential fees

There are other potential fees involved in the registration of your car that you may be required to pay, depending on your circumstances. At the time of writing, these may include:

Registration transfer fees

Transfer fee within 14 days of acquiring the vehicle: $34
Transfer fee after 14 days of acquiring the vehicle: $155

→Related article: How to transfer car registration in New South Wales

Registration cancellation fee

Cancel registration fee: $30

Replacement certificate of registration

Replacement fee: $22

Other plate fees

Replacement plate fee: $47
Special number plates: varies depending on style and content

Note: The fee for new plates is included in the cost for a new car registration

Safety checks and inspections

Pink slip: $42 (light vehicle)

Most light vehicles (passenger cars) more than five years old require a safety check (called a pink slip) each year before you can renew your NSW registration. Your registration renewal notice will state whether you need this safety check. These checks must be performed at an Authorised Inspection Scheme station and results will be sent to the Roads and Maritime services electronically.

Blue slip: $66 (light vehicle)

All unregistered light vehicles (passenger cars) need a blue slip inspection before they can be registered in NSW. This includes vehicles:

• where registration has expired more than three months ago
• that have been brought into NSW from interstate or overseas
• that have no number plates
• that were written-off, but have now been approved for re-registration
• that require adjustments in their registration records because something about the vehicle has changed significantly, such as a new engine
• that need defect notices cleared.

This inspection report verifies if an unregistered vehicle is safe and it meets design and identity standards. The result of this inspection is usually sent to the Roads and Maritime Services electronically and is valid for 42 days.

CTP Insurance

Compulsory Third Party (CTP) or Green Slip car insurance is a type of car insurance that protects drivers against compensation claims made if you were to kill or injure someone in a road traffic accident. You cannot apply for or renew a NSW registration until you have purchased CTP insurance. Most insurers send your CTP insurance details to Roads and Maritime Services electronically so they are aware of your purchase when you apply for registration.

The period of cover of your CTP insurance policy must match your registration term. For example, a 12-month registration requires a 12-month CTP policy.

Prices for CTP insurance will vary between insurers, so it’s a good idea to compare prices and features of each policy before making a decision. The State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA) has an online calculator you can use to get a CTP quote comparison for all NSW providers for the most common vehicle types and circumstances.

Compare Comprehensive Car Insurance

How could you save on your registration in NSW?

You may be able to save on your vehicle’s registration fees by considering the following tips, depending on whether you are renewing your car registration or buying a new vehicle:

• Opting for standard rather than special (personalised) number plates.

When purchasing a new registration, you will have to pay for plate fees. Standard plate fees are generally cheaper than personalised versions.

• Checking to see if you qualify for a registration concession.

Those who may be eligible for a concession include

– pensioners and war widow(ers)

– full-time carers

– people with a totally and permanently incapacitated (TPI) or extreme disablement adjustment (EDA) Department of Veterans’ Affais Gold Card

– primary producers (a person or incorporated body who cultivates their own or someone else’s land for their own benefit)

– apprentices (a registration rebate of $100 may be available to first- and second-year apprentices registered with the NSW Department of Education and Communities)

If you haven’t purchased your vehicle yet, you could consider the following:

• Purchasing a vehicle with a smaller tare weight.

The lower the tare weight of your car, the less tax you are required to pay, which potentially means a cheaper registration.

• Purchasing a lower-value vehicle.

Lower value cars cost less to register than those of a higher value.

• Purchasing an energy-efficient vehicle that qualifies for the lower tax category.

Certain energy-efficient vehicles are now eligible for lower tax, meaning owners of these vehicles pay less tax when registering. Lower taxed vehicles must meet certain criteria to be eligible for this energy-efficient category. This criteria is outlined on the Roads and Maritime services lower-taxed vehicle registration page.

→Related article: The best hybrid cars Australia: 2020 Guide

This article update was reviewed by our Sub Editor Jacqueline Belesky and Senior Finance Journalist Shay Waraker before it was published as part of our fact-checking process.

Cover image source: Taras Vyshnya (Shutterstock)