Car registration transfer fees in NSW

All cars driving on New South Wales (NSW) roads are legally required to be registered. When you buy or inherit a vehicle in NSW you need to make sure you transfer the car’s registration (often called ‘rego’) into your name. Likewise, if you move to or leave NSW, it’s your responsibility to ensure the car is registered with the correct state or territory.

Transferring car registration in NSW as a seller

According to Service NSW, the NSW state government body that deals with driving and transport, when you sell or dispose of a vehicle to another person, you need to complete two tasks to ensure the car rego transfer can be completed.

1. Provide the new registered operator with a document that proves entitlement to register the vehicle
2. Lodge a Notice of Disposal (NOD) for the vehicle online or at a registry or service centre.

Notice of Disposal

A Notice of Disposal is a way for you to notify Service NSW that your vehicle is no longer in your possession.

To lodge this notice, Service NSW says you will need to provide the following information:

• Your details (including your address and driver’s licence number) and signature

• Vehicle registration plate number

• Sale date (or date of disposal)

• Vehicle details (such as make, model, year, engine number and VIN)

• New operator’s details (name, address, date of birth, selling price or market price, driver’s licence number or Service NSW customer number).

You can lodge this notice online, provided the new operator of the car is a NSW resident with a NSW driver’s licence, or you can lodge in person at a registry or service centre or via the post.

Transferring car registration in NSW as a buyer

According to the NSW state government, once you’ve bought a car or received one for free, you’ll need to transfer it into your name within 14 days of it coming into your possession. If this is not done you will face a late transfer surcharge. You can transfer car registration online, if eligible, or in person at a Service NSW centre.

Online

To be eligible to apply for a transfer online through the MyServiceNSW portal, you must hold a NSW driver’s licence and be transferring a vehicle registered in NSW.

To complete the process online, the previous owner must first submit a Notice of Disposal and then you will need to provide the following:

• The vehicle’s NSW registration plate number

• A MyServiceNSW account

• Your concession details (if applicable)

• The vehicle purchase date

• The purchase price or market price of the vehicle (whichever is higher)

• Payment for the transfer fee and any additional fees and taxes (if applicable).

In person

To apply for a car rego transfer in person, you’ll need to provide the following documentation:

• Application for Transfer form

• Proof of identity

• Proof of your entitlement to register the vehicle

• Your concession details (if applicable)

• Payment for the NSW rego transfer fee, stamp duty (unless exempt, as discussed later in this article) and a personalised plate transfer fee if it applies.

Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance (also called Green Slip insurance) will remain in place and automatically transfer to the new operator of the car when the registration is transferred.

How much does it cost to transfer car registration in NSW?

When you transfer the registration of a car into your name, you may be required to pay some or all of the following fees in NSW. These are the fees at the time of writing:

Registration transfer fee

• If paid within 14 days of acquiring the vehicle: $39

• If paid after 14 days of acquiring the vehicle: $182

Additional vehicle tax, registration charges and stamp duty may apply.

Personalised plates transfer fee (if applicable)

• For personalised number plates: $113

• For custom number plates: $242

• For standard plates: $30

If you are buying a vehicle that has personalised or custom number plates, and these plates are being transferred over to you as the new operator of the vehicle, then you may have to pay one of the fees above.

If you are the seller of the vehicle and want to keep your personalised plates, you will need to reserve these plates at a registry or Service NSW centre, and have standard plates issued to the vehicle you are selling.

Stamp duty

Stamp duty is collected by Service NSW on behalf of the Office of State Revenue when registration is issued to a different person.

Stamp duty is based on the market value of the car or the price you paid, whichever is greater. You can calculate the stamp duty for your own vehicle here.

There are some scenarios where you may be eligible for an exemption from paying stamp duty when transferring the registration of a car. To apply for a stamp duty exemption, you need to fill out the Declaration of Eligibility for a Registration Concession form and visit a Service NSW centre.

Changing your car registration when moving to NSW

If you have moved to NSW and plan to stay, you will need to register your car in NSW. Failing to register your vehicle may result in penalties, so it could be a wise idea to contact Service NSW to discuss your options.

Before you register your car, you are required to purchase CTP insurance (Green Slip) from a NSW insurance provider. Most CTP insurers will then send your insurance details to Service NSW electronically.

You must also have your car inspected at an Authorised Unregistered Vehicle Inspection Station (AUVIS). If the vehicle passes the inspection (also known as a safety check), your inspection details will be sent to Service NSW electronically.

Once you have had your car inspected and have purchased CTP insurance, you will need to go to a registry or service centre in person to register your car in NSW. You will need to provide the following:

• Application for Registration form

• Proof of identity

• Proof of entitlement to register the vehicle

• CTP/Green Slip insurance details

• Relevant inspection reports and certifications

• Previous number plates (if you have them)

• Payment for the applicable fees, which include a general registration charge, stamp duty, motor vehicle tax and a number plate fee. You can use the Service NSW registration calculator to help estimate the costs.

Once you have your registration in NSW, Service NSW will assign you a set of NSW plates and will record that the previous plates are no longer associated with the vehicle.

This information is sent to the interstate authority and you will be issued with a receipt. From there you may be able to take that receipt to your interstate authority in order to receive a registration refund for your old registration. Contact your interstate authority for more information.

Changing your registration when leaving NSW

If you are leaving NSW to live interstate and taking your car with you, you will have to apply for registration in that state and then cancel your registration in NSW.

To cancel, you can head to a registry or Service NSW centre in person or post your application. You will need to include a completed cancellation of registration form, provide proof of identity and the vehicle’s NSW registration certificate, as well as the vehicle’s number plates.

While the NSW registration fee and number plate fees are non-refundable, you may be entitled to a refund of the unused portion of your motor vehicle tax when cancelling your registration. To apply for a refund you will need to complete and sign a request for refund of NSW registration form and take it into a Service NSW centre when you cancel your registration

If you’re moving, also remember to update your details with your car insurance provider, or consider your options for insuring your vehicle within your new state or territory.

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