What to do when your vehicle registration runs out?
With the removal of registration labels being displayed on vehicles in the state of Queensland, there is a higher risk of Queensland drivers driving unregistered vehicles without even knowing it.
Gone are the days of receiving your rego label in the mail. This has been replaced with a payment confirmation letter. The upside is that you no longer have to struggle with the overly sticky label and the removal of the glue which seems impossible after a year of heat and cold on the inside of the windscreen.
The other upside being the important and frustrating task of making sure that the rego label is on straight is no longer required.
The major downside being that the reminder of when the rego is due is no longer there on the vehicle for you to check.
This can be a major issue especially if you are driving a vehicle that you wouldn’t normally drive for example: a customer’s car, a vehicle provided by an employer or hire vehicle. You are relying on someone else to pay the bill on time.
There is a link that you can use to check if the vehicle is currently registered. It will also tell you when the vehicle is registration is due.
This link is free and can be found on the Department of Transport’s website.
https://www.service.transport.qld.gov.au/checkrego/application/VehicleSearch.xhtml?windowId=d41
There are other portals on the website that allow you to update your details to ensure that you receive the renewal notice. Many vehicle owners who move house or change their postal address forget to notify the Department of Transport.
At peak times the Transport Department can have lengthy wait times on hold, to avoid the hold music, visit their website and follow the link below to update your details online.
https://www.service.transport.qld.gov.au/changeofaddressQt/public/Welcome.xhtml?windowId=d30
With the changes in the registration labels it is recommended to put the renewal dates as a reminder in a calendar or alarm reminder in your phone the week before it is due to ensure that the registration is kept on the vehicle at all times.
What happens if the registration lapses on your vehicle?
Technology now allows police vehicles to instantly run your vehicle through their database as they drive past you and it will tell them if your vehicle is unregistered. You can be driving perfectly within the road rules and not drawing attention to yourself and the police will instantly know if your vehicle is no longer holding a valid registration.
The Police will remove your plates and issue fines to the driver.
At the same time, they will see instantly when it is paid, as their system is live with the Transport Department. As soon as the registration is back on the vehicle the Police will know.
Compulsory Third Party Insurance (otherwise known as CTP Insurance) is apart of your registration and is mandatory for all vehicles that are driven on Queensland Roads. When you run out of registration your vehicle are still covered for the CTP insurance on the vehicle for an additional 30 days.
Once that time period has expired the vehicle cannot be moved from its location without CTP Insurance. If the vehicle is pulled over at the Service Station for example, it cannot be moved from the location until a Safety Certificate is issued and that is only issued if the vehicle is roadworthy.
There are Mobile Safety Certificates available in Queensland that allows the accredited examiner to travel to the location of the vehicle and conduct a Safety Certificate Inspection.
One of the sections of the Safety Certificate Inspection is a Road Test. This road test cannot be performed without CTP insurance. If the vehicle has been out of its registration for more than 30 days then the vehicle must have this insurance taken out on it before the examiner arrives.
If there are any defects with the vehicle the vehicle will need to be towed to a workshop to have the repairs carried out by a mechanic. The repairs need to completed within 14 days of the first inspection. This is the time set by the Transport Department. If this time expires, the Safety Certificate is cancelled and the process will need to be started again from the beginning.
Regular maintenance on your vehicle with your mechanic will ensure that the vehicle is kept in a roadworthy condition at all times. The defects that are found at the time of a Safety Certificate Inspection are items that are checked when a vehicle is put into a workshop for a service. This maintenance and upkeep will lessen the risk of the vehicle failing a Safety Certificate Inspection and save you time in the long run.
Always remember, mechanical issues won’t fix themselves and quite often, the longer they are left the more they are going to cost to repair.
When the Safety Certificate is issued you will need to visit one of the Queensland Transport and Main Roads customer service centres.
Gold Coast – Customer Service Centres – Queensland Transport and Main Roads
Beaudesert
Centre 9 Arcade
William Street
Beaudesert Qld 4285
Beenleigh
31 Logan River Road
Beenleigh Qld 4207
Bundall
30 Upton Street
Bundall Qld 4217
Burleigh Waters
Burleigh Home Space
1 Santa Maria Court
Burleigh Waters Qld 4220
Currumbin Waters
Unit 3, 109 Currumbin Creek Road
Currumbin Waters Qld 4223
Helensvale
Helensvale Plaza Shopping Centre
Shop 9A/B, Sir John Overall Drive
Helensvale Qld 4212
Southport
265 Nerang Street
Southport Qld 4215
Brisbane – Customer Service Centres – Queensland Transport and Main Roads
Brisbane City
229 Elizabeth Street
Brisbane Qld 4000
Brisbane City
33 Charlotte Street
Upper plaza level
Brisbane Qld 4000
Carseldine
532 Beams Road
Carseldine Qld 4034
Chermside
766 Gympie Road
Chermside Qld 4032
Cleveland
Ross Court Centre
Corner Bloomfield Street and Ross Court
Cleveland Qld 4163
Darra
Argyle Parade
Darra Qld 4077
Greenslopes
Greenslopes Shopping Mall
700 Logan Road, Corner Plimsoll Street
Greenslopes Qld 4120
Ipswich
2 Colvin Street
North Ipswich Qld 4305
Logan City
43-45 Jacaranda Avenue
Logan Central Qld 4114
Macgregor
Kessels Court
567 Kessels Road
Macgregor Qld 4109
Redbank
Redbank Plaza Shopping Centre, Shop 221, Level 2
1 Collingwood Drive
Redbank Qld 4301
Rosalie
109 Beck Street (corner Boys Street)
Paddington
Brisbane Qld 4064
Sherwood
14 Primrose Street
Sherwood Qld 4075
Strathpine
43 Bells Pocket Road
Strathpine Qld 4500
Toowong
15 Lissner Street
Toowong Qld 4066
Wynnum
139 Tingal Road
Wynnum Qld 4178
Zillmere
69 Pineapple Street
Zillmere Qld 4034
Most of the Customer Service Centre’s have the same operating hours.
Monday–Friday 8.30am-4.30pm
Wednesday 9.30am–4.30pm
Closed public holidays, Saturday and Sundays
