How to check your car registration in each state
Driving an unregistered car is illegal. Even if you’re driving someone else’s car, it’s your responsibility to make sure that the vehicle is registered. This can help you avoid hefty fines and potential demerit points.
If you’ve forgotten your vehicle’s status, or need to check another vehicle before hopping behind the wheel, you can easily do so on each state’s Department of Transportation webpage.
What is a car registration check?
A rego check is a rundown of a vehicle’s current status. It will generally show:
- registration status and expiry date
- make, model and body shape of the vehicle, and
- whether it’s used for private or commercial reasons.
How to check your vehicle registration
Each state and territory has their own page where you can check your rego status. They also generally have clear instructions on how you can cancel, pay, and register new vehicles too, so there’s no excuse to be driving around unregistered.
- Victoria
- New South Wales
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Western Australia
- Tasmania
- Australian Capital Territory
- Northern Territory
Is a car registration check the same as a car history check?
No. If you’re after more detail on what a car’s been through – which can be especially handy if you’re planning on buying second-hand – you may be after a car history check. This can be done through the Australian Government PPSR, as long as you have the vehicle’s chassis number/VIN and two bucks for the usage fee.
This will show you stuff like:
- if there are any security interests on the vehicle, like an outstanding debt
- vehicle details, including make and model
- registration status
- stolen status, and
- written-off status.
Other purposes of a registration check
If your vehicle isn’t registered, then it’s also not covered by CTP or MAI Insurance. This insurance normally covers you for compensation and legal costs for people injured or killed in a crash involving your car. This is partly why registering is such a big deal – it’s not just for record-keeping purposes.
If you’re in New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory or South Australia, consider whether AAMI’s SA CTP Insurance, ACT MAI Insurance or NSW CTP Insurance is right for you.
Read more:
- Short-term rego: Can you register your car for 6 months?
- How much does it cost to register a vehicle in Australia?
- Paying your car insurance monthly vs annually
Insurance issued by AAI Limited ABN 48 005 297 807 trading as AAMI. Read the Product Disclosure Statement before buying this insurance. The Target Market Determination is also available. This advice has been prepared without taking into account your particular objectives, financial situations or needs, so you should consider whether it is appropriate for you before acting on it.
The information is intended to be of general nature only. Subject to any rights you may have under any law, we do not accept any legal responsibility for any loss or damage, including loss of business or profits or any other indirect loss, incurred as a result of reliance upon the information. Please make your own enquiries.