What rego actually covers
Rego is the state's record that a vehicle is allowed on public roads. It ties the plate and the VIN to a registered owner, which is how toll roads, red light cameras and speed cameras know who to send the bill to. Whoever owns the car has to hold the rego, so it has to move into your name when you buy.
Compulsory third party (CTP) insurance comes with it. In every state except NSW it's built into the rego bill. In NSW you buy it separately as a green slip, and you can't register or renew without one. Queensland, South Australia and the ACT let you choose your CTP insurer as part of rego, while Victoria, WA, Tasmania and the NT each run a single government scheme.
CTP only covers injuries to people. It does nothing for the other car, the fence you hit or your own vehicle, so you still want third party property cover at the very least.
One thing rego isn't: proof the car is in good shape. In South Australia, WA and Tasmania a registered car can change hands with no inspection at all, so current rego only tells you the car was legal to drive. If you're buying, our guide on roadworthy certificates covers what each state checks.
The rules at a glance
Every state runs its own system, but the shape is similar: the buyer has 14 days to transfer, the seller has to tell the registry they've sold, and some states want an inspection first. Here's how they compare for a private sale of a registered car.
| State | Inspection at sale | Buyer transfers | Seller notifies | Online transfer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | None, but most cars over 5 years need a yearly pink slip | 14 days | 14 days | Yes (MyServiceNSW) |
| VIC | Roadworthy certificate, supplied by the seller | 14 days | 14 days | Yes (myVicRoads) |
| QLD | Safety certificate, supplied by the seller | 14 days | 14 days | Yes, in two steps |
| SA | None | 14 days | Lodge a disposal notice | Yes, buyer (mySAGOV) |
| WA | None, but the car needs an approved immobiliser | 14 days | 7 days | Yes (DoTDirect) |
| TAS | None | 14 days | 7 days | If both hold Tas licences |
| ACT | Roadworthy inspection if the car is more than 6 years old | 14 days | Lodge a notice of disposal | No, in person |
| NT | Roadworthy if the car is 7 years or older | 14 days | 14 days | No (in person, email or mail) |
Transferring rego when you buy in the same state
The steps barely change from state to state:
- If your state needs one, the seller gets the inspection certificate and hands it over (Victoria, Queensland, and older cars in the ACT and NT).
- You both fill in the transfer form, or the online equivalent.
- The seller lodges a notice of disposal so fines and tolls stop going to them.
- You transfer the rego within 14 days and pay the transfer fee plus stamp duty.
The transfer fee is small, somewhere between about $20 and $52 depending on the state. Stamp duty is the real cost, usually around 3 to 4% for a typical car, worked out on the price or, in several states, the market value if that's higher. Miss the 14 days and it gets dearer: NSW charges $193 instead of $42, and South Australia adds a $108 late fee.
Get a proper receipt either way. It's your proof of the sale date and price if anything is disputed later, and our list of papers you need to transfer a car covers the rest.
New South Wales
You can transfer online through a MyServiceNSW account if you hold an NSW licence and the seller has already lodged their notice of disposal. Otherwise it's a service centre visit with the transfer form and ID. No inspection is needed to transfer current NSW rego, and the green slip moves across with the car. Most cars more than 5 years old need a pink slip (an eSafety check) each year at renewal.
Victoria
The seller needs a roadworthy certificate, which stays current for 30 days. The online transfer starts with the seller in myVicRoads: they lodge the notice of disposal, you add your Victorian licence number and finish it, then pay online.
Queensland
The seller must give you a safety certificate. For a private sale it's valid for 2 months or 2,000km, whichever comes first, and it only covers one transfer. Online transfers run in two steps: the seller transfers the rego out of their name, then you complete it. You'll need a Queensland licence or customer reference number with a Queensland address on file.
South Australia
No inspection is needed for a registered car. You can do the whole transfer yourself in mySAGOV (in a web browser, not the app) using the plate number and the seller's licence number and surname. The seller lodges a free disposal notice.
Western Australia
Either of you can do the transfer on DoTDirect. The seller must notify within 7 days or cop a penalty. There's no inspection, but you're responsible for making sure the car has an approved engine immobiliser unless it's exempt (cars over 25 years old are, among others).
Tasmania
Online transfers only work if you both hold Tasmanian licences. Otherwise it's a Service Tasmania visit with the signed transfer form. The seller has 7 days to submit a disposal notice.
ACT
If the car is more than 6 years old it needs a roadworthy inspection before the transfer, and the certificate lasts a month. Private buyers transfer in person at an Access Canberra service centre.
Northern Territory
Since February 2026, a light vehicle only needs a roadworthy when it changes hands if it's 7 years or older. Either party can arrange it with an authorised inspector. There's no self-serve online transfer: you lodge the form at the Motor Vehicle Registry, by email or by mail.
Buying a car registered in another state
Interstate rego doesn't transfer. You buy the car, then register it in your own state, which usually means an inspection before the registry will touch it:
- NSW wants a blue slip from an authorised inspection station.
- Victoria wants a roadworthy certificate.
- Queensland wants a safety certificate, and gives you 14 days to register.
- South Australia wants a vehicle identity inspection.
- WA wants a vehicle examination at an authorised inspection station, plus an immobiliser.
- Tasmania wants an inspection at an approved inspection station, and interstate reports aren't accepted.
- The ACT wants a roadworthy and a vehicle identity inspection.
- The NT wants a compliance inspection, plus a roadworthy if the car is 7 or older.
You'll also pay stamp duty in your own state and new plates, and some states make you hand the old plates in. Moving interstate with a car already in your name is easier: duty is usually waived, and the deadline to re-register ranges from 14 days in Queensland to 3 months in the ACT and South Australia.
A car from interstate can be worth the hassle if the price is right, but add the inspection, duty and plates to the price before you agree to it. Run a PPSR check first as well. Money owing on a car follows it across state lines.
Buying a car without current rego
You can't drive an unregistered car home. Each state sells a short-term permit for moving one to an inspection, a repairer or your place:
- NSW: unregistered vehicle permit ($28), though in some cases you can drive straight to the nearest inspection station without one
- Victoria: unregistered vehicle permit, priced by duration and vehicle type
- Queensland: unregistered vehicle permit for 1 to 7 days, which also needs separate CTP (see our Queensland permit guide)
- South Australia: unregistered vehicle permit, $52 for one day or $72 for up to three
- WA: temporary movement permit ($32.40)
- Tasmania: short term unregistered vehicle permit ($62.46)
- ACT: day, unrestricted or restricted unregistered vehicle permits
- NT: temporary licence to drive or tow an unregistered vehicle ($54.05)
Getting it registered again means passing an inspection, and the car has to be fixed before it will pass. That can get expensive, so ask the seller to have it inspected before you agree on a price. Even if they won't fix anything, the report tells you what you're up for.
Renewing rego
Every state lets you renew online and sends a renewal notice before it's due, most of them four to six weeks ahead, by post or email. Most will also text you a reminder if you sign up. If it does lapse, our guide to renewing an expired rego covers what to do next.
You can usually pay for 3, 6 or 12 months at a time, though NSW only offers 6 or 12 months for cars and South Australia 3 or 12. The shorter terms cost more per month once the admin fees and surcharges are added. NSW is also taking $100 off private car renewals between 1 September 2026 and 31 August 2027. For what the bill itself looks like in each state, see how much it costs to register a car, and if you're buying from a pensioner, read how concession rego changes the transfer.
To see whether a car you're looking at is registered right now, and when it expires, run a free rego check.
