On this page:
Abolition of registration labels
Removal of 6 and 9 month registration periods for light vehicles
Renewing registration from 1 July 2011
Checking that a light vehicle is registered
Registration detection
Abolition of registration labels
Vehicle registration stickers are no longer issued for light vehicles. Light vehicles include:
- cars
- motorcycles
- trailers
- boat trailers
- horse floats
- caravans.
From 1 July 2011 you can remove your current label or you can wait until your registration is due for renewal.
Heavy vehicles (defined as all vehicles with a gross vehicle mass of more than 4.5 tonnes) will still be required to display a heavy vehicle registration label.
[top of page]
To simplify the registration renewal process, the 6 and 9 month registration periods for light vehicles have been discontinued for registrations starting from 1 July 2011. After this date when your registration is due, you will need to select either a 3 or 12 month renewal option.
Heavy vehicles are exempt
Changes to light vehicle registration periods do not apply to heavy vehicles (gross vehicle mass over 4.5 tonnes).
Heavy vehicle registrations are subject to a national review and registration periods will be determined in line with the national guidelines. Until that occurs, the periods of registration for heavy vehicles will remain unchanged.
Special purpose vehicles
Special purpose vehicle registration periods will not change except that from 1 July 2011 light special purpose vehicles will no longer need to display a registration label.
[top of page]
Renewing registration from 1 July 2011
Approximately six weeks prior to the registration expiry date, light vehicle owners will receive a new form called a registration details certificate with their registration renewal notice.
The registration details certificate replaces the registration sticker and certificate that you would have previously received after the vehicle registration had been paid. The certificate carries a record of your vehicle details and has a space to record your payment number. The disposal notice and application for transfer of registration is printed on the reverse side of the registration details certificate.
You should always retain your registration details certificate with payment receipt details.
The registration details certificate includes a tear-off section that can be kept in the glove box, as it contains no personal information or important vehicle identifiers.
You still need to pay your registration by the due date. If your registration expires you will receive a reminder notice between 7 and 14 days after expiry.
Payment receipts
You will continue to receive a payment receipt over the counter.
If you renew your registration by mail, your registration payment receipt will be posted to you.
If you pay by phone or online you will receive a payment number. The payment receipt or payment number should be attached or recorded on the registration details certificate as proof of payment.
No matter how you pay for your registration, you can print a payment receipt via EzyReg.
[top of page]
Checking that a light vehicle is registered
There are a number of ways to check if a light vehicle is registered. This is of particular importance if you are driving someone else's car. If you are in any doubt, it's advisable to check.
Quick and easy checks on a vehicle's rego due date can be made in three ways:
[top of page]
Registration when selling or buying a light vehicle
When selling a vehicle, you are required to provide the registration details certificate to the buyer.
When you purchase a vehicle you should ask to see the current registration details certificate for the vehicle. It is the responsibility of the buyer to check the registration expiry date before buying a second hand vehicle. This can be done in three ways:
[top of page]
Registration detection
In South Australia
All vehicles used on South Australian roads must have valid registration. If you use an unregistered vehicle on the road you may be committing an offence and may not be covered by a compulsory third party insurance policy.
South Australia Police do roadside registration checks using wireless equipment and number plate details to immediately check registration status.
Under the Motor Vehicles Act 1959, it is an offence for a registered owner to allow an unregistered or uninsured vehicle to be driven on the road. Each situation will be determined based on the particular circumstances applying at the time.
The current expiation fee for driving an unregistered vehicle is $315 and $582 for driving an uninsured vehicle. The maximum penalty for driving an unregistered vehicle on a road is $2,500 regardless of who owns the vehicle.
Interstate
All police in Australia are able to access information about South Australian vehicle registration. Interstate jurisdictions have been advised that South Australian light vehicles are no longer required to display registration labels.
[top of page]