Wear and tear of number plates
Over time, excessive exposure to exhaust fumes, chemicals, stones, the sun, and general wear and tear can damage your plates and make them hard to read. You should check the condition of your plates regularly, particularly if you have older plates. It is your responsibility to ensure that your number plates are visible.
Find out about number plate visibility requirements.
Legible number plates are essential to ensure accurate identification of vehicles. This is based on a need to trace:
- stolen vehicles
- vehicles involved in crime or traffic incidents, such as red light and speed camera offences.
Police and transport inspectors regularly check the condition of number plates. Make sure your plates can be read or you may be fined. If they cannot be read and cleaning does not fix the problem, you will need to replace them.
Find out how to replace your number plates.
Number plate warranty
Standard number plates have a 10 year warranty against faulty material and workmanship. This warranty period only applies when a vehicle is being used under normal conditions.
For warranty information for standard, accessory, personalised or customised plates, contact the Department of Transport and Main Roads or go to a transport and motoring customer service centre. If you live in a rural area, contact a QGAP office, Magistrates Court or local police station that provides vehicle registration services—please call to confirm before visiting.
Stolen, lost, damaged or destroyed number plates
If a vehicle's number plates are stolen, the registered operator of a vehicle must advise the Department of Transport and Main Roads within 14 days after discovering the plates have been stolen. The theft of the number plates should also be reported to the Queensland Police Service.
Similarly, if number plates are lost, damaged or destroyed, the registered operator of a vehicle must advise the Department of Transport and Main Roads within 14 days.
If your number plate/s is missing, even where lost or stolen, you can be fined for using the vehicle.
Find out how to replace your number plates.
Replacing number plates due to crime
If a standard number plate is stolen or lost, damaged or destroyed due to a crime committed by someone else, you will not have to pay a fee to replace the plate. This includes any accessory plates that were issued for the affected plate. If you request a free replacement of personalised or customised plates attached to a vehicle, you will receive standard plates as a replacement.
When you apply for your replacement number plates, you must declare that the information you have provided us is true and correct.
The penalty for providing false or misleading information is up to $10,000.
Find out more about free replacement number plates for victims of crime.
Number plates illegally copied (cloned)
If your number plates have been copied, we will replace them with a set of standard issue number plates free of charge. Copied plates are illegal copies of your number plates that use your number and letter combination to avoid infringements.
If you suspect your number plate combination has been duplicated and used in an illegal activity, contact the Queensland Police to report that you have been the victim of a copied plate offence.
To obtain a replacement set of standard number plates, visit your nearest transport and motoring customer service centre and:
- provide the Queensland Police Service reference number given. For example, if reported to the Queensland Police, a QP number
- bring your number plates (remove them after you arrive at the customer service centre).
Find out how to replace your number plates.