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Watch the following video or use our registration help tool for a quick look at how to register a used light motor vehicle or motorcycle.
Duration 00:02:19|Closed captions icon
Video transcript
Do you have a used car that is unregistered or registered interstate? Keep watching and I'll tell you how to register it in Queensland.
Step 1: Make sure you have evidence of identity for all of the registered operators and evidence of where the car will be garaged in Queensland.
If you don't have a Queensland driver licence or another card issued by the Department of Transport and Main Roads, you will need to bring other forms of ID, like an Australian birth certificate, credit card and Medicare card.
Step 2: If your car is unregistered, you need to contact a compulsory third party insurance provider and get a CTP insurance certificate. You need to keep the certificate in the car when you drive to get your inspections and certificates and when you come to register it.
If you need to drive the car for any other reason, like repairs, you will need to buy an unregistered vehicle permit. Use our online service to buy one.
Step 3: Get a Queensland safety certificate, formerly known as a roadworthy, from an approved inspection station. Go to our website to find one.
If your car has been written-off, it needs to be inspected by the Queensland Inspection Service.
And if it has a gas fuel system or has gas appliances you'll also need a certificate from a gas installer.
Finally, if your car has been modified you'll need to get a modification plate from an approved person.
Step 4: Once you have everything you need, bring your documents and car into see one of our friendly staff at a customer service centre and we will get you on the road. If you would like more information on any of the steps in this video go to the Queensland Government website and use our registration help tool or call 13 23 80. And remember, drive safely.
Registering a new or used motor vehicle
When you buy a new or used vehicle from a motor dealer, generally they will arrange registration and compulsory third party (CTP) insurance for you. You will need to provide evidence of identity such as your current driver licence. If you are eligible for a registration concession make sure you let the dealer know and provide proof to enable the dealer to include the concession. You can't have a concession on 2 vehicles at the same time for some concession types.
If a motor dealer has not arranged registration of your vehicle, or if you buy a vehicle privately, the new registration must be done at a transport and motoring service centre. If you live in a rural area you can visit a QGAP office, Magistrates Court or local police station that provides vehicle registration services—please call to confirm before visiting.
If you have not already done so, check that the vehicle is unencumbered by searching on the Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) website. It will show if there is money owing or an interest registered by the State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER). You can't register a vehicle if an interest has been registered by SPER.
You can't apply for a new registration via Transport and Main Roads online services.
To register a vehicle in Queensland, refer to the registration checklist and take these items with you when registering your vehicle.
Pre-registration inspection
You must take the vehicle with you because it may need to be inspected before it can be registered.
Light motor vehicles with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of 4.5t or less and motorcycles may require a pre-registration inspection to confirm the vehicle’s identity.
A pre-registration inspection must be conducted on all heavy motor vehicles with a GVM over 4.5t to ensure the vehicle complies with Australian Design Rules.
Pre-registration inspection services for motor vehicles are only offered at some transport and motoring service centres. During severe weather events, you may not be able to get a pre-registration inspection at some centres.
Heavy Vehicle Registration Assessment Scheme accredited persons cannot perform inspections for imported motor vehicles that have never been registered in Australia before. This must be done by the Department of Transport and Main Roads.
Driving your motor vehicle to be registered
If your vehicle is currently registered in another state or territory and the number plate/s are attached, you have 14 days to register your vehicle in Queensland and may be fined if you don’t. This will allow you time to get a safety certificate or certificate of inspection and then register your vehicle at a transport and motoring service centre. If you live in a rural area you can visit a QGAP office, Magistrates Court or local police station that provides vehicle registration services—please call to confirm before visiting.
If your vehicle is unregistered and you need to drive on the road to register it, you cannot legally drive the vehicle unless you are carrying a CTP insurance certificate. In addition, any number plate/s on the vehicle must be removed or you may be fined. This will allow you to drive your vehicle to get a safety certificate or certificate of inspection and then to a transport and motoring service centre. If you live in a rural area you can visit a QGAP office, Magistrates Court or local police station that provides vehicle registration services—please call to confirm before visiting.
It is acceptable for you to drive the vehicle back to its garaging address if it is not possible to register the vehicle on that day due to insufficient time or to get other registration requirements that were not able to be obtained.
Towing your motor vehicle on a trailer to be registered
If you are towing your vehicle on a trailer to be registered, you can pay for your CTP insurance when you register your vehicle.
Registration checklist
If you are registering a vehicle at a transport and motoring service centre, you no longer need to complete a vehicle registration application (F3518).
However, if you are attending a QGAP office, Magistrates Court or local police station that provides registration services, you will still need to complete a vehicle registration application (F3518). If it’s your first time doing business with us, you will also need to complete a new customer application (F3503).
if you are unable to provide a garage address, you may be eligible to complete the Queensland garage address statement form (F4408). Most interstate residents cannot use F4408 as proof of their garage address. Call 13 23 80 for more information.
If you are driving your vehicle to get it registered—the original CTP insurance certificate (6 or 12 month registration period) from a licensed insurer. Your vehicle must have CTP insurance cover before you can legally drive it on the road.
Note: if your vehicle will be used for more than 1 purpose, the CTP insurance class with the higher premium is applicable. If you are considering renting your vehicle, it is advisable to contact your CTP insurer.
If your vehicle is a heavy vehicle with a GVM over 4.5t and your vehicle has had a pre-registration inspection completed by an accredited person—you will need the applicable pre-registration vehicle inspection sheet.
If your vehicle uses gas or is fitted with gas fittings or systems—you will need a gas inspection certificate that is less than 3 months old issued by an authorised installer:
you may be granted an exemption if you are unable to obtain a gas certificate if there is no one authorised to issue gas inspection certificates within a reasonable distance of your residence
new vehicles that have manufacturer-installed gas fittings or systems do not need a gas inspection certificate.
If your vehicle has a gross vehicle mass over 4.5t—a weighbridge certificate or other acceptable evidence of the vehicle's tare (unladen) weight is needed. View a current list of Queensland public weighbridge stations.
Make changes to your registration
Registration address
If you need to change your registration address, and your registration is due for renewal, you must change the address before paying for the renewal.
The details you are changing or the modifications you make may affect the cost of your registration fee and/or CTP insurance—if they do, you will need to pay the difference before the changes will come into effect.
Changing your vehicle's purpose of use may affect the cost of your CTP insurance—if it does, you will need to pay the difference before the changes will come into effect.
If you have 5 or more vehicle registrations or 2 or more heavy vehicle registrations with the same Transport and Main Roads Customer Reference Number (CRN) you can apply to have a common due date so all your registrations expire on the same day. You can't have a common due date with a 1, 3 or 6-month pay term, or if your registrations are renewed through direct debit. Common due dates can't be applied to boats.
You can have more than 1 common due date but you must have at least 5 or more vehicle registrations or 2 or more heavy vehicle registrations for each common due date at all times, otherwise the common due date will automatically expire on your CRN.
How to apply
To apply for a common due date, an organisation or individual can:
the name of the organisation, company/business name, or individual name/s
your CRN, Australian Company Number (ACN) or Australian Business Number (ABN) if known
the preference for your common due date (please provide more than 1 date as your first choice may be unavailable), or additional dates if you require more than 1 common due date. The most suitable common due date will be chosen from the dates provided
Note: the following dates cannot be used:
28 and 29 February
1 July
31 December
All dates in June and October
a list of the registrations to be attached to each common due date
the name of the individual or joint registered operators—the request must be signed by all parties to ensure they all agree to having their registrations on a common due date
a signed request if a company/business requires a common due date—signed either by the organisation's proprietor, fleet manager or someone in authority on company letterhead.
Note: a common due date cannot be removed or added to a registration via Transport and Main Roads online services.
Contact Transport and Main Roads to find out more about a common due date via email CDD@tmr.qld.gov.au or 13 23 80.
