Print

Register your vehicle or motorcycle

Motor vehicles and motorcycles (including mopeds and tricycles) used on Queensland roads must be registered.

Register a vehicle

  • New registration
  • Make changes to your registration
  • Apply for a common due date

New registration

You need to apply for a new registration in Queensland when:

  • buying a new vehicle that has never been registered
  • buying a used unregistered vehicle
  • moving from another state or territory
  • if your registration has expired more than 3 months ago.

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.

closed captions icon Duration 00:02:19

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 (i.e. does not have an existing loan or finance attached to it) by searching the Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR).

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 heavy motor vehicles can be done by an accredited person under the Heavy Vehicle Registration Assessment Scheme.

Pre-registration inspection services for motor vehicles are only offered at some transport and motoring service centres. If you live in a rural area you can visit a QGAP office, Magistrates Court or local police station that provides these services—please call to confirm before visiting.

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).

You will need to:

  • provide an original copy of your current Queensland safety certificate or certificate of inspection:
    • handwritten certificates—bring the original blue copy (safety certificate) or pink (certificate of inspection) copy
    • electronic certificates—bring a printed copy or write the certificate number on the vehicle registration application
  • provide evidence of the vehicle's garage address (F4362)—such as current driver licence, rates notice, gas, electricity or phone bills, or a bank statement issued within the last 6 months
    • if you are unable to provide a garage address, you can complete the Queensland garage address statement form (F4408)
  • provide evidence of your identity—such as your current driver licence
  • pay the vehicle registration fees
  • pay vehicle registration duty unless exempt.

You may also need the following:

  • 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 is a repairable write-off—you will need a written-off vehicle inspection.
  • 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 certificateif 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.

To change your registration address, you can:

  • use our online service
  • phone 13 23 80
  • write to Department of Transport and Main Roads
    PO Box 2211
    BRISBANE QLD 4001
  • visit a transport and motoring service centre. If you live in a rural area you can visit a QGAP office, or local police station that provides vehicle registration services—please call to confirm before visiting.

    Note: if a vehicle is registered to an organisation instead of a person, you can't use our online service to change its registration address.

Compulsory third party insurance or input tax credit entitlement

To change your CTP insurer or input tax credit entitlement you can:

  • use our online service
  • call 13 23 80
  • write to Department of Transport and Main Roads
    PO Box 2211
    BRISBANE QLD 4001
  • visit a transport and motoring service centre. If you live in a rural area you can visit a QGAP office, or local police station that provides registration services—please call to confirm before visiting.
  • contact your preferred CTP insurer before your next registration renewal who will notify us on your behalf.

Change of vehicle details/vehicle modifications

If you have changed your vehicle's details or you've had a modification made to your vehicle you must complete a change of vehicle particulars notification (F3524) and lodge it at a transport and motoring service centre. If you live in a rural area you can visit a QGAP office, or local police station that provides registration services—please call to confirm before visiting. You must bring your modified vehicle with you to be inspected and also bring evidence of your identity.

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.

Get more information about light vehicle modifications.

Changes to purpose of use

The purpose of use listed on a vehicle's registration describes how it is allowed to be used. Common purposes of use include:

  • private
  • commercial
  • dealer
  • licensed tow truck
  • non-profit use
  • taxi
  • driver trainer and tuition
  • booked hire
  • booked hire rental.

To change from one purpose of use to another, you must bring evidence of your identity and complete a change of vehicle particulars notification (F3524) and lodge it at a transport and motoring service centre. If you live in a rural area you can visit a QGAP office, or local police station that provides vehicle registration services—please call to confirm before visiting.

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.

Other changes

To make other vehicle changes not listed here, or to change your name, you will need to visit a transport and motoring service centre. If you live in a rural area you can visit a QGAP office, or local police station that provides vehicle registration services—please call to confirm before visiting.

Apply for a common due date

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:

  • visit 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.
  • write to Transport and Main Roads
    Central Operations and Support
    Common Due Date Officer
    GPO Box 2211
    Brisbane Qld 4001
  • email CDD@tmr.qld.gov.au

You will need to provide:

  • 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.

Last updated:
29 November 2021