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Car Registration Costs in Victoria
Car Registration Costs in Victoria
Written by
Kervin Mathew
Edited by
Andrew Kemp
Reviewed by
Adrian BennettCompare car insurance policies the easy way
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How does Victoria calculate car registration costs?
Long story short
Victoria’s rego costs depend on registration type, vehicle, and location
First-time registrations include fees such as motor vehicle duty and number plate costs.
Annual rego fees vary by risk zone and vehicle type
Metropolitan drivers pay more than rural drivers.
The Transport Accident Commission (TAC) fee doubles as compulsory third-party insurance
It’s included in your registration and covers personal injury – not property damage.
Comprehensive cover offers the most protection for your car
Optional extras and agreed value cover can add peace of mind beyond basic policies.
How does Victoria calculate car registration costs?
In Victoria, several factors can go into calculating your rego costs and include:
- registration type – whether it’s a first-time registration or a renewal
- where you live – metropolitan (high risk), outer metropolitan (medium risk), or rural area (low risk)
- vehicle type – includes passenger vehicles, goods carrying vehicles, and caravans.
Registration type
Registering a vehicle for the first time can include basic charges plus a couple of extras.
First-time registrations include a:
- registration fee – an annual fee based on the type of vehicle you’re registering and where you live
- TAC charge – to support people injured in motor accidents and improve road infrastructure
- motor vehicle duty – a state tax payment when you register a car in your name
- number plate fee – used to pay for new number plates, or to change or replace your plates.
Registration renewals only include the registration fee and TAC charge. And good news road trippers! You don’t have to pay a TAC charge or motor vehicle duty when registering a light trailer or caravan.
Vehicle type and location
A light passenger vehicle like a sedan, station wagon, or SUV might cost more to register than, say, a ute or van that is meant to carry goods.
On top of the vehicle type, the area in which you live carries its own risk rating, and this can make a big difference to how much you pay in the TAC charge. For example, someone in a metro Melbourne suburb might have to shell out more on car rego costs than someone in, say, Warrandyte or the Yarra Ranges.
Here’s a quick guide on how much you’re likely to pay, but it’s worth considering that the below costs can vary depending on concessions.
Annual registration fees in Victoria
| Passenger vehicles | Utes, vans, and tray vehicles (up to 2 tonnes) | |
| Metropolitan | $930.70 | $931.80 |
| Wider metropolitan | $871.30 | $789.90 |
| Rural | $800.90 | $652.40 |
Helpful tip
Location doesn’t just affect your car rego’s risk profile, but it can also affect how much you end up paying for car insurance. Thankfully, there might a bit of wiggle room with your premium if you can shop around for policies before you buy or renew. There are also other ways to lower your premiums, if you switch to a pay as you drive policy. The key is to compare policies so you’re aware of your options and how you can save on costs.
Adrian Bennett
General Manager for General Insurance
Do I need to buy car insurance before registering my car in Victoria?
If you’re thinking about buying compulsory third-party (CTP) insurance, there’s no need to buy a separate policy (as you’d need to with Green Slips in NSW) if you’re registering your car in Victoria. That’s because your rego’s TAC charge doubles up as CTP insurance – too easy!
That said, the protection you get from the TAC charge only covers personal injury or death. If you’re looking to cover liability for property damage, it would be worth considering additional levels of car insurance.
Third-party property
With a third-party property policy, you get:
- cover for damage you cause to someone else’s vehicle and property
- limited cover for your own car if it’s damaged by an uninsured driver
- no additional features nor optional extras (usually).
Third-party property, fire, and theft
A third-party property, fire, and theft insurance policy typically includes:
- cover for damage you cause to someone else’s vehicle and property
- cover for your car if it’s damaged by fire or stolen
- limited cover for your car if it’s damaged by an uninsured driver
- fewer additional features than comprehensive cover and generally no optional extras.
Comprehensive
Typically, comprehensive cover includes:
- cover for damage to your car, even if you were at fault
- cover for theft, fire, weather and vandalism damage
- cover for damage your car causes to other people’s vehicles or property
- a variety of additional features and optional extras.
How much does it cost to register my car in Victoria?
Registration costs are not the only cost associated with when registering a new or used car, there are a couple of other associated costs worth budgeting for.
Fictional scenario: Farooq’s family road trip
After years of hard yakka, Farooq finally decided to hang up his apron at the local winery and embrace retirement – starting with a family road trip across Australia. He’d gotten his hands on a used SUV (with an expired rego) and a light trailer. Before he could hit the road, however, he had to make a quick detour to VicRoads to sort out his paperwork.
Farooq booked an appointment at the VicRoads Customer Service Centre near his home in the Yarra Valley. Before attending the appointment, he prepared all the required documents such as the vehicle registration form, proof of identity and address, and a roadworthy certificate (because it’s a used vehicle).
Appointment fee: $21.50
Farooq attends the appointment with his vehicle and trailer – and a screwdriver to put on his new number plates.
Annual registration fees: $652.40 for the SUV + $68.66 for the trailer
Number plate fees: $43 for standard plates + $21.50 for the trailer
Motor vehicle duty fee: $1,470 (for a standard passenger vehicle valued at $35,000)
Altogether, Farooq paid a little more than $2,270 to get his second-hand SUV and light trailer registered and ready for the road.
How do I register my car in Victoria?
VicRoads manages car regos in Victoria. Here’s what you’ll need to do to register a car or any other light vehicle.
Make sure you’re eligible to register your car
To be eligible:
- you must be 16 years or older
- your car must be garaged in Victoria
- you must have valid proofs of identity such as a Victorian driver licence or an Australian passport, along with a supporting document like a Medicare card.
Get your paperwork in order
These include:
- a completed vehicle registration form
- original proofs of identity, including your Victorian garage address if it’s not the same as your residential address
- a current and original roadworthy certificate if you’re re-registering a car.
Book an appointment with VicRoads
You can do this online, on the phone, or in person at a VicRoads Customer Service Centre. You’ll need your:
- car’s vehicle identification number (VIN) or chassis number
- engine number (optional)
- current Victorian licence number, or VicRoads customer number.
Attend the appointment
You’ll need to:
- take your vehicle with you, as VicRoads may decide to inspect it. (You’ll most likely need an unregistered vehicle permit)
- keep the relevant documents handy, including your concession card if you have one
- bring tools and screws to help get your number plates on
- be ready to pay your car rego.
All that’s left to do is drive your freshly registered car out of the service centre – with The Beatles’ classic ‘Drive My Car’ playing in the background if you like!
How do rego renewals work in Victoria?
Generally, you’ll need to renew your registration before it expires to drive your car legally. This depends on how long you registered your car for: three, six, or 12 months. VicRoads generally sends you a renewal notice about six weeks before its expiry date – either via email or by post.
After you get your renewal notice, you can renew your registration by simply paying for it:
- using online services such as the myVicRoads app, the VicRoads website, or through Service Victoria
- over the phone or online using BPAY
- in person at your local post office or VicRoads Customer Service Centre.
Frequently asked questions
Does Victoria allow short-term registrations for three or six months?
Yes. Aside from the standard 12-month registration period, you can get a short-term registration for three and six months. While your renewal fees are generally pro-rataed, you might need to pay an additional service fee.
Are there any concessions or discounts on rego in Victoria?
Yes, you can apply for a registration concession if you have a Centrelink concession for health care and pensioners, or a Department of Veterans’ Affairs concession.
If you’re applying for a concession, you might need to submit your application at least five days before the renewal date to give VicRoads enough time to process your application.
If you’re a primary producer, you might be eligible for discounts on registration fees or a waiver on your motor vehicle duty.
Do I have to pay extra for custom plates?
Yes. Different types of number plates have different fees – and custom plates are no different. As of December 2025, a new custom plate set will set you back around $645 with some premium variants going for as much as $1,175.
Are there any exemptions or concessions for motor vehicle duty in Victoria?
Yes. Victoria’s State Revenue Office allows several exemptions and concessions when it comes to motor vehicle duty.
Some of the exemptions include:
- death of the vehicle’s owner
- vehicle transfers involving trustees or nominees
- interstate transfers
- vehicles used to transport disabled or injured persons
- wheelchair accessible commercial passenger vehicles.
In addition to primary producer passenger cars, motor vehicle duty concessions can also apply to green cars, such as electric vehicles, with carbon dioxide emissions of 120 grams or less per kilometre travelled.
How can I save on car ownership costs?
Owning a car is an ongoing expense. While your car rego costs are almost certainly set in stone, you may be able to save on car insurance premiums by shopping around. Use iSelect’s comparison tool to compare car insurance quotes from a range of well-known Australian insurers. If you see one you like, we can help sign you up in a matter of minutes, and you won’t pay a cent more than if you’d bought directly from the insurer. (Excluding corporate discounts and exclusive retail offers.)
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