Fine for Driving Unregistered Vehicle: How Big Is the Fine?

Ever heard of a person receiving a fine for driving an unregistered vehicle? Car registration should be a no-brainer for anyone. Driving a registered vehicle in Australia isn’t optional, it’s the law. But beyond legal compliance, registration offers several benefits. Let’s look at some of them. 

• Vehicle registration fees contribute to road maintenance and safety programs. As a result, everyone can drive safely in Australian streets. 
• Most registrations include Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance, which covers injuries to others if you cause an accident. Click here to read our article about Third Party Property Damage on traffic law matters. 
• Registration links your car to you through licence plates. This helps authorities track stolen vehicles, investigate accidents, and enforce traffic laws.
• Registration fees may go towards programs that reduce vehicle emissions, contributing to cleaner air.

Sounds good right? So, don’t pass up that registration when you get your new ride. You wouldn’t want to miss these benefits for you and for your car. However, when a person fails to register their car, what can happen? What are the penalties and fines?

Let’s read this article to learn more about the fine for driving an unregistered vehicle in Australia and related traffic offences.

So How Big Is the Fine?

Let’s cut to the chase. Here’s a breakdown of the penalties for owning or driving an unregistered or unininsured vehicle in NSW:

Driving or Parking an Unregistered Vehicle:

1. Light Vehicles: $818 fine.
2. Heavy Vehicles (over 4.5 tonnes): $1728 fine and 4 demerit points.

Driving or Parking an Uninsured Vehicle:

1. Light Vehicles: $818 fine.
2. Heavy Vehicles (over 4.5 tonnes): $818 fine.

Parking an Unregistered Trailer (not attached to a vehicle):

1. Light Vehicles: $227 fine.
2. Heavy Vehicles (over 4.5 tonnes): $227 fine.

Fines for the Last Registered Owner of an Unregistered Vehicle

Note: Even if you weren’t driving, you can still be fined if you were the last registered owner of an unregistered vehicle that was used on a road.

Causing or Allowing an Unregistered Vehicle to be Used:

• Light Vehicle: $818 fine.
• Heavy Vehicle (over 4.5 tonnes): $818 fine.
• Trailer: $818 fine.

Causing or Allowing an Uninsured Vehicle to be Used:

• Light Vehicle: $818 fine.
• Heavy Vehicle (over 4.5 tonnes): $818 fine.

Registering Your Vehicle in New South Wales

In New South Wales, it’s important to register your vehicle before you drive it on public roads. This applies to most vehicles with wheels and a motor. Going back to our topic, it’s illegal to own an unregistered car and can lead to a fine for driving an unregistered vehicle.

The police can seize the vehicle or its number plates, and the financial penalty can be significant. Additionally, unregistered vehicles lack Compulsory Third Party Insurance. Let’s use a scenario. Imagine you’re a driver who drives an unregistered vehicle and you hit someone on the road. You are automatically liable for any injuries caused to the car accident victim. 

Who Doesn’t Need Car Registration?

All cars need registration, but you would be surprised to hear some cars that don’t need registration! Firstly, let’s look at what NSW Government says.

E-bike and motorised wheelchair users can breathe easy from a a fine for driving an unregistered vehicle. Certain low-powered bicycles and are exempt from registration as long as there are the following conditions for them:

Motorised wheelchairs	For mobility impairment use onlyCannot go faster than 10 km/h
Power-Assisted Pedal Cycles	Primarily pedal-poweredHave motors with a combined power of 200 watts or lessHave a motor that works when being pedalledWeigh less than 50kg with the e-bike’s batteriesHave an adjustable seat
Electrically Power-Assisted Bicycles	Primarily pedal-poweredHave a motor with a maximum power of 500 wattsThe motor assistance decreases if the driver goes faster than 6 km/hHas a motor that stops helping when the rider reaches 25 and stops helping the rider when they stop pedalling

In Victoria, farm equipment and farm trailers are exempted from car registration. Hence, authorities cannot put a fine for unregistered vehicle on farm equipment and trailers. Small and light trailers are also exempted from registration however they:

• Weigh less than 200kg when empty.
• Aren’t wider than the vehicle pulling them.
• Are no more than 3 meters long (including the tow bar and anything on them).
• And are not used for trade.

Any vehicles that trucks tow are exempt from a fine for driving an unregistered vehicle. This includes trailers and vehicles. Don’t forget that Life Saving Victoria Trailers are also exempted. 

Fine for Driving Unregistered Vehicle: Other Penalties

Driving a car is a privilege, and it comes with the responsibility of having a valid licence. Operating a vehicle without the proper licence can lead to serious consequences, including fines, imprisonment, and licence disqualification. Here’s a breakdown of other penalties aside from fine for driving an unregistered vehicle:

Driving with a Disqualified, Cancelled, Suspended, or Refused licence:

1. The fines can be hefty, ranging from $3,300 for a first offence to $5,500 for subsequent offences.
2. In severe cases, you could face jail time, with a maximum of 6 months for a first offence and 12 months for repeat offenders.
3. Your licence will be disqualified for a minimum period. This ranges from 3 months for a first offence to 12 months for repeat offenders. A default disqualification period applies if you don’t appear in court, which can be even longer.

Driving with a Cancelled or Suspended Licence Due to Unpaid Fines:

The penalties for driving with a suspended licence due to unpaid fines are similar to those above. This translates to potential fines of up to $5,500 and a maximum prison term of 6 months for repeat offenders. However, there’s no minimum disqualification period for the first offence in this case of fine for driving an unregistered vehicle.

Driving Without a Licence:

1. Fines: The first offence can result in a fine of up to $2,200, and subsequent offences can lead to even higher fines.
2. Imprisonment: Jail time is a possibility for repeat offenders, with a maximum of 6 months.
3. Disqualification: Your licence will be disqualified for a minimum of 3 months for repeat offences.

This summary covers fine for driving an unregistered vehicle in NSW, but there are others. For example, driving a vehicle class your licence doesn’t permit can also lead to fines. Driving without a valid licence is a serious offence. If you have any questions about your licence status or the laws in NSW, it’s crucial to consult with the authorities or a qualified legal professional.

Fine for Driving an Unregistered Vehicle: Contesting a Fine

While these fines stand true, what happens if an officer wrongly fines you? What if you were driving a registered vehicle all along? Luckily, if you were issued a traffic fine in NSW, you can fight it. Here’s how:

1. Provide your reasons for review. Maybe there’s a mistake or you had a valid reason for the offence (e.g., special circumstances).
2. Licence holders caught speeding can gather evidence and obtain camera footage in lanes and highways or nominating someone else who was driving (if applicable). This way, they can defend themselves from a fine for driving an unregistered vehicle
3. Alleged traffic offenders should gather their basic information and any supporting evidence (check the Review Assist Guide for examples).
4. Additionally, alleged offenders can request a review to Revenue NSW for their penalty via online or by mail. After your request, Revenue NSW will hold your request until they decide and notify them of the outcome.

How Can Our Traffic Lawyers Help?

Traffic lawyers like JB Solicitors can be valuable allies in contesting traffic fines in Australia. We can review the details of your traffic offence and determine if there’s a strong case for contesting the fine. This includes analysing factors like:

• Procedural errors by authorities during the ticketing process
• Potential malfunctions of traffic cameras or equipment
• Extenuating circumstances surrounding the offence
• Very serious penalties are involved in traffic offences

What if a person is really guilty of a traffic offence? Then we can also negotiate with government authorities for your traffic fine. We have experience communicating with law enforcement and revenue collection agencies.Contact us today for more information about fine for unregistered vehicle in Australia.