Under the new arrangements, vehicle owners in Victoria will be able to pay their registration fees in installments while those in NSW will be eligible for free car registration if they spend a weekly given amount on tolls over a year.
These are the important changes as shown in the media statements released by the Government of NSW and Victoria.
NSW
Toll road users will soon be eligible for free car registration as part of the NSW Government’s commitment to tackling the cost of living pressures.
Drivers who spend $25 or more each week on tolls, or $1300 over the financial year on one tag may save up to $729 when they renew their vehicle registration online(external link) or in person at Service NSW.
The rego rebate will be available for all standard privately registered cars, utes, 4 wheel-drives and motorcycles from July 1, 2018.
The scheme will apply to private drivers who use any existing toll roads and will apply to any new toll roads in the future.
During the registration renewal process, drivers need to add their licence plate number to their toll account to find out if they are eligible for free car registration.
Nearly 100,000 drivers from across NSW are expected to benefit from the program.
Minister for Finance, Services and Property Victor Dominello said the government is backdating toll spend from 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018, so drivers can benefit on what they have spent on tolls over the past year.
“So far 938 free regos have been claimed and $397,000 has been given back to drivers, with the average driver saving $423,” Mr Dominello said.
“Drivers that are currently opted into the M5 Cashback Scheme will have the choice to opt out and have their M5 tolls count towards Toll Relief or remain in the M5 Cashback Scheme.”
Victoria
From January 1, 2018 owners of cars, utes, vans, motorcycles and other light vehicles will be able to make the switch to shorter-term registration or continue with an annual registration fee.
The options will allow people to pay less upfront and spread the cost of registration renewal across the year to better suit the family budget.
Under the new arrangements, an average three-month registration will be $200.20, an average six-month registration will cost $400.40, compared to an average annual fee of $800.80.
Short term registration will be available for light vehicles, excluding trailers, for both new registrations and renewals.
VicRoads currently processes 5.6 million registration renewals each year, including 4.47 million light vehicles.
