Australia Vehicle Rego Cost Calculator
Registering a typical 4-cylinder sedan (tare weight around 1,400kg) for 12 months costs from A$705 in South Australia to A$1,051 in Western Australia in 2026-27. New South Wales charges the least in bundled government fees (A$475) but that excludes CTP — you buy the Green Slip separately. Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia all bundle CTP-equivalent cover into the one figure shown at renewal.
$475.00 / year — New South Wales
Tare 1400kg
CTP is NOT included — bought separately, see below. CTP (Green Slip) is bought separately from a private insurer (Allianz, AAMI, NRMA, QBE, Youi) and is NOT included in these figures — use the Service NSW Green Slip price check for a live quote.
Where the money goes — New South Wales breakdown
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Registration fee | $84.00 |
| Motor vehicle tax (private, up to 1500kg tare) | $391.00 |
| Total | $475.00 |
Compare all 5 states side by side (same vehicle profile)
| State | Scenario | Annual total | CTP included? |
|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | Tare 1400kg | $475.00 | No (separate) |
| Victoria | outer metropolitan | $897.10 | Yes |
| Queensland | 4 cylinders | $871.00 | Yes |
| Western Australia | 1A - Motor cars | $1,050.94 | Yes |
| South Australia | 4 cylinder sedan / station wagon / EV — metro | $705.00 | Yes |
Cheapest for this profile: New South Wales ($475.00). Most expensive: Western Australia ($1,050.94). Each state prices rego differently (weight, cylinders, zone, or a flat bundle) — this compares the OFFICIAL method of each state for the vehicle profile you entered above, not identical inputs.
Estimate based on 2026-27 published fee schedules from New South Wales's transport authority — verify the exact amount with your state authority before paying, especially for CTP/insurance premiums which vary by insurer and postcode. NSW motor vehicle tax numbers round the tare weight to the nearest 10kg. New South Wales does not bundle CTP; check a live Green Slip quote separately. How we calculate →
Why rego costs so much more in some states than others
For the same 4-cylinder sedan, a year of registration ranges from A$475 in New South Wales to A$1,051 in Western Australia — a gap of A$576. The difference isn't random: each state bundles a different set of charges into what it calls "registration". NSW keeps CTP (the Green Slip) completely separate and competitive between private insurers, so its own fee looks cheapest — but you still have to buy CTP on top.
Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia all fold their compulsory injury-cover scheme into the renewal total: Victoria's Transport Accident Charge (TAC), Western Australia's Motor Injury Insurance (MII), and Queensland/South Australia's CTP. That's why a like-for-like comparison has to look at the full bundle, not just the line item each state labels "registration fee".
New South Wales: flat fee plus tare-weight tax
NSW charges a flat A$84.00 registration fee plus a motor vehicle tax that steps up by tare (unladen) weight, from A$278.00 for the lightest private vehicles (up to 970kg) to A$1525.00 for the heaviest band (up to 4500kg). Business-use vehicles pay a noticeably higher tax at every weight band — A$615.00 vs A$391.00 in the 1,151-1,500kg band, for example.
A new registration also adds a one-off A$58.00 number plate fee (not charged on renewal). CTP (Green Slip) is bought separately from a private insurer (Allianz, AAMI, NRMA, QBE, Youi) and is NOT included in these figures — use the Service NSW Green Slip price check for a live quote.
Victoria: registration and TAC bundled, priced by risk zone
Victoria doesn't split registration from its Transport Accident Charge — VicRoads publishes one combined annual figure that depends on your vehicle type and the "risk zone" of the postcode where it's garaged. A sedan/wagon/SUV costs A$958.80 in metropolitan Melbourne (high-risk), A$897.10 in outer metropolitan areas (medium-risk), or A$824.60 in rural Victoria (low-risk) — a A$134.20 spread purely from postcode risk-rating.
Utes, trays and vans up to 2 tonnes follow the same zone structure but a different fee schedule (A$959.90 metro down to A$676.70 rural). Light trailers and caravans pay one flat rate, A$70.54, with no TAC charge or motor vehicle duty.
Queensland: priced by cylinder count, CTP chosen from insurers
Queensland charges registration by number of cylinders rather than weight: A$303.10 for 1-3 cylinders/electric up to A$1002.35 for 9-12 cylinders. Every vehicle also pays a flat A$67.25 Traffic Improvement Fee and a CTP premium that's compulsory but insurer-chosen, within a regulated band currently A$411.80-A$424.80.
For a 4-cylinder sedan that totals A$871-A$878 for 12 months depending on the CTP insurer picked. Queensland doesn't require an annual safety inspection for private light vehicles, which keeps ongoing costs lower than some other states.
Western Australia: weight-based licence fee plus Motor Injury Insurance
WA licenses cars by weight at A$29.76 per 100kg of tare mass, plus a A$9.70 recording fee and Motor Injury Insurance (MII) — WA's CTP-equivalent — priced by vehicle class. For Class 1A motor cars the base MII premium is A$520.50, and 10% gst + 10% insurance duty apply on top of the base mii premium (20% total surcharge).
For a 1,400kg sedan that's A$1,051 total for 12 months — the highest of the five states in this comparison for a like-for-like profile. A one-off Vehicle Licence Duty (stamp duty) of 3% of dutiable value, capped at $12,000, applies when a vehicle is FIRST licensed or transferred in WA — it is not part of the annual renewal cost and is not included in the totals here.
South Australia: one bundled figure by cylinder count and zone
South Australia bundles registration, CTP, the Lifetime Support Scheme (LSS) levy and an emergency services levy into a single 12-month figure, set by cylinder count and whether the vehicle is garaged in metropolitan Adelaide or the country. A 4-cylinder sedan is A$705.00 metro or A$585.00 country — a A$120.00 discount for garaging outside the metro area.
An 8-cylinder sedan or wagon costs A$1025.00 metro — A$320.00 more than the 4-cylinder rate, purely from engine size.
What this calculator doesn't cover
Tasmania, the ACT and the Northern Territory aren't included in this comparison (five states only). CTP/insurance premiums that aren't government-set (NSW Green Slip pricing, QLD's insurer-chosen band) are shown as typical ranges, not a locked-in quote — always check a live quote before paying. One-off charges like WA's Vehicle Licence Duty (stamp duty) or interstate transfer fees are not included, since they apply only when a vehicle is first licensed or changes hands, not on an ordinary renewal. Concession-card discounts, pensioner rebates and primary-producer discounts are not modelled.
Frequently asked questions
Which Australian state has the cheapest car registration?
For a typical 4-cylinder sedan (tare ~1,400kg), New South Wales works out cheapest at A$475/year in this comparison, though NSW's own registration fee (A$475) is lower again if you exclude CTP, which NSW buys separately.
Is CTP insurance included in car registration in Australia?
It depends on the state. Victoria (as the TAC charge), Queensland, Western Australia (as Motor Injury Insurance) and South Australia all bundle CTP-equivalent cover into the one registration renewal figure. New South Wales does not — you buy a Green Slip separately from a private insurer, and its price isn't included in the NSW registration fee.
How is NSW motor vehicle tax calculated?
NSW motor vehicle tax is based on your vehicle's tare (unladen) weight, rounded to the nearest 10kg. For a private car it ranges from A$278.00 (up to 970kg) to A$1525.00 (up to 4500kg), on top of the flat A$84.00 registration fee. Business-use vehicles pay a higher tax at every band.
Why does Victorian rego cost more in Melbourne than in the country?
Victoria prices its Transport Accident Charge (TAC) by "risk zone" — the postcode where your vehicle is garaged. A sedan/wagon/SUV costs A$958.80 in metropolitan Melbourne versus A$824.60 in rural Victoria, a A$134.20 difference reflecting higher accident risk in built-up areas.
How much is rego for an 8-cylinder car in Queensland or South Australia?
Queensland charges A$854.70 registration for a 7-8 cylinder vehicle, plus the A$67.25 Traffic Improvement Fee and CTP. South Australia charges A$1025.00 total (metro) for an 8-cylinder sedan or wagon, CTP and levies included.
Does this calculator include stamp duty or one-off transfer fees?
No. This tool covers the recurring annual registration renewal only. One-off costs like WA's Vehicle Licence Duty (3% of dutiable value, capped at $12,000) or stamp duty on buying a vehicle are separate charges that apply at purchase or transfer, not at renewal — see our stamp duty calculator for those.
Which states does this rego calculator cover?
NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia — the five most populous states, covering the large majority of Australia's registered vehicles. Tasmania, the ACT and the Northern Territory are not currently covered.
Researched & verified by the Calcuris Data & Research Team. How we build and check our tools →