Re-Registering a Vehicle (Letting Rego Lapse VIC)

Yowie on 14/07/2020 - 14:34
Last edited 14/07/2020 - 15:51 by 1 other user

Hi all,

Located in VIC.

Interested in getting some thoughts and more considered advice on whether it is worth letting the Rego on the second vehicle lapse due to Covid-19 making it virtually redundant. Every dollar counts in these times and looking at saving a few bucks in true OzBargain spirit.

My questions:
Does this make logical sense?
How hard is it and how much would it realistically cost to re-register a car?
What else is required apart from a roadworthy certificate (assuming the car is running fine) and standard VicRoads fees?
Would it be reasonable to assume $200 to cover these costs?

Registration: $835/year
Insurance: $500/year
Running costs: $30/month

By my calculations, the savings would be the following (assuming $200 cost):
- over 3 months ~$220
- over 6 months ~$650
- over 9 months ~$1,070

Thanks in advance for your thoughts

• 

  pegaxs on 14/07/2020 - 14:44

  +1

  It will cost registration, plate fee and RWC test fee. It can make sense, depends on these costs and how long out of registration it is.

• 

  Mechz on 14/07/2020 - 14:47

  Maybe a bit more for a roady. Plus you probably still want fire and theft insurance.

  Also have to think about time and effort involved to get it going again. Like you would be wise to put a fuel saver additive in the tank and a trickle charger on the battery.

  • 

    Yowie on 14/07/2020 - 14:53

    Yes agree - would have to take into account the additional time and effort which cannot be easily quantified as a cost. I already have a reminder to start it up every few days as it stands

    • 

      jimbobaus on 14/07/2020 - 15:16

      +1

      RWC's in Vic are around the $220 mark at most places.
      Registration Fee
      New Plates fee (you will be legally required to return the plates if you let the rego lapse)

      Depending on how long you leave the car sitting, probably need to budget for new tyres if you are not planning to put car on blocks.
      might be worth getting your mechanic to have a look at the car first before letting the rego lapse, at least that way you will roughly know whether anything is likely to come up when its time to re-register it.

• 

  spackbace on 14/07/2020 - 14:55

  +1

  Insurance: $500/year
  Running costs: $30/month

  If it would be parked up anyway, why do these costs come into any factoring? If you took the plates off, and didn't drive it, you wouldn't need to pay those costs.

  Those costs can be removed, insurance cancelled, car keys put in a drawer.

  So it's $835/yr that the car is costing you to sit there. All depends on how long it sits as to whether it's a bargain or not

  • 

    Yowie on 14/07/2020 - 15:04

    True. But if we decide to re-register it then we would definitely use it, meaning the above costs come into play. However, note the only reason we would need the secondary vehicle is if working arrangements go back to 'normal'. At this point, it is too hard to take a stab at when that will actually happen.

• 

  Hithere on 14/07/2020 - 15:00

  +1

  The problem with this is that you could spend far in excess of what you have saved just getting it up to current RWC standards later on.

  I've read horror stories of people being charged up to $1000 by unscrupulous testers just to get their car 'roadworthy'.

  By the time all the other costs are added you may end up losing money not saving.

  Make sure you have a trusted mechanic/tester if you want to go this route.

  • 

    Yowie on 14/07/2020 - 15:05

    Thank you - this probably worries me the most to be honest

    • 

      jimbobaus on 14/07/2020 - 15:19

      +2

      You need not worry in VIC
      RWC testers are required to provide photographs now of everything they "fail" and vic roads have a zero tolerance policy for any tester who makes things up.

      Victoria RWC's were meant to be fully digital RWC's by now but that has been delayed due to COVID

      When digital launches, you wont get a certificate your RWC is loaded directly onto VICROADS system (with the pictures) and when you contact them to pay rego/transfer etc they can view the check.

      the fully digital system will also mean only the Owner of the car can present a car for a RWC meaning an end to "sold without rwc" ads on car websites etc as buyers will not be able to arrange their own RWC anymore.

      (rumor not fact: Digital system is precursor to introduction of regular safety checks similar to the NSW system)

      • 

        Yowie on 14/07/2020 - 15:53

        Thanks for this, appreciate the insight

• 

  Hithere on 14/07/2020 - 15:07

  +1

  Plan B may be to sell the vehicle, put the money aside, and buy another car at a future date.

  • 

    Yowie on 14/07/2020 - 15:10

    Haha a sound plan until I irrationally splurge on a new car and costs > savings

  • 

    singlemalt72 on 14/07/2020 - 15:12

    You have to remember it is a buyers market at the moment as thousands are doing the same - have to be prepared to take a loss on what you could have sold pre-covid (of course depends on location and car model etc)

    • 

      zuuutoootuuu on 14/07/2020 - 17:16

      +1

      Second hand cars have gone up in value since covid, more people prefer to drive themselves to work now instead of catching public transport.

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  soan papdi on 15/07/2020 - 10:19

  I could be wrong here and can't find any webpage to back me up but I heard from a friend that when you re-register a car, the cost is backdated to when it last expired. Might be worth calling VicRoads and verify if this is true.

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  Hithere on 15/07/2020 - 13:14

  If it's less than 3 months it is counted as a late registration and back dated. Any more than 3 months and it's a new rego.

  • 

    Yowie on 15/07/2020 - 19:44

    Understand this to be the case as well

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  godofpizza on 15/07/2020 - 18:11

  maybe consider selling the car? if your concerned over the hidden costs of keeping your car unregistered. Do you have space to keep it locked up? having it parked on the natural strip it likely to get fined or towed away.

  • 

    Yowie on 15/07/2020 - 19:43

    Locked up in the garage for now so storage not an issue. Have considered selling but it will most definitely be more convenient with a secondary vehicle when my wife and I are no longer WFH full time.

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  iand on 15/07/2020 - 22:33

  just a note a person I know had a car in there garage when the hailstone storm hit about 10 years ago they weren't driving it and so hadn't bothered with insurance on it car was wrecked when the roof collapsed and apparently as a car it wasn't covered by the house insurance.

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  Leah R on 08/03/2024 - 14:52

  I let my car rego lapse for about 14 months, thought it would pass a rwc easy as it had 1 4 months before rego was due.
  I just got it back and had a 1600 bill to get it to roadworthy condition, rubbers tyres ect dont like sitting, and the mechanic is a mate, so i now regret letting it lapse, i had 1000 and thought that would be enough to have it on the road. Still have rego, app fee and have to buy new plates, lucky its pension, and lucky my mate allows me to pay him off. Huge regret on my partq

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  Crossgates on 08/03/2024 - 16:29

  Your RWC will be around $250 as a baseline - that's assuming nothing is wrong, a vehicle that is 'running fine' may not pass RWC due to a whole variety of reasons. Your VicRoads fees are as follows: https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/registration/registration-fe… - I am pretty sure you can no longer register a car with a new plate with less than a full years registration.

  If you need a second car for sporadic use, you may want to consider selling what you have and buying something 25+ years old so you can put it on a Club Permit. A late 90's Camry would still be reliable backup transport, and a 90-day Club Permit is around $200ish if you opt for standard parts. You would still need a RWC and club membership for a club permit.