How Are VicRoads So Bad Compared to Every Other State?

hoskings23 on 19/04/2021 - 11:57
Last edited 19/04/2021 - 12:29 by 1 other user

I've moved to Victoria from QLD and am looking to transfer my licence and registration.

I go to the closest VicRoads and attempt to do this, on arrival I get told I must make an appointment prior and they can't help me. Go home, book an appointment on there website for the closest appointment of 6 weeks away (tomorrow) for $20 fee. I call up VicRoads to confirm the appointment time as I misplaced this bit of information, they tell me it's actually for next month! They also tell me I must book another appointment for $20 as my transfer licence appointment is separate from the appointment I'll need to transfer my registration. I'm then told the next soonest appointment will be in June! So I must pay 2x $20 'booking fees' then go to the VicRoads centre on two different occasions!

I've dealt with QLD and NSW Transport centre's many times, never having any issues.. as you simply rock up to the centre and get sorted on the spot.

How can VicRoads be this much of a pain in comparison? Not to mention once I transfer to VIC the rego costs are about 20% more then what I currently pay in QLD.

Thinking I'm just not going to swap them over now and remain a 'QLDer'.

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Comments

  • brendanm on 19/04/2021 - 12:11
    +13

    Move back to Qld.

  • gfunk zero on 19/04/2021 - 12:17
    -4

    In QLD you cant grab a coffee without jumping in a car and driving somewhere..

    I had the same problem with VicRoads where they would book an appointment 6 weeks ahead then id be away. I only had to pay one fee because I told them when i tried to reschedule the lines were all busy

    • brendanm on 19/04/2021 - 13:24
      +1

      In QLD you cant grab a coffee without jumping in a car and driving somewhere..

      Lol Melbourne isn't Victoria mate. If you live on Brissy or on the gold coast you can walk to your precious coffee as well.

  • jjjaar on 19/04/2021 - 12:23

    It’s pretty well explained what the steps are on this page: https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/registration/renew-update-or…

    Agree 6 weeks is a bit of a joke, but not sure why you just rocked up to a branch without looking online first.

    • apsilon on 19/04/2021 - 12:32
      +20

      but not sure why you just rocked up to a branch without looking online first.

      Probably because that's what you'd do in any other state. The whole make an appointment and actually have to pay for that appointment is just ridiculous not to mention most states can do a lot of it online.

      • jjjaar on 19/04/2021 - 13:35
        +3

        You have to remember that Vic is still living in a semi-covid world with a LOT of people still working from home, especially in the public sector, and a lot of capacity limits in buildings are still quite conservative.

        It’s taken a long time to get back to a “covid normal”. No one else went through this like Vic, so of course other states didn’t get stuck in the wfh/capacity limits world as deeply.

        Appointments for everything at VR (and cafes, restaurants, bars) are a hangover from that and also a way to manage how many people are in a branch at any one time.

        • Cheeper on 19/04/2021 - 14:13

          Other states had covid too but didn't have to pay $$$$ to attend a office or had to book an insanely long time ahead.
          This just reeks of incompetence no matter what excuse you try to make up.

          • jjjaar on 19/04/2021 - 15:28
            +1

            @Cheeper: Agree the wait time and fee is insane. But the capacity/density constraints is not. And no, other states didn’t really have covid. They never had up to 800 cases a day of community transmission. NSWs highest day of community transmission was only around 70.

        • apsilon on 19/04/2021 - 15:32
          +2

          I was under impression the appointment and fee system was in place pre covid. Is that not the case?

          • jjjaar on 19/04/2021 - 15:33

            @apsilon: It might well have been, I haven’t needed VR for anything in a while.

      • hoskings23 on 19/04/2021 - 13:41
        +2

        Exactly right! In QLD/NSW I either simply can do most things online, otherwise rock up to the branch and wait 10-15 mins in a line max.

  • Muzeeb on 19/04/2021 - 12:38
    +3

    Welcome to Victoria.

    This is just the beginning of a very slippery slope.

    Enjoy the ride.

    • iNeed2Pee on 19/04/2021 - 12:48
      +2

      But we are "ThE MosT liVeaBLE city oN ThE eARth"

      • Cheeper on 19/04/2021 - 14:14

        I have lived there, nothing is further from the truth. Glad to be out and never going back.

      • this is us on 19/04/2021 - 14:15
        +1

        I suppose that's the lie of the century… I don't know who is paying for this title, but someone is paying for that…

        • BartholemewH on 20/04/2021 - 19:09
          +2

          Might be where the $20 booking fees are going.

  • jsrz18 on 19/04/2021 - 12:48
    +5

    This is Victoria..

    Just wait until VicRoads are sold off to china

  • Duckie2hh on 19/04/2021 - 12:58

    Its a stupidity tax.

  • GG57 on 19/04/2021 - 13:21
    +1

    I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that VicRoads is to undergo a very large technology update, so the people working there are probably fed up as well with what they have to work with.
    At least it is a relatively minor inconvenience to OP, as those things are one-offs.

    Appointments are one of those things that most people prefer, because you can work with it. The alternative is showing up at an office and they are so busy that your wait time is multiple hours.

    • hoskings23 on 19/04/2021 - 13:43
      +2

      Glad to hear, there systems definitely need updating.
      Fair enough for those who prefer appointments, but to wait 2+ months and have to pay $20 fee for each thing you need help with…crazy.

      • GG57 on 19/04/2021 - 13:53
        -4

        What is the actual impact of having to wait 2+ months?

        • hoskings23 on 19/04/2021 - 14:03
          +5

          I've had the perfect job offer last week, however they require me to have a VIC license, they can't accept interstate licenses for insurance reasons. They said they could wait for me to get this sorted this week and then I start next week. Now I won't be able to take this job, leaving me to remain unemployed.

          It will also require me to drive 30 mins/pay $8+ parking, twice…. (for the license appointment and then the registration appointment).

          They are some of the impacts?

          • GG57 on 19/04/2021 - 14:10
            -7

            @hoskings23: That is a shame that you cannot take up that one job (that had a requirement which you couldn't satisfy at the time).

            It isn't clear which service you made an initial appointment for? The VicRoads website seems to be pretty clear about how to arrange the appointments etc.

            The 30-minute drive and parking costs are incidental.

        • Cheeper on 19/04/2021 - 14:18
          +5

          If they had a waiting time of 6 months would you try to justify that as well?
          The fact is that it is just bumbling incompetence. It's an inconvenience not experienced in any other state….. except Victoria :-(

          • GG57 on 19/04/2021 - 14:21
            -3

            @Cheeper: I'm not saying it is justifiable or not. I'm saying, that is how it is.
            And complaining about it won't change that.

            • hoskings23 on 19/04/2021 - 14:32
              +2

              @GG57: I feel like complaining/leaving feedback is the only way how things could change? Please advise if you think there's an alternative? Somethings gotta give, given every other state in Australia has a lot smoother system.

              • GG57 on 19/04/2021 - 14:36

                @hoskings23: Have you complained to VicRoads, or left feedback for it?

                As I mentioned previously, VicRoads is in the process of upgrading its technology (albeit at an early stage). But that won't help you, in these one-off matters.

                • hoskings23 on 19/04/2021 - 17:39
                  +2

                  @GG57: Yeah I have left feedback with them.

                  Thanks for the info about them getting an upgrade.

              • MontyMacaw on 20/04/2021 - 09:21
                +3

                @hoskings23: Did you have to pay or make an appointment to leave feedback? Asking for a friend from the NT.

            • this is us on 21/04/2021 - 02:29

              @GG57: I can't believe people are this passive. The waiting time is ridiculous, and so is the booking fee… If complaining (to the right person, not only OzB) doesn't solve the problem, what does?

              Complaining about it and pointing out how ridiculous it is is exactly what can change it.

              • GG57 on 21/04/2021 - 09:07

                @this is us: Complaining to the right person is the only way.
                Complaining on OzB is just making a noise.

                But at the end of the day, the actual impacts are low for the vast majority of people. It isn't that we are needing to go to VicRoads every week, or every month. I haven't been to a VicRoads office for 5 years.

    • Cheeper on 19/04/2021 - 14:15
      +1

      They may be implementing a system similar to NSW's Service NSW wich works well and you don't have to $pay$ to use it.

  • [Deactivated] on 19/04/2021 - 14:18
    +3

    I must make an appointment prior and they can't help me. Go home, book an appointment on there website for the closest appointment of 6 weeks away (tomorrow) for $20 fee.

    It's dreadful. You want to do the right thing and register within 3 months of moving as is the law. But no, Victorian Government couldn't give up an opportunity to tax you for doing the right thing, could they.

    $$$ is what the Victorian Government are all about. Wait until you find out how much it will cost you to call out an ambulance in the state!

    • hoskings23 on 19/04/2021 - 14:34
      +2

      It's already been 2 months of living here too, I've been flat out with this move. Knew the 3 month mark is approaching, however it's going to take a lot longer then that to get this sorted… Will be fun trying to explain to Police if I'm ever pulled over.

      Here's hoping I never have to have an ambulance called out while living here then!

      • HunterBargainHunter on 22/04/2021 - 21:47

        just pay 24 bucks every 3 months and that's your ambulance covered. hope you never need one

  • Ocker on 19/04/2021 - 14:28
    +5

    VicRoads has been a shambles for years. Systems are antiquated and upgrades have cost millions only to be a failure.
    Just typical of another Andrews led government public service department disaster.

  • Oz8argain on 19/04/2021 - 16:50
    +1

    It looks like Vicroads is trying very hard to transition their services online. Like everything in Aus, it will take a few decades. but dw, once it's sold to China, it will be very efficient.

  • Mechz on 19/04/2021 - 19:07
    +2

    Have you tried a different branch somewhere out of metro Melbourne?

    If you search around you'll find an appointment.

    • TheLoveOfChips on 19/04/2021 - 19:18
      +2

      I was going to say exactly this, I just had a look at the one near me and it is 2 weeks for the next appointment

  • GourmetFoodie on 20/04/2021 - 07:42
    +2

    Yep just had a similar experience. Complete unnecessary stress because of the insanity of lack of appointments in metropolitan melbourne. Especially ridiculous if your car has been registered under your name in another state or the same state and has full roadworthy!

    If you have time to drive 5 or 6 hours each way, you can get an appointment in regional Victoria usually within a week or so. Laughable hey.

  • OzHunterNSW on 20/04/2021 - 09:48

    I find it is not the roads, but the drivers…. can they even drive down there?

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