Caught Driving Unregistered + Uninsured Vehicle

Yes, I know it shouldn't be done (so please refrain from advising me that). I was driving my wife's vehicle and being her first vehicle she wasn't really on top of things with respect to rego renewal dates amidst her health issues and she was in a major trauma for a significant time of 3-4 months.

What I don't understand is, why there were no reminder notices sent by the RMS and also by the CTP insurance provider? Had there been any of such letters we would have been reminded and paid the renewal fees immediately. Now we are sitting with a massive fine of $707 + $707 = $1414.

She tried applying for leniency, but that too has been declined. Is there a point in taking the matter to the court and asking for leniency once again because of health condition and also highlighting that there were no reminder notices?

Comments

  • +2

    Learn the lesson, pay the price. Your life has to go on.

  • +1

    I've used direct debit to pay these important bills for years, no more 'lost' mail.

    Even marking the date on a calendar would save the trouble OP finds themselves in.

    I doubt if any court will grant leniency using the old excuse of 'didn't receive the bill' or 'poor health'. There's a good chance court costs will be added to the original bill.

    The best advice - pay up and improve your bill paying system.

  • What I don't understand is, why there were no reminder notices sent by the RMS and also by the CTP insurance provider?

    I get them every year. Maybe check where they sent yours?

  • -1

    Driving unregistered and uninsured shouldn't be done.

  • +2

    Although paying the fine isn't pleasant, you should take some solace knowing you didn't have an accident while unregistered. There is no insurance of any kind, so you pay the full retail price of any damage caused.

    This forum has a post once every few weeks where someone hits something really expensive and didn't have insurance or was unregistered.

  • +1

    Take public transport. Cheaper and liability is not on you. Oh and save the planet

    • Not possible in most regional areas Public transport is not available in a lot of areas and in areas it is available there may be one or two for the day and certainly won't fit time wise for work. Mate needed to be at work at 8.30am first bus to get a to that neighbouring town didn't arrive until 9.45am ended up family found someone he could carpool with. In regional areas you can't even consider public transport unless your near a rail line.

  • -1

    Should’ve asked for an adult caution

  • I need to know the make and model of the car

  • +2

    The RMS renewal reminders are annoying like spam.
    4 weeks before expiry, 2 weeks before expiry…

    • -5

      We didn't receive any. Neither by post nor by email. Reason could be there was an address change, which we did through NSW service app.

      • If you take it to court and you lose, which it looks like you will, you will have to pay the court costs of the government licensing department having to show up in court. Plus possibly interest.

    • +1

      total agreement like spam, they also will tell if expired. which i am
      grateful as i dont be like OP

  • I would love to be the receptionist to open your leniency letter and shred it in the bin, and watch it shred.

  • +13

    I’m not buying the “I didn’t get any reminders. Why didn’t the RMS send reminders??” spiel.

    We are not the police, you don’t have to bullshit to us. We are also not the court system, so no requirement to bullshit for that, either.

    Every year I get the rego papers, the CTP papers, multiple SMS (both from RMS and CTP), multiple letters and multiple emails. Your excuse doesn’t stand up, and the only way it does stand up is if the car is not registered in your name nor hers and was not transferred from the previous owner OR, you moved address and did not update your details.

    So, again, what really happened here? Did you ignore the reminders, did your wife ignore them?

    • +1

      Maybe the OP should've said it happened to his "friend".

    • +1

      Over Christmas I forgot to renew our caravan rego. Re-insured it at the time but somehow missed rego. We did receive the rego paper in the mail and put it ‘somewhere’ to deal with when it’s due. It’s not hard to miss when other stuff is going on. It was due early December, and we got a reminder in the mail in January, must have been a month later.

      So ‘we didn’t get a reminder’ doesn’t cut it with me either.

      Think I might put 6 months on it next rego to put it in a less busy time of year.

    • amen…..

  • +2

    My favourite .
    Please OP take it to court and your legal team will 4-5 times multiple your bill .
    They need the support .

  • I know the fine sucks, but think on the positive side. Your title is "Caught Driving Unregistered + Uninsured Vehicle". It could have been 'Crashed While Driving Unregistered + Uninsured Vehicle'.

    We'd have used up our entire annual allocation of popcorn emoji's!

    • -1

      My father used to always tell me the story of his work mate (can't verify it) that forgot to renew his rego and insurance about 30 years ago. Ended up hitting a Bentley or such and was found at fault, ended up with a massive debt.

      • I know someone who hit a reasonably old car while uninsured. Crash repairers smell blood when that happens, and charge far more than they would submit to an insurance company. My friend ended up paying 90% of the replacement value of the car he hit just on repair costs.

  • +1

    You do get reminders from your CTP provider… u either moved, or opted to get it via email, and dismissed the email. Either way its called adulting…taking responsibility of being a responsible adult, and remembering to stay on top of things… if things like this are too hard for u.. best u and ur wife stay completely away from owning a car or other adult responsibilities.

    And no bdo t make a fool of urself by taking it to court, u will end up paying more for ur stupidity

  • How long have you been driving for or licensed? Given they scrapped reminders years ago, presenting that in front of a magistrate isn’t likely to fly. You mentioned your wife went through some trauma, unless you have some Doctors letter and a sound knack of the English vocabulary to convince the magistrate, your chances are 50/50. Also, if it’s a crappy day and the magistrate is not in the mood, that could go against you. I wouldn’t represent myself without a lawyer, but that cost will negate the penalty. Furthermore, you could get hit with a small court cost/fee. Just be thankful you weren’t in an accident.

    • In NSW at least I get a renewal letter from the Roads and Maritime services with the registration papers for the renewal. I also get a letter from the CTP insurance group (whichever one I'm with at the time) with their renewal papers.

  • +1

    Personaly I think it's an outrage that we don't have the stickers on the car anymore. Plenty of very disorganised people drive cars and if you don't get the one letter and pay it in time you drive uninsured! This is a serious matter and deserves follow up mail or email or even a phone call! My mother got fined for being unregistered after her one renewal letter was accidentally delivered to number 8 instead of her house at 6, and the weird new tenants there send it back as not at this address!! My mother was told she must notify them of change of address, to which she replied she hadn't moved in 20 years. And me too, got home from 3 months away and found my rego renewal in the mail. By the time I read it I was unregistered by a week! The system causes a lot of people to accidentally drive unregistered and this is absolutely stops and crazy. Most insurance policies wel send you multiple letters and some also call. For something a important as car registration and the ease with which we can email and communicate there is no excuse for the department to not try just a little bit harder!

    • +4

      Totally agree rego stickers worked! Walk past your car or borrowing a car instantly you can see if it's registered in a split second. It was a cost saving exercise getting rid of them someone justifying their job. Most people have busy lives.

    • +7

      People are free to put their own stickers on their windscreens to serve as reminders.

      Rego stickers haven't been around for 5 years, not like it's new.

      • Lots of fines have been issued! When using someone's car you have to rely on the owner saying it's registered and you'd be a real Dick checking any further. I assumed my car was registered when it wasn't!! So other people get in trouble too. Bring back the sticker or make them try harder to remind you, like any normal insurance company that sends you emails and mail and whatever to remind you to pay.

    • +1

      RMS do and also the Greenslip providers….both SMS and emails reminders plus the original notices via mail. You should already know this if you live in NSW. I would only think that reminders would not be sent if you paid them straight away when you get the original in the mail.

      People need to take responsibility and stop blaming others or making excuses for there faults.

      Fines were still being issued when there was a sticker system, I mean really how often would you look at a sticker on your car so often. Plus if your mother is a pensioner they don’t pay rego fees or motor vehicle tax in NSW. Just the payment of the greenslip and then they automatically let the RMS know and then the car is registered…..
      .

      • -1

        RMS, just like other gov depts, just can't be trusted with your personal details, contact addresses, etc. Especially digital ones.

        They live in a cocoon, constantly collecting our data, and sharing it with other levels of gov, not just law enforcement, but councils, tech vendors, insurance companies, pharmaceuticals, corporations, other governments, all kinds of third parties. And they leave millions of people's info in spreadsheets in lost laptops. USBs. And that's after years and years of leaving their digital doors unlocked, allowing regular data exfiltration, and never admitting it unless forced. And their apps collect data on us, just like the insurance companies do.

        Was bad enough when they just had your address on file, now they have your biometrics, soon your DNA, and will offer your last known location, via a web API.

  • +6

    Imagine being an adult, having to do adult things and manage a calendar.

    These fines exist for people that make excuses for those things the rest of society can manage.

    Suck it up, learn a life lesson.

    • +1

      that what calendar in smart phones are for.
      it funny they know how use fakebook and instracrap..
      but too lazy put reminders for rego and other appointments in the calendar
      $1414 buys pretty good smart phone

  • To be fair to the OP i have not received my rego in mails for last three years. Took three attempts to get my faulty etag replaced. Ordered on November and finally received the replacement on February.

  • An expensive lesson…

  • +9

    What I don't understand is, why there were no reminder notices sent by the RMS and also by the CTP insurance provider? Had there been any of such letters we would have been reminded and paid the renewal fees immediately. Now we are sitting with a massive fine of $707 + $707 = $1414.

    The fine is your reminder. I guarantee you that you will never forget paying your rego again in your life.

  • +2

    The other option is Given the Medical History, your wife can pay it off by way of a Work Development Order
    *You must meet at least one or more of the following circumstances:

    Mental or intellectual disability or mental disorder.
    Physical disability, disease or illness.
    Addiction to drugs, alcohol or another substance
    Being subject to domestic violence.
    Homelessness, or living in crisis or transitional or supported accommodation.*

    It only says traffic fines, however a better option maybe a waiver

    *What do I need to provide as evidence I am under financial hardship?

    Section 21A:

    "relevant circumstances, of a person, means any of the following circumstances that relate to the person and significantly affect the person's ability to pay an infringement notice penalty:
    (a) mental or intellectual disability or mental disorder;
    (b) physical disability, disease or illness;
    (c) addiction to drugs, alcohol or another substance;
    (d) being subjected to domestic violence;
    (e) homelessness, or living in crisis, transitional or supported accommodation;
    (f) anything else prescribed by regulation.*

  • +1

    My rego expires 26 June, it's not hard to remember. I also have it in my phone calendar as a back up.

    Before then though i would be receiving the RMS renewal, the CTP renewal, roadside assistance renewal and the insurance renewal letters/emails.
    I can't see how you wouldn't have gotten any of them - unless you didn't update your details.

    Also if you had the car serviced in the past year they normally ask when your rego is due, so that is another trigger.

    • top of class to you having common sense….

    • I have it in my calendar I don't know the exact date but I do know the month and so the month before I always check to give myself plenty of time to have everything done

  • +1

    Your CTP provider would've spammed you 4-6 weeks ahead of the renewal date. RMS also sends out an updated rego paper. If you've registered for any of the Services NSW crap, they too would also spam you via email and text.

    There's really no excuse.

    • There has been an address change since paying last rego. The address change was done through NSW service app. May be I missed updating address with CTP provider and missed out the reminders from them.

    • +1

      I just checked with CTP provider (QBE). They send only one paper reminder and no email or SMS.

      • one paper reminder

        ..so you did get a notice that it was due?

  • Before you pay it, run the situation by Robert Bell at Highway Advocates:

    https://highwayadvocates.com.au/contact-us/

    While they mostly cater to truckies, they may be able to advise you of your options.

  • So instead of paying rego and insurance you are paying 2 fines.
    So if you think about it, it's about the same kinda.
    Your money is just going somewhere else this time.

    • I already paid rego ane insurance once caught and fined.

  • Sorry but I get sms, email and physical letters everytime rego is coming up so I'm sure your wife must have ignored them or completely changed everything since last renewal

  • +1

    Put all your important regular manual payments (rego, insurance, etc) into your calendar, on periodic repeat, with advance notification. Put your wife's in as well, otherwise this happens

  • +8

    You got what you deserved, stop whining about it.

  • Ouch

  • +1

    Hopefully the fine will help you remember for next time.

    It is your job to ensure vehicle is registered. No amount of complaining about reminders will change this.

  • +1

    not sure if this is possible but probably get the renewals to be at the start of the year
    our rego always renews in Jan, same goes for land tax, insurance, etc
    that way you know you have an automatic reminder for stuff like this

  • Shit happens and people make mistakes. So many "perfect" ppl in ozbargain who get pleasure out of this.

    • -5

      Agreed 100%. I see more sadist replies here and upvotes for such comments.

      • +1

        Are you the scummy bogus type when people meet you in person that feel they deserve respect more then others?

    • Yeah people here are so easily offended, I think a lot of car hating nutters. I can imagine how fun these people are in real life. And yeah slavery used to be legal but thats ok because the government said it was ok.

  • $1414 is not a massive fine. Pay it you god damn pleb.

    Imagine if the fine was $50k.

    • Image if the fine was 50m.

      If I had a fine, $50 or $1414 I would try to wiggle out of it. The chance of me missing any kind of bill is tiny, but I could see it happening if I were under an extreme amount of stress.

      ~wiggle~
      ~wiggle~

  • Is there a point in taking the matter to the court and asking for leniency once again because of health condition and also highlighting that there were no reminder notices?

    All that has a co$t but you can try.

    I doubt leniency due to health will be considered. Think about it, too unhealthy to remember but healthy to drive? Nope.

    Don't even mention the reminder notices, is trying to avoid responsibility blaming "someone else" (government, Australia Post, mailman, etc etc.) Don't do it.

    Chances of leniency? Probably none.
    Remember they go around checking regos and drivers licenses to get juicy revenue for doing nothing.
    It is financial, not humanitarian motives what keeps them alive.

    Perhaps take it in the chin, request to pay in installments and remember to always put down those critical dates in your calendar/phone/Google/fridge_sticker.
    Don't give those cretins the satisfaction of taking your money

  • They send reminder emails and so does your ctp insurer

  • +1

    An expensive lesson but the cost of an accident could be a lot higher. Pay the fine, pay your rego and move on; make a payment plan if need be.

    There is no certainty of the outcome if you have the matter heard in court.

    It'll be several days off work, stress, and in many cases a judgement listed against your name is worse than you simply paying the infringement.

  • +1

    Actually my ex wife had a similar issue, luckily i found out / realised a few weeks after it had expired and that same day got everything done. What she had done (previously her parents had done everything for her, so she had no clue), she had paid the comprehensive insurance for the car but not the rego or third party. She thought the comprehensive insurance was everything that she had to pay for the car….Luckily NRMA messaged me a few weeks after the third party had expired (and rego had expired) and I asked her, hey whats this, why am i getting a sms from NRMA saying you havent paid etc etc and went on to figure out what had happened.

      • +5

        Are you blaming girls because your wife missed registering her car due to health issues and going through a major trauma…? Seriously?

        • +2

          No. He is blaming his wife for being a female.

          (OP is trolling imo).

      • +4

        Lol what a dick. It's your wife, dude. You're a team. You share wins and losses. This time you lost. Take your bat and ball and go home.

  • +1

    I once went to court over the same issue and the fine was waived
    If its your first time offence you will get of easily
    good luck with it

  • live and learn bro.

    Put it this way, we have $15000 worth of fines because someone didn't update an address.

    • because someone didn't update an address.

      are you still married to that 'someone' ?

    • If you are a permanent resident then by law you need to update your address.

      However if they are not, there is not requirement.

      Put in an appeal if it's the case, suprisingly the state revenue folks are quite reasonable.

  • So the fine is not "massive" just pay it and learn from it….

  • +1

    Thanks OP, you reminded me of an acquaintance years ago who was also driving an unregistered uninsured vehicle..

    Fluttered her eyelashes at the cop who pulled her over and managed to get off with a warning if she drove straight to the MVR and sorted it out.

    She promptly did, speeding through a red light to get there! Received separate fines for speeding, red light, unregistered and uninsured. You can’t save people from themselves!

    I’d forgotten that story, gave me a chuckle remembering it. Thanks :)

  • lol

  • Someone needs to create an App to keep all memberships in one place so you never miss an overdue bill

    • +1

      It is called notepad.

  • Think you can drive unregistered for a medical emergency or to get the car registered. Not much leeway. Maybe going into court could help as the magistrate makes a "human" decision. It looks like you are taking the matter seriously enough to attend court. Probably good to get legal advice near to where the court is. So if details are incorrect on the ticket for example, it may reduce what can be charged.

  • If she is so ill why is she even on the roads.
    She would have received notices but this goes against you progressing she is so ill…. which is it…. she can't read notifications, or she did not receive it

  • I never get a Rego warning? Just a letter

    Insurance wise, once with SGIC I changed credit cards and they only sent me an email.

    No SMS, no phone call.

    Alot of theses businesses are backwards!

    Even my god dam pet store reminds me of an auto delivery!

    Commbank reminds me about repayments on my home loan! I've always found commbank good with reminders.

    • I've always found commbank good with reminders.

      I found them hit and miss…

      they decide at random if they are going to send an sms credit card reminder each month.

    • The pet store reminds you because that is how they gain more income.

      The govt does not because that is how they gain more income.

      It is a pretty simple deduction, no one chases when there are large fees or penalties in own favor unless legislated to do so, and that only happens to private corps.

  • +1

    Nearly everyone else manages to do the right thing. When everyone can do it and you can’t… you need to look in the mirror.

  • OP regardless of outcome you need to contact both the registration authority and the insurer to check what address they have on file, and how often reminders are sent. And then set up direct debit if you can.

  • I think it is worth probably going to court and explaining the situation, you will need the healt proof, but, more importantly, admit it was a mistake.

    They do send papers and reminders, but if email is wrong etc, you would not get it.

    I had terrible trouble with someone, as they had a failing memory, and you can only expect a person has kept the car registered, I have never checked up on it myself, and not everyone has the app/s or is skilled at computer use, it can be quite complex.

    I too think there should be a sticker of some kind sent out so it is easy to identify to anyone if car is registered, would make it easier & less likely for such mistakes.

    • I think it is worth probably going to court and explaining the situation

      and when you lose, you'll be up for court costs and legal costs of all parties…

      • Your not teaching me anything, I would go, it was not registered to the driver, while not really an excuse, a magistrate may see it as an honest mistake.

        • may see it as an honest mistake.

          what makes you think people breaking the law will get off if it was an 'honest mistake?"

      • +1

        Yep plus it’s at the magistrates decision to increase the fines also

        • Also Capital punishment if it is reintroduced.

    • I too think there should be a sticker of some kind sent out

      You can make your own…

    • You can get free Ukraine stickers.

  • and also highlighting that there were no reminder notices?

    Reminders is your responsibility, not theirs…

  • They should at least try send you reminders to your registered mobile, email or snail mail. Banks and utilities have been given a hard time by regulators to ensure they take reasonable steps to remind customers. Pretty poor of RMS for doing nothing.

    • +1

      RMS do and also the Greenslip providers….both SMS and emails reminders plus the original notices via mail. You should already know this if you live in NSW. I would only think that reminders would not be sent if you paid them straight away when you get the original in the mail.

      People need to take responsibility and stop blaming others or making excuses for there faults.

      • I called up CTP provider (QBae) yesterday. They confirmed not sending emails or SMS reminders.

        • It sucks, but now you have been stung, look at how to avoid issues like this in future. Late payments on credit cards, utility bills etc where evena day late you get stung.

          I use a bill minder program (on Mac/iPhone its Chronicle or MoneyPro - PC/Android there are plenty). In this you put all your payments and bills to pay. You can then set recurring payments like rego CTP House insurance. Set annually and then others like rates/utilities etc quarterly and credit cards monthly.

          You can also record when and how you paid. Nothing worse than breaking into a cold sweat thinking the credit card payment has been missed. This way you record when it was done

          It does take a little discipline but well worth it. Especially when you have household with shared payments, so you can check on each other.

          You really dont want this pain again.

          Either that or at least put it in your calendar program to remind you. Some will give you ability to set multiple reminders - 1 week, 3 days etc

  • -1

    After you’re done trying to use the physical health card to get out of the fine, you could try using the mental health card. Seems to be the go to excuse these days.

    If you ignored the initial notice, why would a reminder make you pay it?
    Pay the bills damnit.

  • OP seems to need alerts for driving related matters… huds..speed alerts..rego renewal..insurance renewal..

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