How to Register an Interstate Car in Queensland
I inspected this Mitsubishi Triton in Archerfield today for someone who had just moved to Queensland from Victoria. He’d done the right thing and booked the roadworthy within his first week. But he wasn’t sure what to do next. Here’s the full process.
You have 14 days
If you move to Queensland with a vehicle that’s currently registered in another state or territory, you have 14 days to register it in Queensland. If you don’t, you can be fined.
During those 14 days, you can legally drive the vehicle with the interstate plates still attached. But the clock is ticking from the day you arrive, so don’t leave it until the last minute.
Step 1 - Get a Queensland roadworthy
Your interstate registration and any roadworthy or inspection from another state is not valid in Queensland. You need a Queensland safety certificate (roadworthy certificate) before you can register the vehicle here.
This is where a mobile roadworthy makes things easy. You’ve just moved – you probably don’t know any local mechanics yet, your car might be parked in a half-unpacked driveway, and you’ve got a hundred other things to sort out. I come to wherever you are, inspect the vehicle on the spot, and if it passes, you get the electronic safety certificate by email immediately.
Step 2 - Visit a TMR customer service centre
Once you have your safety certificate, go to a Transport and Main Roads (TMR) customer service centre. Bring:
- Your phone with the safety certificate email (or a printout)
- Your interstate driver’s licence
- Your interstate number plates (you’ll hand these in)
At TMR, you’ll pay the Queensland registration and CTP insurance fees, hand in your old plates, and receive new Queensland number plates on the spot. You walk out with QLD plates in your hand.
You’ll get a receipt for surrendering your interstate plates. To get a refund on the remaining portion of your old interstate registration, you need to contact the transport authority in your previous state directly – TMR in Queensland can’t process that for you.
Step 3 - Transfer your driver's licence
While you’re at it, you also need to transfer your driver’s licence to Queensland. You can do this at the same TMR visit. Bring your current interstate licence and proof of your new Queensland address. TMR will issue you a Queensland driver’s licence.
Step 4 - Register for toll roads
This one catches a lot of new arrivals off guard. Brisbane has toll roads, and if you drive on them without an account, you’ll receive fines in the mail.
Register with Linkt (linkt.com.au) as soon as you have your new Queensland number plates. You can set it up online in a few minutes. This covers all toll roads in South East Queensland including the Gateway Motorway, Logan Motorway, and the Go Between Bridge.
What if you bought an interstate car without moving to QLD?
The same process applies. If you buy a vehicle that’s registered in another state and you plan to keep it at a Queensland address, you have 14 days to register it in Queensland. Get the roadworthy, visit TMR, hand in the interstate plates, get QLD plates.
Quick summary
- Get a Queensland roadworthy (safety certificate) – book online with Local Roadworthys from $110
- Go to a TMR customer service centre with the certificate, your interstate licence, and your old plates
- Pay QLD registration and CTP fees, hand in old plates, receive new QLD plates
- Transfer your driver’s licence to QLD at the same visit
- Register for Linkt toll roads
The whole process can be done in a day if you book the roadworthy first thing in the morning.
