When you pay your motor vehicle registration fees, the money goes into which fund?

In Queensland, vehicle registration fees for light motor vehicles are currently charged according to the number of cylinders a vehicle has. Cylinders are then grouped together based on similar power-to-weight ratios. The main cylinder groups are 1 to 3 (including electric), 4, 5 to 6 and 7 to 8 cylinders.

Índice Show

How Queensland compares to other states and territories
2022–23 Private passenger use
Fully electric vehicles
4 cylinder utility
Motorcycle (dual seating)
Bus (4 cylinder, 14 passengers)
Penalties for Vehicles Registered in California

Vehicle registration fees are made up of 3 components:

The vehicle registration fee: provides essential funding towards the Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program, for transport infrastructure and maintenance.
The traffic improvement fee: is a non-refundable fee collected by the Department of Transport and Main Roads for the construction and maintenance of the state’s road network.
Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance: CTP insurance protects motor vehicle owners and drivers from being held financially responsible if they cause injury to someone else in a motor vehicle accident. Find more information about CTP insurance.

How Queensland compares to other states and territories

Each state or territory decides how to charge registration. Queensland’s cylinder based approach is consistent with South Australia and Tasmania. In New South Wales, Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory, light vehicle registration fees are based on a vehicle’s tare weight, while the Northern Territory bases registration fees on the engine capacity of a vehicle. Victoria charges a flat fee for all light vehicles.

It is important to note that some jurisdictions require annual mandatory safety inspections for vehicles that are more than 5 years old, before they can be registered. This requirement increases the annual cost of registration, on top of the costs outlined in the following tables. There are no mandatory annual safety inspections for private light vehicles in Queensland.

2022–23 Private passenger use

The following tables compare the common full registration cost, including CTP insurance, between all states and territories for:

The following fees are a guide for 12-month registration periods as at 1 July 2022.

Fully electric vehicles

State	$ cost based on a 2,109kg tare
QLD	$699.05
NSW*	$1,021.83
VIC	$764.40
NT	$604.30
SA	$682.64
WA	$1,005.40
TAS	$576.62
ACT	$1,124.70

4 cylinder

State	$ cost based on a 1,275kg tare
QLD	$773.55
NSW*	$891.83
VIC	$864.40
NT	$802.30
SA	$682.64
WA	$817.36
TAS	$576.62
ACT	$934.00

4 cylinder utility

State	$ cost based on a 1,865kg tare
QLD	$816.55
NSW*	$1,324.71
VIC	$865.50
NT	$802.30
SA	$1,140.39
WA	$937.78
TAS	$576.62
ACT	$1,221.10

6 cylinder

State	$ cost based on a 1,622kg tare
QLD	$976.95
NSW*	$1,059.83
VIC	$864.40
NT	$855.30
SA	$828.64
WA	$919.44
TAS	$613.62
ACT	$1,124.70

8 cylinder

State	$ cost based on a 2,660kg tare
QLD	$1,198.05
NSW*	$1,278.83
VIC	$864.40
NT	$1,015.30
SA	$956.64
WA	$972.70
TAS	$682.62
ACT	$1,444.80

Motorcycle (dual seating)

State	$ cost
QLD	$573.15
NSW*	$496.17
VIC	$723.50
NT	$913.55
SA	$414.80
WA	$381.54
TAS	$633.62
ACT	$720.80

Bus (4 cylinder, 14 passengers)

State	$ cost based on a 2,070kg tare
QLD	$898.55
NSW*	$1,187.30
VIC	$1,095.40
NT	$802.30
SA	$743.21
WA	$972.70
TAS	$831.62
ACT	$1,388.50

Please note: The costs provided are based on averages. The exact costs of registration, including CTP, may differ depending on a number of factors, including CTP insurer, driver history and vehicle location.

*NSW CTP fees are as at 1 April 2022.

Last updated: 1 July 2022

There are a variety of fees that may be required when applying for or renewing vehicle registration.

Registration fees are based on:

Your vehicle type (auto, motorcycle, etc.).
Your vehicle’s purchase price or declared value.
Dates (for example, the date you purchased your vehicle, or the date your vehicle entered California).
The city and/or county you live in.
The city and/or county your business is based in.
The unladen or declared gross vehicle weight (GVW) and the number of axles your vehicle may have.
Any special license plates your vehicle may have.
Whether you have any unpaid parking violations or toll evasion bail.

You will likely have to pay the following fees if your vehicle is registered for on-highway use:

The registration fee
California Highway Patrol (CHP) fee
Vehicle license fee
Transportation improvement fee
County/district fee

To help people plan for registration-related fees, DMV provides vehicle registration fee calculators.

These fee calculators can help you:

Your estimate will vary depending on the information you enter.

All fees may change depending on the law.

Fee type	Fee Amount
CHP	$29
CHP CVRA	$47
Late penalties for original:
One year or less	$30
More than one year up to (and including) two years	$50
More than two years	$100
Late penalties for renewal:
1 to 10 days	$10
11 to 30 days	$15
31 days up to (and including) one year	$30
More than one year up to (and including) two years	$50
More than two years	$100

Fee Type	Fee Amount
Electronic requests by license, ID, or CF number	$2
Manual requests (walk-in, mail-in, telephone inquiries)	$5
History fee (per year):
– Automated	$5
– Non-automated	$20
– Photocopy	$20

Fee Type	Fee Amount
Replacement ID card (VC §9265)	$23
Original moped	$23
Replacement plate	$23
Transfer	$23

Fee Type	Fee Amount
Alternative Fuel/Technology Registration	$3
Alternative Fuel/Technology Smog	$8
CTIP (VC §9400.1)	$3
Clean air vehicle sticker (original/replacement) (VC §§5205.5, 21655.9)	$22
County (VC §§9250.2, 9250.7, 9250.10–9850.17)	Varies by county
CVRA motor vehicle (VC §9400.1)	$122
CVRA weight/year stickers (original/replacement) (VC §9400.1)	$3
Dishonored check (GC §6157)	$30
Replacement: (VC §9265)
– Title	$23
– License plates	$23
– Registration card	$23
– Sticker	$23
Engine change (VC §9267)	$2
Historical vessel plaque (VC §9853.5)	$20
Investigation service (VC §9263)	$15
Lien sale authorization (CC §3071)	$5
Motorcycle cross index (original) (VC §9268)	$1
Motorcycle safety (original/renewal) (VC §2935)	$2
Non-resident service (original from out-of-state) (VC §9252)	$23
Non-resident reregistration (same registration year) (VC §9252)	$23
Nonrepairable vehicle certificate (original/duplicate) (VC §11515.2)	$23
Ownership responsibility citation (VC §40002.1)	$7
Partial year registration (VC §9702)	$23
Photocopy of record (VC §§1810–1811)	$20
Planned nonoperation (PNO) (all vehicles/OHV) (VC §4604)	$23
Prejudgment attachment filing or certificate (CCP §§488.385(b)(c))	$23
Prior history (brands certificates prior junk, salvage, taxi, etc.) (VC §9255.1)	$2
Privately owned school bus (PSD) registration/licensing education related	$23
Reflectorized license plate (VC §4850)	$1
Repossession (VC §9255)	$15
Return non-resident license plates (VC §4302)	$1
Salvage certificate (original/duplicate) (VC §§9265, 11515)	$23
Smog abatement (HSC §44060(d)(1))	$20
Smog transfer (VC §4000.1)	$8
Rush title (VC §9270)	$15
Title only (VC §9254)	$23
Transfer (VC §9255)	$15
—Penalty (VC §9553.7)	$15
Transfer on death beneficiary designation (VC §§4150.7, 9852.7)	$10
Total loss salvage/dismantled vehicle inspection (VC §9255.2)	$50
Total loss vehicle partial VLF refund service (RTC §10902)	$23
Vehicle seized/sold to satisfy DMV lien	up to $250
Weight fee credit service (VC §9408)	$2
Zero emissions vehicle parking sticker (VC §22511)	$17

These fees are due every two years to fund the California Department of Parks and Recreation Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division, OHV Trust Fund, and DMV administrative costs.

Fee Type	Fee Amount
Replacement certificate	$23
Original/Renewal OHV ($54 total)
Registration	$33
CHP	$10
Service	$7
License	$4
Penalties ($27 total):
Registration	$17
CHP	$4
Service	$4
License	$2
Replacement plate and/or sticker	$23
Repossession	$10
– Penalty	$10
Transfer	$23
– Penalty	$23

The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) does not offer a grace period for paying your annual vehicle registration fees. Be sure to pay your renewal fees on or before the expiration date shown on your current registration card, or DMV will charge penalties. Even though your license plates display only the month and year, your registration expires on a specific day. Be sure to check the registration card for the actual expiration date.

If you do not receive a billing notice approximately 60 days before your vehicle’s registration expires, please call us at 1-800-777-0133 to find out what your fees are.

The longer you delay payment, the greater the penalty amount will be. Penalty fees are assessed in addition to any other fees due.

Penalties for Vehicles Registered in California

Penalties are determined by adding a percentage of the vehicle license fee, plus a registration late fee, plus a California Highway Patrol (CHP) late fee.

If payment is late:	Percentage of vehicle license fee and weight fee	Registration late fee	CHP late fee
1 – 10 days*	– 10% of the vehicle license fee due for that year. – 10% of the weight fee due for that year (if any).	$10.00	$10.00
11 – 30 days*	– 20% of the vehicle license fee due for that year. – 20% of the weight fee due for that year (if any).	$15.00	$15.00
31 days – one year*	– 60% of the vehicle license fee due for that year. – 60% of the weight fee due for that year (if any).	$30.00	$30.00
More than one year – two years	– 80% of the vehicle license fee due for that year. – 80% of the weight fee due for that year (if any).	$50.00	$50.00
More than two years	– 160% of the vehicle license fee due for that year. – 160% of the weight fee due for that year (if any).	$100.00	$100.00

* A Planned Nonoperation (PNO) may be filed up to 90 days after the registration expiration date if the vehicle was not operated in any manner, but applicable late penalties are due.

Here are the penalties for new vehicles or vehicles that have never been registered in California.

If payment is late:	Penalty
One year or less	– 40% of the vehicle license fee due for that year. – 40% of the weight fee due for that year (if any).
More than one year – two years	– 80% of the vehicle license fee due for that year. – 80% of the weight fee due for that year (if any).
More than two years	– 160% of the vehicle license fee due for that year. – 160% of the weight fee due for that year (if any).

Fee Type	Fee Amount
Original/conversion (VC §5014)	$20
Replacement ID card (VC §5014)	$7
Replacement title (if paper title issued) (VC §9265)	$23
Electronic lien and title (ELT) record (VC §9254)	$23
Paper title (VC §9254)	$23
Service (every five years) (CVC §5014.1)	$10
Replacement plate (VC §5014.1)	$7
Transfer (VC §5014)	$7

Fee Type	Fee Amount
California Fuel Tax Trip Permit (BOE 123)	$30
Foreign Resident In-transit Permit (VC §6700.1, CRTC §6366.2)	$60
Unladen Weight Permit (REG 4030)	$30
Motorcycle Transportation Permit (REG 712) (VC §38232)	$23
Nonresident Commercial Vehicle Trip Permit (REG 41)	$45
Nonresident Daily Commuter Permit (REG 150) (VC §§6700.25, 6700.3)	$23
One Trip Permit (REG 402) (VC §9258)	$23
Temporary Operating Permit	$50

Fee Type	Fee Amount
Original registration/renewal	$65*

* Includes the Alternative Fuel/Technology Fee ($3)

The RIF is assessed on all model year 2020 and later zero emission vehicles (ZEV). RIF fees affect vehicle registration renewals unless exempted.
RIF is not assessed on the initial registration of a newly purchased ZEV from a licensed vehicle dealer.

Fee Type	Fee Amount
Original registration/renewal	$102

TIF fees are used to repair roads, bridges, etc. and provide road maintenance. TIF fees affect original vehicle registration (VR), transfers, and renewals.

Vehicle Value	VR Fee Increase
0-$4,999	$28
$5,000-$24,999	$56
$25,000-$34,999	$112
$35,000-$59,999	$168
$60,000 and higher	$196

For most vehicles, you will need to pay a vehicle license fee instead of the fee being included in your property tax. You can deduct this fee from your income tax. Vehicle license fees are based on the purchase price or value of your vehicle and the fees go to fund cities/counties.

Vehicle license fees decrease for your vehicle’s first 11 renewal years, or until the vehicle is transferred (whichever happens first).

The following groups do not have to pay a vehicle license fee:

Disabled veterans with a 100% service-related disability rating.
Non-resident military personnel stationed in California (and their non-resident spouses).
California Indian tribes and tribal members.
Federally recognized Indian tribes.
Specialized transportation vehicles.
Historical vehicles/horseless carriage.

The VLF for historical vehicles or horseless carriages is $2. (VC §5004)

*Includes fees for original vessel, renewal, alternative fuel/technology, and Quagga Mussels, if applicable.

The following are exempt from the Quagga Mussel fee:

Vessels used only in marine waters.
Annual exempt youth group (type license [TL] V6).
Annual exempt government (TL V7).
CF numbers issued to dealers (TL V3).
CF numbers issued to manufacturers (TL V4).

	Vessel
Original
– Sold in even year	$29
– Sold in odd year	$49
Penalty
– Sold in even year	$10
– Sold in odd year	$25
Renewal
Biennial renewal (due in odd years)	$20
Penalty	$10
Transfer (except between dealers)	$15
Penalty	$8
Replacement (title or registration)	$15
Repossession	$15

The Quagga Fee is collected separately from registration fees. Quagga stickers can be purchased online.

You can purchase special interest license plates to use on your California registered vehicles. You might have to pay a yearly renewal fee on special interest plates, which you can pay when you renew your registration.

Special license plate fees help fund environmental and special programs.

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