Short term registration FAQs

About STR

Changing registration period

Eligible vehicles and transactions

Charges and payments

Inspection requirements

Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance requirements

Registration Certificates and labels

About STR

1. What is STR?

STR provides options for registration renewal for six months for most light vehicles and three months for trailers via myRTA.com or through the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) telephone system 1300 360 782.

STR is not available when:

establishing registration
transferring and renewing at the same time or
for any transaction conducted at a motor registry.

2. What are the benefits of registering a vehicle for six months?

It allows customers greater flexibility in managing their vehicle registration without paying extra registration costs.

Changing registration period

3. I have received a renewal notice showing six months’ registration. Can I change it to 12 months?

Yes. When you renew your registration online at myRTA.com or by phoning 1300 360 782 and using the IVR system you can choose the registration period you want. However:

Your vehicle may require an inspection if the period is changed. Please see the inspection table below for more information.
Your CTP policy period must match the registration renewal period.
You must declare that the registration label you received with the renewal notice will be destroyed. A Registration Certificate and label for the new period will be mailed to you. Alternatively you may phone the RTA Contact Centre on 13 2213 or attend a motor registry to apply for a no-fee replacement.

Important: If you decide to change the registration period when renewing, you must allow enough time for a replacement Registration Certificate and label to be sent to you before the registration expires. Remember it is an offence to drive a vehicle with an expired label, with a label showing the incorrect registration period, or without a label.

4. Do I have to nominate the next term for my registration?

No. A renewal notice for the same period as your current registration will be sent to you.

5. I’ve received a renewal notice for a six month period, but now I’ve changed my mind and want the next period to be 12 months. How do I advise the RTA to make sure my next renewal notice has the correct period?

A new renewal notice for the desired period is not required. When you renew your current registration, you can select the period you want to renew during the renewal process. The RTA will post you a new Registration Certificate and label with the correct period at this time. You must declare that you will destroy any Registration Certificate and label showing the wrong period. Alternatively you may phone the RTA Contact Centre on 13 2213 or attend a motor registry to apply for a no-fee replacement.

6. I've received a renewal notice showing six months registration, but now want to change the period to 12 months. Can I obtain a registration renewal notice at a Motor Registry or Contact Centre for the new period?

Only if you are renewing the registration at the same time. A new registration certificate and label with the correct period will be printed and given to you at the time of renewal if you elect to pay at a motor registry, or will be posted to you if you elect to pay through the RTA Contact Centre on 132 213.

You cannot get a renewal notice showing the new period if you are not renewing the registration at that time.

7. I've received a renewal notice showing six months registration, but now want to change the period to 12 months. My insurance company is requesting a renewal notice showing the 12 months?

Insurance companies do not require a registration renewal notice to issue a new policy for a change of period.

Eligible vehicles and transactions

8. Which vehicles are eligible for STR?

1. Light vehicles (GVM of 4.5 tonnes or less)

Six-month STR is available.
Applies to all usage codes that are eligible for online renewal except hire cars
A CTP green slip for the correct registration period must have been received electronically by the RTA.
Important: The CTP policy period must match the registration period.
An e-Safety Check inspection (if required) must have been received electronically by the RTA. An e-Safety Check inspection is valid for 42 days.

2. Trailers

Three and six-month STR is available for trailers.

9. Why can’t I renew with STR at a motor registry?

STR has been introduced to give customers greater flexibility at no cost. The RTA has been able to offer this flexible option to customers at no extra cost by offering it through myRTA.com or by phoning 1300 360 782 and using the IVR system.

Note: Customers may use the self-service kiosks at one of the following seven registries to access myRTA.com:

Bondi Junction
Castle Hill
Chatswood
Liverpool
Penrith South
Richmond
Wynyard

10. I’ve just purchased a new vehicle. How do I know if it’s registered with STR?

To find out the period of the registration, you can:

check online at Vehicle history check, or
call the RTA Contact Centre 132 213, or
go to a motor registry.

11. I have bought a vehicle with a six-month registration term. What happens when I transfer the registration?

The six-month registration term continues until its expiry date. If the registration is not due for renewal, you only need to attend a registry to transfer the registration.

When the registration renewal becomes due, you can:

renew online at myRTA.com or by phoning 1300 360 782 and using the IVR system with the same six-month period, or change to a 12-month period, or
attend a registry and renew for 12 months. If the registration is due for renewal at the time of transfer, you must attend a registry to transfer the registration.
You may then choose to renew the registration for 12 months at the registry

12. Can I establish registration for a new or second-hand light vehicle for six months?

No. STR is only available for registration renewals. New and second-hand vehicle registrations must be established for 12 months.

Charges and payments

13. How much do I have to pay for a six-month registration?

Registration charges are one half of the annual rate.

14. How much do I have to pay for a three-month registration?

Registration charges are one quarter of the annual rate.

15. How will my annual plate fees be calculated for STR?

Plate fees are one half of the annual fees for six-month STR and one quarter of the annual fees for three-month STR.

16. How can I pay for STR?

The following payment methods are acceptable:

Credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club International)
BPAY

17. I paid my registration using BPAY, but there was some delay before the bank transferred the money to the RTA. During that time I received a restriction (eg from State Debt Recovery Office for fine defaults). Do I still have the option of STR once the restriction is resolved?

Yes, provided it is still within 21 days after the registration expiry date.

Inspection requirements

18. When do I need an inspection report?

Annual inspection requirements apply unless the vehicle is exempt. Your registration renewal notice will advise if your vehicle needs an inspection.

An inspection is needed when the new expiry date is greater than 12 months since the last renewal date where an inspection is submitted.

This means if you have chosen a six month period for a second time and inspection was produced for the first six month period an inspection is not required unless the month and year on the compliance plate (or month and year of manufacture for imported vehicles) is more than five years old.

Download the inspection table for more details.

Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance requirements

19. Can I use an annual CTP policy for a STR?

No. The CTP policy period must match the STR period.

20. Do I need to stay with the same CTP insurer for 12 months?

You can change CTP insurer at time of renewal.

21. How long is a CTP green slip valid? What happens after this date?

CTPs for STR have a use-by date of 21 days after the registration expiry date. Renewals made more than 21 days after expiry can only be for 12 months, and a 12-month CTP green slip will be required. If you have any questions regarding the use-by date of your green slip, contact your CTP insurer.

22. I tried to renew my registration online and received the following error message: ‘We have no current CTP details. If you have just purchased a CTP, please allow an hour before contacting your insurer’. What should I do?

There are two reasons why the system may display this message:

Your insurer hasn’t sent your details electronically to the RTA. Try renewing your registration again in one hour. If you are still unsuccessful, contact your insurer.
You purchased a six-month CTP, but your registration expired more than 21 days ago. This exceeds the CTP use-by-date set by your insurer for short-term renewals. You therefore need to contact your insurer and purchase a 12-month CTP, then renew your registration for one year.

Registration Certificates and labels

23. I renewed my registration (on the expiry date) and I have changed the registration period. Do I use the label from the renewal notice (even though the expiry date has changed) or must I wait until I receive the new label by mail before driving the vehicle?

You must wait for the new label. This will be posted to you within seven days. Alternatively you may phone the RTA Contact Centre on 13 2213 or attend a motor registry to apply for a no-fee replacement.

Remember, it is an offence to drive a vehicle with an expired label, with a label showing the incorrect registration period, or without a label.

24. I didn’t receive a renewal notice in the post, but I renewed my registration online anyway. What do I need to do to get a new label?
If the term you renewed for is different to the previous period, the RTA will post you a new Registration Certificate and label.

Otherwise you may phone the RTA Contact Centre on 132 213 or attend a motor registry to apply for a no-fee replacement.

25. I renewed my registration online for a different period, but have not received the new certificate and label. What do I need to do to get a new label?

Phone the RTA Contact Centre on 13 22 13 or attend a motor registry to apply for a no-fee replacement.