Overdue registration

Driving an unregistered vehicle is illegal and carries heavy penalties. It’s also potentially dangerous and can mean that your vehicle is not covered by Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance.

See Unregistered vehicles for more information.

Registration expired less than three months

If your registration is expired less than three months, you can still renew it.

The new registration period will start from the date you make the payment, however the expiry date remains the same – you will not get a full year of registration.

For example, if your registration expires on 1 August, and you don’t renew until 1 October, your next renewal will still be due on 1 August the following year.

Alternatively, you can voluntarily cancel the registration and apply for a new registration. This will ensure the vehicle is registered for a full year from the date of payment, however you’ll have to hand in your number plates, and your vehicle will require an inspection. See Heavy vehicle inspections for more information.

Registration expired more than three months

If you don’t renew your registration within three months of its expiry date, Transport for NSW will cancel it.

You’ll receive written notification of the intention to cancel about two weeks after the expiry date, as a registration renewal reminder notice.

You must return the number plates to a registry or service centre within 14 days of the cancellation date.

It is an offence to keep number plates after this date.