How to register your car in Australia Vs the UK

• Apr 09, 2022

Registration can be a lengthy process, especially if you are unfamiliar with the different processes of a certain place. And it’s more of a problem if you are trying to register somewhere in a foreign country. Registration for foreigners is usually more complicated than that of legal citizens.

Today we will look at how much of a difference there is between registering your car in Australia vs registering your car in the UK.

 

Registration in Australia

All automobiles in Australia are licensed in one of the states or territories. It's known as 'The Rego' or 'The Registration.' Rules differ from state to state, making the experience of purchasing and selling cars a little more difficult. You can browse the complete comprehensive guide to the 'Rego' on the official Australian transport website, which includes everything you need to know about buying and selling a car in Australia.

 

Your vehicle's 'Rego' is a report that distinguishes it. To drive a car in Australia, you must have a valid registration. The registration must also be under the same identity of the car's owner, thus you must switch the registration to your identity when you buy a car.

All of this is unheard of in the UK. Just like how Australians rarely know about life in the UK test practice. 

The regulations for the Rego vary from state to state. As a result, it's important to familiarize yourself with the laws of the state where you intend to purchase the automobile. When renewing the registration (NSW, NT) or purchasing/selling a vehicle, several states demand an obligatory technical inspection (ACT, QLD, VIC). As a result, you must be in the state at the time of the transfer of ownership to do the technical inspection.

In case you are buying a car from someone, you must be presented with the following information:

- The producer

- Color of the car
- Model of the car
- Year of production
- The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
- The number on the plate
- Date of sale
- The selling price of the car
- Basic information of both the buyer and the seller

 

To shift the registration, the purchaser must show the information mentioned above, face to face, at the state's transport office. Sidenote: Western Australia is the only state that allows mail-in documentation.

 

Registration in the UK

Auto dealerships often license new vehicles and provide you with a V5C log sheet. You will have to license it personally if this doesn't occur. For a new automobile, you'll have to fill out a V55/4 application; for a used car, you'll have to fill out a V55/5 application. Both of these documents may be acquired at Gov.uk, reproduced, and mailed to the DVLA.

 

If you're buying a used automobile, the way you license it will be determined by whether or not it has a log sheet. If the vehicle comes with a logbook, the owner may register it for you; either digitally through the DVLA site or by mail. They must also fill out the green "new keeper" form, hand it over to you, and trash their version of the log file.

If the automobile does not have a log file, you must register it in your identity using a V62 application and pay a £25 cost. These above-mentioned processes are non-existent in Australia.

So, what documents do you need to register a car in the UK? You must also submit evidence of your identification when applying for an automobile registration. In case you have a photocard driver's license, a copy of it can be included with your submission.

However, in case you do not have a driving license you can use these other forms of identification:

• - Your birth certificate

- Your passport
- Your marriage certificate
- Your paper driving license (UK)

 

In addition to that, you will also need proof of residence. You can use any of these as proof:
- A bank statement (from the past 3 months)
- A utility bill
- A medical card (valid)
- A building or society statement (from the past 3 months)
- A tax bill for the current year

 

Both Australia and the UK have their laws and processes for car registration. Regardless of the differences, the one thing they have in common is that they can be time-consuming and annoying at times.