All motorcycles travelling on Queensland roads must be registered. Registration allows Queensland Transport to identify and manage registered motorcycle operators, support the safety and security of Queensland's road transport and provide funding for the development and maintenance of Queensland's road network.
Compulsory Third Party insurance, which is managed with registration, provides indemnity against personal injury claims in crashes. Registration also allows common safety standards to be enforced and provides an efficient system to prevent the re-registration (re-birthing or ringing) of stolen motorcycles.
Click on the links below to access the specific motorcycle registration information you're seeking.
GENERAL INFORMATION To register an unregistered motorcycle, you need to go to a Queensland Transport customer service centre.
Before you can move the motorcycle from its place of purchase or from where it is currently garaged, you must:
- Complete an Application for Registration form. You can download a copy of the application form here or obtain one from your local Queensland Transport customer service centre.
- Organise a Compulsory Third Party (CTP) Insurance Certificate for the motorcycle through a licensed insurer.
Once you have done this, you can legally take your unregistered motorcycle directly to:
- An Approved Inspection Station to obtain a Safety Certificate, then on to;
- A customer service centre and apply for registration.
If you're unable to take the motorcycle directly from the Approved Inspection Station to a customer service centre, you'll need an
Unregistered Motorcycle Permit (i.e. where a motorcycle needs additional work to pass the safety certificate which is not able to be done at the AIS). You can download a copy of the permit application form
here or obtain one from your local Queensland Transport customer service centre.
When you arrive at the customer service centre, you can make the process of registration quicker and easier if you have the following paperwork:
- A completed Application for Registration
- A CTP Insurance Certificate from a licensed insurer.
- A Safety Certificate.
- Evidence of the motorcycle's origin - old registration papers in your name or a purchase receipt.
- Evidence of motorcycle's garage address - current Queensland driver licence, property rates notice, gas, phone or electricity bill.
- Personal identification such as a current Queensland driver licence. Queensland Transport's Evidence of Identity brochure has more information about identification requirements. You can download a copy of the brochure here.
- Payment for the registration fee.
Remember - if you're caught riding an unregistered motorcycle, it's odds on you'll incur substantial fines for having no registration and CTP insurance.
REGISTRATION FEES The re-registration and new registration fees listed below are for motorcycles, motorcycle/sidecar combinations and trikes for the period 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008 inclusive.
Please Note: The registration fees listed below do not include compulsory third party (CTP) insurance. The Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance scheme in Queensland is regulated by the Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC).
| Payment Period | Registration fee | Traffic improvement fee | Registration renewal total | New registration total (incl plate fee) |
| 12 months | $70.45 | $42.45 | $112.90 | $133.95 |
| 6 months | $42.75 | $21.25 | $64.00 | $85.05 |
Please Note: While every effort is taken to ensure accuracy of these rates, you should confirm the price with Queensland Transport.
COMPULSORY THIRD PARTY (CTP) INSURANCE CTP insurance indemnifies motorcycle owners and riders who are legally liable for personal injury to any other party in the event of a motor vehicle accident. CTP insurance covers you for personal injury caused by, through or in connection with the use of the insured motorcycle in incidents to which the Motor Accident Insurance Act 1994 applies. It will cover you for claims made against you by other road users such as drivers, passengers, pedestrians, cyclists, and other motorcyclists and pillion passengers.
As the name indicates, CTP insurance is compulsory and a condition of motorcycle registration. If an accident occurs involving a motorcycle without registration and CTP insurance, the rider and owner may be financially liable for the damages paid to the injured person. In addition, owners and riders of unregistered motorcycles face substantial fines.
CTP insurance premiums includes the following levies and fee:
- Statutory Insurance Scheme Levy - to fund the operations of the Motor Accident Insurance Commission in the management of the Compulsory Third Party Scheme.
- Hospital & Emergency Services Levy - to fund a reasonable proportion of the cost of public hospital and emergency services where a CTP claim could be made by motor vehicle accident victims. Claims may arise from accident victims other than you.
- Nominal Defendant Levy - to fund the cost of injury claims where a vehicle involved in an accident is either uninsured (unregistered) or cannot be identified. The Nominal Defendant will seek recovery of all monies paid on claims from the owner and/or driver of an uninsured vehicle. The Nominal Defendant is also responsible for the liabilities of an insolvent CTP insurer.
- Administration Fee - to fund the cost of collecting CTP Insurance and administering and maintaining the scheme by Queensland Transport.
For CTP insurance cover, motorcycles fall into one of two categories. Class 12 covers single seat motorcycles not capable of carrying passengers and Class 13 covers motorcycles with provision to carry passengers.
Class 12 - The rates listed below are for motorcycles (with 2 wheels or 3 wheels), including motorcycles for hire, with seating only for the rider and are valid for the period 30 June 2007 to 29 September 2007 inclusive.
| Private | Commercial |
| Insurer | 6 months | 12 months | 6 months | 12 months |
| RACQ Insurance | $50.56 | $85.20 | $52.40 | $88.80 |
| QBE | $49.60 | $83.20 | $51.40 | $86.80 |
| NRMA Insurance | $50.60 | $85.20 | $52.40 | $88.80 |
| AAMI | $50.60 | $85.20 | $52.40 | $88.80 |
| Suncorp | $50.60 | $85.20 | $52.40 | $88.80 |
| Allianz | $50.60 | $85.20 | $52.40 | $88.80 |
Class 13 - The rates listed below are for motorcycles (with 2 or 3 wheels), including motorcycles for hire, with either or both of the following;
(a) seating for a pillion passenger;
(b) a sidecar
and are valid for the period 30 June 2007 to 29 September 2007 inclusive.
| Private | Commercial |
| Insurer | 6 months | 12 months | 6 months | 12 months |
| RACQ Insurance | $122.00 | $228.00 | $128.80 | $241.60 |
| QBE | $121.00 | $226.00 | $127.80 | $239.60 |
| NRMA Insurance | $122.00 | $228.00 | $128.80 | $241.60 |
| AAMI | $122.00 | $228.00 | $128.80 | $241.60 |
| Suncorp | $122.00 | $228.00 | $128.80 | $241.60 |
| Allianz | $122.00 | $228.00 | $128.80 | $241.60 |
While every effort is taken to ensure accuracy of these rates, you should confirm the price with the insurer.
TRANSFERRING MOTORCYCLE REGISTRATION If you purchase a registered second-hand motorcycle you are required to transfer the registration into your name and must;
- Lodge a completed Registration Transfer Application form and Certificate of Registration at a Queensland Transport customer service centre which is signed by both the disposer and the acquirer within 14 days of purchase. You can download a copy of the application form here or obtain one from your local Queensland Transport customer service centre.
- Supply the original copy of a current Safety Certificate.
- Provide evidence of personal identification such as a current Queensland driver licence or company/business/organisation identification.
- Pay a transfer fee and vehicle registration duty.
If you require the motorcycle to have joint registration, both persons must sign the form and provide evidence identification at the time of transfer.
Special conditions apply for transfers that involve personalised plates.
CHANGE OF REGISTRATION INFORMATION Notify Queensland Transport of any change of address by:
- Visiting the Services online section of the Queensland Transport website.
- Telephoning 13 23 802.
- Mail - PO Box 2211 Brisbane Queensland 4001
- Visiting a Queensland Transport customer service centre, Queensland Government Agency Program (QGAP) or Police Remitting Station.
Note: Advise Queensland Transport of your change of address prior to paying your registration to ensure your registration label is posted to the correct address.
Other changes.
Changes to other details that affect your registration, such as a change of name or concession, can only be made in person to ensure evidence of identity provisions are met.
Changes to your registration record, following modifications to your motorcycle, can only be made in person at a Queensland Transport customer service centre, Queensland Government Agency (QGAP) office or Police Remitting Station as an inspection of the motorcycle may be required.
Keep any receipts or receipt numbers as proof of payment. The Certificate of Registration and windscreen label will be mailed to you.
Remember to update your electoral enrolment details every time you change your address, once you have lived at the new address for one month and even if the new address is in the same electoral district.
CANCELLING MOTORCYCLE REGISTRATION Lodge a completed Application for Registration application at a Queensland Transport customer service centre. All registered operators must sign the form.
Hand in the motorcycle's number plate to a customer service centre unless you have a personalised number plate which you get to keep.
If the registration is current, destroy the registration label and certify on the form that it has been destroyed. You will then receive a refund, minus an administration fee, for the unexpired portion of your registration.
If you are cancelling motorcycle registration, Queensland Transport will, on behalf of your compulsory third party insurer, include a refund of the remainder of your compulsory third party premium with the registration refund.
The refund is calculated on a daily pro-rata basis for the unexpired portion of the registration and compulsory third party (CTP) insurance.
Of the total fee paid, the refund includes the registration fee component and the CTP insurer's premium. It does not include the traffic improvement fees and levies such as the registration reinstatement fee.
If you are cancelling registration for the reason of the motorcycle being wrecked, you will need to notify the written-off vehicle register.
MOVING AN UNREGISTERED MOTORCYCLE You can apply for an
Unregistered Vehicle Permit to use an unregistered motorcycle on the road to move it from one place to another.
If for example you are unable to ride directly from an Approved Inspection Station to a Queensland Transport customer service centre, you must have an
Unregistered Vehicle Permit.
Depending on the journey a permit may be issued for up to seven days.
To apply for a permit you will need to submit a completed application form stating the
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) or engine number and a
Compulsory Third Party (CTP) Insurance Certificate covering the motorcycle for the duration of the permit. You will need to pay a fee for the CTP. Permit fees are calculated on the number of calendar days required.
You can download an application form
here or obtain one from your local Queensland Transport customer service centre.
