Every vehicle on the road in NSW needs to be registered.

This protects everyone against fraud and theft, as well as ensuring that vehicles are insured for any damage they might do to other people in a crash.

You’ll need to get new registration for your car when you buy it new. You’ll also need to get new rego for a second-hand car if it’s unregistered when you buy it, or if your own car’s registration is more than three months out of date.

Registering a new car

If you buy a spanking new car from a dealer, most of them will be able to organise the rego for you. They’ll provide you with the relevant forms and details when you buy the car.

The dealer will ask you to complete the Application for Registration form and provide you with the Certificate of Registration and rego label once registration is completed.

If you haven’t done business with the RTA before, you’ll need to go to a motor registry, provide proof of your identity and be established as an RTA customer.

Registering a used car

If you buy an unregistered used car, or if your own car has been unregistered for more than three months, then you’ll need to go to a motor registry and establish a new registration.

You’ll need to take the following:

• A completed Application for Registration form (available from the motor registry).
• Proof of your identity.
• Proof of your address.
• A valid green slip - click here for details.
• A blue slip - click here for details.
• Proof that you have bought the car. This can be:
• The certificate of registration completed and signed on the back by the previous owner; or
• A bill of sale from an auction house or motor dealer; or
• A letter or receipt from the person or organisation you bought the vehicle from that clearly shows the seller's name, address and signature, and which also includes your details, the date the vehicle was sold and the selling price. The letter or receipt must also include the registration number, VIN or chassis number and engine number of the vehicle; or
• A completed Notice of Disposal signed by the last owner of the car.

As well as the rego fee, you'll need to pay stamp duty if the car wasn't previously registered in your name. Stamp duty is usually three per cent of the price of the car.