Registration, road licensing, first-registration tax and the driver's licence answer different questions. Understanding each makes a first purchase easier to check.
What to have ready
Before you start
TD describes registration as normally a one-off process assigning a registration mark and vehicle class. Vehicle licensing, commonly for a year or four months, permits road use. A driving licence belongs to the driver and authorises specified classes. A registered car still needs a valid vehicle licence and insurance, while the person driving needs the appropriate entitlement. Transferring a used vehicle is not the same as renewing its licence.
What to do, step by step
- Create separate vehicle and driver checks: chassis number, class, registration and vehicle licence; then the driver's class, validity and restrictions. A familiar registration mark alone does not establish that all permissions are current.
- For a local new car, ask the dealer to itemise first registration, tax, licensing and insurance and explain what it handles. A self-imported car also requires separate customs, taxable-value and examination checks.
- For a used car, check TD25 transfer, outstanding penalties and the existing licence. Schedule renewal or examination separately where needed; possessing the registration document does not prove that road licensing remains valid.
- Before road use, verify that third-party insurance has commenced and the vehicle and drivers match the policy. Set separate reminders for vehicle licensing, driving-licence validity, insurance and required examination.
Costs, timing, and things to check
First-registration tax and annual licence fees use different calculations. An imported vehicle cannot be budgeted solely from its overseas purchase price: customs and TD procedures, technical compliance, tax and insurance need checking before delivery.
One driving licence does not cover every vehicle. Check automatic-transmission, probationary and class restrictions against the actual licence and policy. When borrowing a friend's car, the owner's permission does not replace valid driving entitlement and insurance.
A practical example
A used car is registered but its vehicle licence has expired. Completing transfer does not automatically make it ready to drive away. Arrange the necessary examination, licensing and insurance, and a lawful handover or transport plan.
Check registration, road licensing, the driver's entitlement and insurance individually.
Official information and enquiries
These are the reference and service entry points for this guide. Check current fees, eligibility, and schedules with the authority. The preparation date is not each source's official update date.