Driving an Unregistered Vehicle in South Australia: Fines and the CTP Grace Trap

Driving or leaving standing an unregistered motor vehicle in South Australia is an offence under section 9 of the Motor Vehicles Act 1959, carrying a maximum fine of $7,500 and, since 1 July 2026, an on-the-spot expiation fee of $502, with no grace period at all.

The offence: driving or standing an unregistered vehicle

Section 9 of the Motor Vehicles Act 1959 (SA), 'Duty to register,' makes it an offence to drive, or cause to stand, an unregistered motor vehicle on a road, with a maximum penalty of $7,500. The Act defines an 'unregistered motor vehicle' in section 9(7). There are defences available. A driver who is not the registered owner or operator has a defence if they did not know, and could not reasonably be expected to have known, that the vehicle was unregistered (section 9(1c)). An employee required by an employer to drive a vehicle they do not own can prove lack of knowledge by statutory declaration to the Commissioner of Police (sections 9(1a), 9(1b) and 9(6b)). An owner who did not drive or leave the vehicle on the road has a defence if they took reasonable steps to make sure anyone lawfully entitled to use it would know it was unregistered (section 9(4a)).

Read in full, section 9 has no time-based grace period for driving. There is no clause that excuses driving for a set number of days after registration lapses.

Expiation (on-the-spot) fines from 1 July 2026

South Australia's Police expiable offences fee schedule sets the following expiation fees, effective 1 July 2026. The unregistered-vehicle fees rose from $486 and the uninsured-vehicle fees from $897 under the 2025-26 schedule:

• Drive an unregistered motor vehicle on a road, section 9(1), code M774: $502
• Drive an uninsured motor vehicle on a road, section 102(1), code M775: $927
• Cause an unregistered vehicle to stand on a road, section 9(1), code M776: $502
• Cause an uninsured vehicle to stand on a road, section 102(1), code M777: $927
• Owner of an unregistered vehicle driven or found standing, section 9(3), code M778: $502
• Owner of an uninsured vehicle driven or found standing, section 102(2), code M779: $927
• Cause or permit an unregistered heavy vehicle to be driven, section 43A(3), code M780: $502

A Victims of Crime Levy applies on top of each of these fees: $108 for an offender 18 or over, $20 for an offender under 18.

The separate uninsured (CTP) offence, and the grace period trap

Driving an uninsured vehicle is a separate offence from driving an unregistered one, charged under section 102(1), with a $927 expiation fee and a maximum court penalty of $10,000. The owner offence in section 102(2) carries the same $10,000 maximum. Section 99A(8)(a) of the Motor Vehicles Act keeps a compulsory third party (CTP) insurance policy in force for a further 30 day period of grace after the registration period it covers ends, and section 99A(10) ends that grace early if a new policy comes into force.

That 30 day period is about the insurance policy, not registration. During it the vehicle is not uninsured, so the section 102 offence does not apply, but driving it is still an unregistered-vehicle offence under section 9 from day one after registration expires. Do not treat South Australia as giving drivers 30 days to renew.

Unregistered Vehicle Permits (UVP)

An Unregistered Vehicle Permit lets you drive or tow an unregistered vehicle for a defined purpose: getting it to an inspection, to repairs, to a car event or rally, or relocating it, provided the journey starts or finishes in South Australia. Apply through the mySAGOV online portal, on paper form MR2 at a Service SA centre, or by phone on 13 10 84. The Registrar issues these permits under section 16 of the Motor Vehicles Act on payment of the prescribed fee and insurance premium. A permit runs for a maximum of 3 days, often issued for just 1 day, and must be carried in the vehicle and shown to police on request; driving without carrying it carries a maximum penalty of $750 (section 16(9)).

Fees effective from 1 July 2026: a 1 day vehicle inspection permit is $52, a 1 day trailer inspection permit is $12, a vehicle relocation or repair permit of up to 3 days is $72, a trailer relocation or repair permit of up to 3 days is $32, and a duplicate permit is $20. A lost or damaged permit can be replaced free through mySAGOV while it is still current.

Registration labels

South Australia stopped requiring registration labels in two separate legislative steps, not one. For light vehicles (any vehicle other than a heavy vehicle), labels issued under section 48 of the Motor Vehicles Act stopped counting as registration labels on 1 July 2011, when section 22 of the Statutes Amendment (Budget 2010) Act 2010 commenced. Heavy vehicles followed on 1 November 2017, when the Statutes Amendment and Repeal (Simplify) Act 2017 deleted the registration label provisions. Both dates are recorded in the Motor Vehicles Act's own legislative history.

Trailers

Trailers are covered by the same section 9 registration offence as other vehicles. They have their own, cheaper Unregistered Vehicle Permit fee tier rather than a separate offence regime.

Checking a vehicle's registration status

sa.gov.au offers a free online check by plate number that shows a vehicle's registration expiry date, CTP insurer and whether it is suspended, stolen, defected or written off. Service SA gives the same registration details free on 13 10 84, and your mySAGOV account lists every vehicle registered in your name.

For how South Australia compares with other states and territories, see our national unregistered vehicles guide and the Australian driving laws hub. CTP insurance itself, separate from the registration offence discussed above, is covered in our South Australia motor accident compensation guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a grace period for driving an unregistered vehicle in South Australia?

No. Section 9 of the Motor Vehicles Act 1959 has no time-based grace period for driving. The 30 day period under section 99A(8)(a) keeps a CTP insurance policy in force, so the vehicle is not uninsured during it, but it does not make driving an unregistered vehicle legal.

How much is the fine for driving an unregistered car in South Australia?

Section 9 carries a maximum court penalty of $7,500. On the spot, the current expiation fee from 1 July 2026 is $502 for driving unregistered, plus a Victims of Crime Levy of $108 for an adult or $20 for someone under 18. Driving uninsured is a separate offence with a $927 expiation fee and a $10,000 court maximum.

How do I legally move an unregistered vehicle in South Australia?

Apply for an Unregistered Vehicle Permit (UVP) through mySAGOV, paper form MR2 at a Service SA centre, or by phone on 13 10 84. It covers driving or towing to an inspection, repairs, an event, or a relocation, for up to 3 days, and must be shown to police on request.

Does South Australia still use registration label stickers?

No. Registration labels stopped being required for light vehicles on 1 July 2011, under the Statutes Amendment (Budget 2010) Act 2010, and for heavy vehicles on 1 November 2017, under the Statutes Amendment and Repeal (Simplify) Act 2017.

Is the fine the same for an unregistered trailer in South Australia?

The offence is the same section 9 offence that applies to other vehicles, but trailers have their own, cheaper Unregistered Vehicle Permit fee tier if you need to move one while unregistered.