Every ACT motorist can expect a new way of calculating vehicle registration from July 2024. Fees will be based on emissions from their vehicle, rather than weight. Meanwhile, more people with concession cards can qualify for free vehicle registration.
Emissions-based registration
This new ACT registration system began on 1 July 2024.
The main thrust of the new registration system is to replace weight-based fees with emissions-based fees. Currently, heavier vehicles pay higher registration fees. This penalises heavier electrified vehicles with low or no emissions.
Even so, the government expects 96% of all private passenger vehicle owners will pay the same or less for ACT registration.
Changes during 2023
Since 1 July 2023, holders of ACT Service Access cards and Australian Low Income Health Care cards can register their vehicles for free. The ACT government also announced these changes:
- New and used zero emission vehicles that qualified for 2 years of free registration until 25 May 2023 transition to the lowest fee category.
- New and used plug‐in hybrid (PHEVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (EVs) receive 12 months of registration discounts.
- Stamp duty waived for used PHEVs and hybrid EVs (emissions under 130 grams of CO2 per km).
Registrations of zero emissions vehicles doubled from 2021 to 2022. Some 9.5% of all new cars bought in the ACT were EVs.
The ACT intends to phase out light internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035. By 2030, it wants 80-90% of light vehicles sold to have zero emissions.