Uncertain answers from Australia
 

Yes, I'm getting that now!
Different Depts. in the same State are giving me different answers. Perhaps the reason it's so difficult is that this scenario is not written into any of the State road rules and it becomes an issue of interpretation?
So they seem to be unable to give concrete answers! :rolleyes2:

I can better understand the reason why Australians have to re-register their cars and change their licenses within 3 months of moving to another State. If they don't and try to claim compensation through CTP there may be deniel of this service from their previous State... Non compliance with the law!

When I moved from NSW to VIC the cops gave me merry hell. I was pulled over five times in a month for checks because I had NSW plates. I managed to string it out for several months as I was only on a three month trial at my new job and uncertain if I was staying permanently.

My most recent vague issue was visiting Western Australia. Apparently Western Australia may or may not recognise Victorian "Club Permit" plates for historic vehicles. (Vehicle over 25 years old on a 45 or 90 day log book system at a very cheap price.) Some people with these plates have been stopped at the border until they paid for an Unregistered Vehicle Permit over the phone. But most seem to get through without an issue. Talking to the relevant WA registration department, they referred me to the Police. The Police referred me back to the registration department. Neither would give me a ruling in writing, so I just risked it. I crossed from NT to WA in a lonely place so that probably helped. bier

Traveling by motorbike in Australia
 

I'm starting to get the feeling, that if Betty's bikes (there are two BMW 1200GS) have

• A number Plate
• An up to date registration sticker
• The relvant CTP paperwork from Darwin
  and the Carnet, Home insurance policies and what ever else

...that would more that satisfy any police person and all would be well.

It's the off chance of an accident that will test this theory! :confused1:

I only have experience with Swan, Shannons and Insure my ride. Of these, ImR has been the least hassle. When I originally brought in my Africa Twin to Australia, they were also the only people prepared to help me with insurance before the bike was 'released' from customs or registered. They accepted the overseas rego and told me just to call with an Australian rego if/when I get one.

Also had a crash few years ago and totally destroyed the AT whilst doing trail-riding. No hassles in payout. They also sold the wreck back to me (no hassles), whereas Swann's wrecks go out on auction. After rebuilding it, I re-insured the bike with them again. Again no hassles and the premium was exactly the same, despite my previous 'record' and me declaring several modifications to the bike.

Only reason some of my other rides are with Swann and Shannons- there was a huge difference on price there, so it might be worth shopping around.

I should have added this link about NSW registration and third party insurance. Visiting overseas vehicle < Get a new rego < Registration < Roads and Maritime Services

Insurance in Australia
 

Thanks Squily,
I have taked to Swann and Insure My Ride and neither will provide Insurance. When I told Swann that there was evidence on this forum that other overseas riders had obtained insurance, they explained that their policies had changed since then.

Betty, the owner of the bike, will have to speak to Shannons, as I mentioned on a previous post .. I was not allowed to.

Interesting note. Insure My Ride and Shannons are the same, different companies in name but same business. Shannon handles the up market specialty insurance and Insure My Ride the bottom end, the general insurance.

latest update
 

well I did call shannons and they don't insure because we don't have australian driverslicenses, she adviced to call insure my ride, I also did, and same problem. now I also called RACV and if we have a victorian based adress they can give ( sell of course) us insurance, also called NRMA and if we have our bikes registered in NSW we can get insurance with them, so now we are going to get everything organized for the trip over :clap:
I want to thank everybody and especially Alex for all the information you gave me I hope sometime we can bier somewhere in australia or if you come over to europe then please be :welcome:

I just did a couple of online quotes for Shannons and Insure my ride and neither asked me if I had an Australian licence - maybe their programming is recognising your ISP and forcing you to phone.

Shannons asked if I held a valid driver's licence - which is yes even if it is an overseas licence if it is accepted in Australia.

Just got this reply (at last) from VicRoads



Thank you for your reply email. My name is Lee and I am able to assist you.

We need to confirm the following information:

. is the vehicle registered in your home country
. are you visiting on a temporary basis.

If so, it can be driven in Australia if it meets all of the above conditions. Also, it must have appropriate transport accident cover. By having coverage in NSW, you should be fine to drive in Victoria during your stay.

I hope this information is helpful to you.

If you do have any further questions, please do not hesitate to email us back through the link Feedback & enquiries : VicRoads, providing your email reference 500669881. We will then aim to respond within seven working days.

Alternatively, you may contact the VicRoads Call Centre from overseas on 03 8391 3216 (8.30am - 5.00pm Monday to Friday, 8.30am - 2.00pm Saturday AEST), to discuss your enquiry further with a VicRoads consultant.


Kind regards

Lee
Customer Resolution Team
VicRoads Contact Centre



I asked if an overseas registered vehicle arriving from overseas in NSW on a Carnet de Passage would be allowed to travel in Victoria using the NSW third party arrangements and gave the weblink to Visiting overseas vehicle < Get a new rego < Registration < Roads and Maritime Services

NT CTP Insurance
 

Great information....thanks.

Betty and Arnold are arriving in Darwin where they will get there CTP insurance. The question is, does Northern Territory CTP cover them for all the other states, which is an answer that is still being waited on. They will not be getting CTP insurance in NSW, because NSW does not require that a visiting overseas vehicle apply for CTP!See your link at the end of your post.

When I have asked if NT CTP will cover Betty and Arnold, all the other states have pointed me back to the NT and said "Find out if the NT CTP covers you for travel in other Australian States"... So we are waiting to find out if NT will cover in ALL states. The other alternative is to get CTP in each state, excluding NSW??

Do you think the person who sent the email is offering a personal viewpoint or a point of law?

Also, it must have appropriate transport accident cover. By having coverage in NSW, you should be fine to drive in Victoria during your stay.
CTP (Transport accident cover??) is not neccessary in NSW for a overseas visting vehicle... and "you should be fine" ...where does it say that?

I have found it sadly frustrating that clear answers are not forthcoming, but its well know each Australian State has its own way of doing things, and as bnicho from this forum pointed out, even Australians get caught in the mess>>

Alex

I asked in Darwin (while getting my CTP - Compulsory Third Party insurance) inspection site if NT CTP covers me in all states. No-one could say definitely Yes… So, it seems like everyone over there are just guessing.

The thing is, CTP issued in one state is valid in all the others provided the vehicle is on normal Australian registration. If the vehicle is on the National Registration Database, then it has CTP cover or would not be on that database. That's what the Police check if they pull us over. It only gets murky with overseas vehicles (and my Club Permit cars) because they don't appear on that database.

NSW is the only state (I think) where you arrange your own CTP seperately before you can pay your annual registration fees. In every(?) other state the CTP is just a component in the registration fee and you don't get to choose insurer for that. So it boggles my mind that you allegedly automatically have cover when entering through NSW?? I think what they mean is when you arrange the cover yourself like any other NSW resident then it is valid in all states. So then it is up to the INSURER that accepts your premium to tell you where the insurance is valid.

Personally I'd want something in writing confirming the cover from the insurer before assuming anything!

It really should not be this freaking hard. Every time I go down the Great Ocean Road I see at least one overseas plated car or bike. :eek3:

Any resolution?
 

I'm in NSW now and I have been trying to figure out insurance. I received this email back from NSW services.

Dear Noah

Thank you for your email

Visiting overseas vehicles may be used temporarily in NSW without being registered in NSW, if the vehicle is registered in its home jurisdiction and displays any required number plates and labels. It is also recommended that the overseas registration certificate be carried when using the vehicle.

These vehicles are exempt from NSW registration and Compulsory Third Party insurance. A NSW third party personal injury claim involving a visiting overseas vehicle is made against the Nominal Defendant Scheme. This scheme is administered by the Motor Accidents Authority.

Motor Accidents Authority: 1300 137 131

Fax No.: 1300 137 707

TTY: 8268 1450

Green Slip/CTP Hotline: 1300 137 600

Website: MOTOR ACCIDENTS AUTHORITY of New South Wales - Road Safety Research, Motor Accidents Compensation

To enquire about property insurance it is suggested you contact the NSW major insurance companies.

Kind regards

This just confirms what others are saying about NSW not needing insurance for foreign vehicles.

My question: Can anyone recommended an insurance company for the rest of Oz?

Who have you used? what worked? what didn't?

Thanks!

yesterday we shipped our bikes already to Australia. we will be following in september. we changed our plans a bit, we will arrive in Melbourne, and it appears that if you register your bike there and you can give a based address ( which might as well be a hotel) you get TAC which covers for personal injury, and that is also interstate. so last week I called vic roads and had it all sorted out in half an hour. so that was quite a relief for us. with all that sorted we now can look forward to come down to aussieland. we hope we meet some of you on the way and have a drink and thanks again to everybody who tried to help us out.

This is all fine and dandy. But with a carnet... I don't want to register my bike. I've called Swanns and they connected me to NRMA. NRMA wouldn't sell me a CTP insurance. So where can I get it? :confused1: