Caravan & Boat Finance
Boat, trailer and caravan rego costs by state, 2026-27
By Joseph Nowland, Director and Senior Finance Broker · · 6 min read
Registering a caravan costs $70.54 a year in Victoria and $618.30 in the ACT. That's nearly nine times as much for the same van.
We compared what it costs to register a boat, a box trailer and a caravan in every state and territory, using each government's own 2026-27 fee tables. Here's what we found.
Key findings
- Caravan rego ranges from $70.54 to $618.30. Victoria is the cheapest place to register a 2,500kg tandem caravan and the ACT is the most expensive. NSW is second at $414, even after its 40% cut to caravan vehicle tax.
- Victoria charges one flat fee. Any light trailer or caravan up to 4.5 tonnes costs $70.54 a year, so a 3 tonne van costs the same as a box trailer.
- The ACT put its trailer fees back up. Trailer and caravan rego in the ACT rose by $150 on 1 September 2026, when a period of reduced trailer fees ended. The smallest trailers went from nothing to $104.90.
- NSW's $100 rego discount leaves out trailers and caravans. The discount, which applies to renewals from 1 September 2026, doesn't cover private trailers or caravans.
- Engine size doesn't change boat rego. Every state that registers boats charges by length, except Tasmania, which charges one flat fee.
- Boat rego ranges from $98 to $362.40. For a 5.5 metre trailer boat, Tasmania is the cheapest and WA is the most expensive. The NT doesn't require boat rego or a boat licence at all.
- A Queensland boat licence lasts for life. It costs $132.40 once. In NSW, the cheapest licence is $82 for one year.
Caravan rego costs by state
A tandem caravan with an ATM of 2,500kg, registered for 12 months. Stamp duty is not included.
| State | Annual rego | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ACT | $618.30 | Rises to $928.40 once the tare reaches 2,500kg |
| NSW | $414 | $84 registration plus $330 vehicle tax. Rises to $600 for a tare over 2,500kg |
| NT | $310.85 | Includes compulsory third party insurance |
| QLD | $251.00 | Same fee for any trailer over 1.02 tonnes ATM |
| WA | $183.45 | Charged by tare weight, so heavier vans cost more |
| TAS | $153.81 | Same fee for any caravan over 0.5 tonnes unladen, up to 4.5 tonnes |
| SA | about $110 | Same fee for any trailer or caravan up to 4.5 tonnes |
| VIC | $70.54 | Same fee for any trailer or caravan up to 4.5 tonnes |
For a heavier 3,000kg van (tare about 2,400kg), WA rises to $213.21 and the NT to $397.85. Every other state stays the same.
Box trailer rego costs by state
A box trailer with an ATM of up to 750kg, registered for 12 months.
| State | Light trailer (250kg tare) | Heavier trailer (400kg tare) |
|---|---|---|
| ACT | $104.90 | $271.50 |
| NSW | $84 | $240 |
| QLD | $131.85 | $131.85 |
| NT | $127.85 | $127.85 |
| SA | about $110 | about $110 |
| TAS | $102.81 | $102.81 |
| WA | $79.29 | $94.17 |
| VIC | $70.54 | $70.54 |
In the ACT, the fee jumps once the trailer's tare passes 250kg, and in NSW once it passes 254kg. That's where most 7x5 and 8x5 trailers sit. The NT and WA both include compulsory third party insurance in trailer rego.
Boat rego costs by state
A 5.5 metre trailer boat, registered for 12 months.
| State | Annual rego | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| WA | $362.40 | 5 to 9.99 metre band |
| QLD | $257.90 | Includes a $26.55 fisheries use fee |
| NSW | $169 | 5.01 to 5.5 metre band |
| SA | $152 | Halved to $76 until 1 December 2026 |
| VIC | $104.50 | Any powered boat over 4 metres |
| TAS | $98 | One flat fee for all recreational boats. $95.50 for 2026, $98 for 2027 renewals |
| NT | $0 | No boat rego required |
| ACT | Not applicable | No ACT scheme. Boats are registered in another state |
Boat licence costs by state
| State | Cheapest adult licence | How long it lasts |
|---|---|---|
| QLD | $132.40 | Life |
| NSW | $82 | 1 year |
| TAS | $58.80 | 1 year (annual renewal fee) |
| SA | $53 plus a $56 test | No renewal fee listed |
| VIC | $43.20 | 1 year |
| WA | $36.90 | Life (training provider fees are extra) |
| NT | $0 | No licence needed |
| ACT | Not applicable | An interstate licence and ACT Government approval are needed over 10 knots |
How we worked it out
We used each state and territory government's published fee tables, checked on 30 September 2026. Where a state charges by weight, we used a set example so the states could be compared fairly.
- A caravan with an ATM of 2,500kg and a tare of about 2,000kg.
- A box trailer with an ATM of up to 750kg, at 250kg and 400kg tare.
- A 5.5 metre trailer boat with a 115hp outboard.
The figures are 12 month renewal fees. They don't include stamp duty, number plates, inspections or one-off fees for a first registration. Concessions for pensioners and some other groups are available in most states. The SA figures are shown as approximate on the SA Government's own page. Queensland trailer and caravan figures are from TMR's online registration quote tool, and WA figures are worked out from its published fee schedule. VicRoads doesn't date its fee pages, so the Victorian figures are as listed on 30 September 2026.
Fees change, usually on 1 July, so check with your state's transport or maritime agency before you register.
Rego costs by state, common questions
Renewing a light trailer with an ATM of up to 750kg costs $131.85 for 12 months in 2026-27. Trailers over 1.02 tonnes ATM, including most caravans, cost $251.
A private trailer with a tare of up to 254kg costs $84 a year. From 255kg to 764kg tare it costs $240, which includes $156 of vehicle tax.
A private caravan with a tare between 1,500kg and 2,500kg costs $414 a year. That's $84 registration plus $330 vehicle tax, after the 40% cut to caravan vehicle tax.
Registering a boat between 4.51 and 6 metres costs $257.90 for 12 months. That includes a $26.55 fisheries use fee.
A boat between 5.01 and 5.5 metres costs $169 a year to register.
A Queensland recreational marine driver licence costs $132.40. You pay once and it lasts for life.
Victoria. Any light trailer or caravan up to 4.5 tonnes costs $70.54 a year to register.
Sources
- NSW GovernmentNSW trailer and caravan rego and vehicle tax
- NSW GovernmentNSW boat rego, effective 1 Jul 2026
- NSW GovernmentNSW boat licence
- Service NSWNSW $100 discount excludes trailers and caravans
- VicRoadsVic light trailer and caravan fee (page undated)
- VicRoadsVic boat rego (page undated)
- VicRoadsVic boat licence (page undated)
- Maritime Safety QueenslandQld boat rego and licence, from 1 Jul 2026
- Queensland LegislationQld trailer fee units (Sch 3 item 7)
- Queensland LegislationQld fee unit value $1.133
- Transport WAWA trailer and caravan, 2026/2027
- Transport WAWA motor injury insurance
- Transport WAWA boat rego
- SA GovernmentSA trailer and caravan, from 1 Jul 2026
- SA GovernmentSA boat rego and 50% discount
- Transport TasmaniaTas trailer and caravan, 1 Jul 2026
- Marine and Safety TasmaniaTas boat rego and licence
- ACT Legislation RegisterACT trailer and caravan fees from 1 Sep 2026
- NT GovernmentNT trailer and caravan fees
- NT GovernmentNT, no boat rego or licence needed
You're welcome to use this data in your own reporting. Please credit Morella Finance and link to this page. CC BY 4.0
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