"The problem with doing nothing is not knowing when you're finished" - Benjamin Franklin

Mike C · Senior Member

Address usually garaged

rockylizard · Guru

Mike C wrote:
Hi John

The issue there is you may be required then to change your drivers licence and registration to that state.
This could require roadworthy inspections etc all costing money and time.

I for one will be using a family address until some other option becomes available.

cheers

Mike

Gday...

I am sorry - perhaps I didn't explain what I meant very well.

I understand exactly you want to have a postal address so that your correspondence is looked after/forwarded etc but wish to move around this country, staying for periods that would invoke the rule that, if "resident" in that place for the stipulated period (some say it is three months) you would need to change your licence and rego for that state - incurring what ever fees/processes apply.

So be it. Them's the rules. No need to lie or feel guilty, simply comply. Why should a so-called Grey Nomad be treated any different to any other member of the general public.

My father was an itinerant for most of his life. Whenever he took work in a different state/region he simply lobbed to the copper in town (in those days) and changed the address etc for car and licence - or filled in the forms to be sent off. The "problem" you see has always been there.

Itinerants of today - all those who move from place due to their work are in the same position you are so concerned about.

It would appear the only solution, to meet the issue highlighted here, is that each (nay - ALL) state would need to hand over licencing and registration of vehicles to the Feds - and it will be a very freezing day in Hell before THAT happens.

PS - As Gerty sez, Centrelink require a postal address and if you are moving from place to place then you just tell them. I do so onlline - it is very simple. I notify Centrelink my 'new home address' even when it is a camp/stopover that charges no fees. It will only be if I stay at a campground or van park, and wish to avail myself to Rental Assistance, that I then complete the form, have it signed by the person to whom I pay my fees, and send it to Centrelink. They process the form. It is all so simple.

If I am not staying there for the stipulated period (again, is that three months?), then no-one else is REQUIRED to know.

Cheers - John

Happywanderer · The Master

John, are you saying as you move around from state to state and stay longer than 3 months, you should go to that states VicRoads or what ever the others are called and change everything over.
What a mess that would be. Change of number plates, rego would have to be refunded in one state and recharged in the other state. Number plates sent back to the last state. Roadworthys done in the new state. That could happen 4 times a year at that rate as someone moved around the country.
I really don't think any of that would be logical.

Happywanderer · The Master

Yes I understand that, Vic to NSW example but you wouldn't have been passing through. You would have been staying there for presumably some time.
A bit different from someone from say Vic coming up to spend the winter in Qld then heading back when it gets warm.

Mike C · Senior Member

Happywanderer wrote:
John, are you saying as you move around from state to state and stay longer than 3 months, you should go to that states VicRoads or what ever the others are called and change everything over.
What a mess that would be. Change of number plates, rego would have to be refunded in one state and recharged in the other state. Number plates sent back to the last state. Roadworthys done in the new state. That could happen 4 times a year at that rate as someone moved around the country.
I really don't think any of that would be logical.

I think thats the way the rules seem to read however I doubt if one is simply travelling you would need to. I am sure an address of a friend or family in the state at which you want to maintain a licence or rego would be fine.

I would imagine you would only have an issue if you rented a property and took a long term job in another state as that proberty could be considered your current residential address.

Most states allow a garaging address for rego purposes only.

It would be crazy to expect Gray Nomads to change every three months.

Happywanderer · The Master

Just read you edit which you must have been writing while I was writing. That clears it up, I think.

Happywanderer · The Master

Exactly Gertie, so who would want to do all that too often.

Mike C · Senior Member

Just got a responce from Vic roads re travelling full time and if there are any issues in using a friends or family members address for the purpose of maintaining vic Rego and Licence.

Their formal responce..

"I can advise that if you are planning to travel during your retirement and will no longer have a personal residential address for your licence and registration, you may record a family member's address on your record to ensure that your details remain up to date.

It is strongly recommended that you contact the relevant interstate authority to determine if there are any requirements to obtain a licence or registration in their jurisdiction after a set period of time. For example in Victoria, once you have lived here for three months, you may not use an interstate licence any longer and must get a Victorian one to continue driving here.

There is no requirement to have a Victorian address recorded on your licence; however a Victorian garaged address is required to maintain registration in Victoria. While travelling, a family member's address may be the best option (http://go.vic.gov.au/GoVBQ0).

I hope that this information has adequately addressed your enquiry and hope your travels go well during your retirement."

They indicated (on the phone) if a non Victorian traveler was in Victoria for three months and simply left the state for a day they would get another 3 months so its pretty hard to police however other states may take a differant view.

So for rego and licence it is not lying or illegal (for us in Vic) to nominate a friends or relatives home as a "Residental address".

Best regards

Mike

herbie · Guru

ÃÂ Gary.we are in the position of pretending our home address is in WA where our daughter lives and yes we get away with it ,but i am saying in truth we do not live there .In WA, you can only be aÃÂ interantÃÂ ÃÂ person for 12 months now.ÃÂ Im am talking about basic cover here.And only trying to explain what implecations and potential exclusions they may not realise they have in their insurance policies.I know a lot of people who still own their own home and go around OZ for a extended period and they take out what is called Australia wide cover on their house hold cover.

A lot of insurance companies wont even touch you if you tell them you are on the road full ti

I /we and everyone else would behind you on this situation some people frind them self in through no fault of their own.We have to use our daughters home address in wa .We could use you sons addresses one lives in Longreach , the other in Noosa .EveryoneÂ who know us know we do not reside at our daughters house.And we know it also, Goverment depts would only need to check and find out daughters house is not in our name or we pay her rent for board and lodging.Some people have their head in the sand over this matter.No one is saying you cannot go on extended holidays or what ever, Just trying to point out the blantant obvious.Ihave been in touch with different departments over this myseld, but everyone has no answer.Best of luck and thank you for understanding what i am just trying to make clear to people about this situation, we find our self in .The other aspect of all this is the departments involved would only have to have a look at someones bank statements to know that you are not residing at the given address you are useing.Buy the different transac

So to be really legal one does have to keep changing drivers licence every three months if staying there for that length of time.In qld you have to let them know after two weeks of moving from one address to another,

vk6tnc · Guru

Mike C wrote:
Just got a responce from Vic roads re travelling full time and if there are any issues in using a friends or family members address for the purpose of maintaining vic Rego and Licence.

Good news, keep a copy in the glovebox. A public servant that was obviously BORN with common sense....