Did you know ?
If You Use A Wheelchair, Vehicle Registration Relief Could Be Yours
Your annual registration costs could be waived. I am eligible, and only found out by a chance discussion with a fellow wheelchair-using friend, who also got previous years' registrations reimbursed. What transpired was another fun little journey down Bureaucracy Boulevard, however, with fewer potholes than other experiences I’m sure we have all had in one way or another.
I live in Victoria, and our Motor Registration Bureau is Vic Roads. There could be reduced or waived registration options in other states, but you might just have to do a little digging to find out - I don't believe these government or government-affiliated entities want to make this information too accessible. With Vic roads registration, it should be on the front of the renewal form with the concession information.
After my chance discussion over a lovely lunch, I immediately came home and scoured the Vic Roads website. The link I came to told me that I was eligible but only if the car was in my name. This was the first car that was not in my name, mostly for convenience, as it was easier at the time for Gary to organise than me. So, I took a deep breath and called their friendly ( no irony, they were nice, just not that helpful) customer service team. The third staff member was the first to have some knowledge of an option for registration waiver on vehicles modified for wheelchair users.
Website reference 1: Vic Roads- vehicles modified for wheelchair use
The Senior Registration Team member advised that I would need to go to the Vic Road’s Centre in person with a completed spousal transfer, marriage certificate, and details of previous years' payment receipts ( these receipts still wouldn't guarantee retrospective reimbursement as it would be the Manager on the day's decision). The car might also need to be inspected. He also identified that my vehicle was classified code 11 indicating that it is modified for a wheelchair user and that they would've had to receive the original VAS engineering certificate but to bring along again just in case.
Discovery in tow, we pseudo-appellants were ready to have our case brought to justice. Our fourth friendly staff member advised that because the car is registered in ‘the name of a relative or carer of an incapacitated person’ we were eligible for complimentary registration and changed the registration certificate accordingly. He made this amendment immediately. The following where I found this information out - even though we didn't need to transfer.
Website reference 2: Vic Roads – transferring incapacitated person vehicles
He didn't seem too interested in looking at our marriage certificate, or to inspect the car. However, he did take a copy of the engineering certificate. We signed a refund form to have previous years' registration costs reimbursed and left reasonably satisfied. Almost six months to the day we received our refund cheque in the mail.
All vehicles registered in Victoria include an annual premium to The Transport Accident Commission (TAC) which is the responsibility of every vehicle owner to pay. However, negating the annual registration fee is a welcome small step towards equity in recognising the high cost of vehicle modifications and transportation for someone with a disability who requires a wheelchair.
I’d love your thoughts on this registration discount. Maybe you already knew about it or it was a surprise to you as well or maybe you live in another state or country and things are done a bit differently. Either way, drop me a comment here or on my Instagram or Facebook page.
Happy driving,
