What is a payment shortfall?
A payment shortfall (short fee) means you have not paid the full cost of your vehicle registration.
We will send a letter to the registered operator to ask for the amount still owing.
Why this can happen
This can happen if:
- you claimed a concession but were not eligible
- your concession ended before your registration period started
- you paid for a shorter registration period and transferred the vehicle
- you received an apprentice discount but no longer qualify
- another change to your registration has changed the amount you need to pay
What you need to do
- Read your letter
- Check why the registration amount owing was changed
- Pay the amount still owing by the due date
Get in touch with us if you need help.
If you don't pay the amount due
If you do not pay the amount owing, your registration will be suspended. This usually happens 28 days after the issue date on your letter.
Check your letter for the exact date and pay before then to avoid your registration being suspended.
If you can't pay the full amount due
If you’re paying your registration every 12 months, you can change your registration period to a shorter period.
This means you'll pay a smaller amount every 3 or 6 months, instead of the full amount every 12 months.
FAQs
You got this notice because the amount paid for your registration was less than what was required.
This can happen due to changes with concessions, transfer of ownership or registration updates.
Even if your card is still valid, you must meet eligibility rules at the time of payment or at the start of the registration period.
We check concession eligibility with Centrelink after payment.
Your concession must have been valid when the registration started or when you made payment, whichever is earliest. Even though you may have a concession card, the entitlement may have been suspended or cancelled by Centrelink. The full registration fee then applies.
If you don't pay, your vehicle registration will be suspended. This means you cannot legally use the vehicle on the road.
Your letter will show the suspension date.
When a vehicle is transferred to a new owner, the registration may reset to 12 months.
If payment was made for a shorter period, such as 3 months, a short fee may be charged.
Check your purchase documents and contact us if you need help.
Sometimes issues occur when a dealer manages the registration transfer and payment.
If you received a notice from VicRoads requesting additional payment:
- Check your purchase documents
- Contact the dealer first
Get in touch with us if you still need help.
Do not ignore the notice – your vehicle registration will be suspended if the issue is not resolved by the due date.