State government announces new charges to driver’s licences and other fees
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As the new financial year approaches, South Australians should brace themselves for a series of fee increases affecting everything from driver's licences to public transport fares.
It's a reality that many, especially those who are carefully managing their retirement savings, need to prepare for.
Starting 1 July, the South Australian government announced an average increase of three per cent across various state charges.
This means renewing a five-year driver's licence will cost an additional $10, rising from $255 to $265.
For those looking at a ten-year renewal, the fee will jump by $20, from $510 to $530.
But driver's licences will not be the only ones to see a price hike—traffic fines are also on the rise.
According to the South Australian Government Gazette, if a driver were caught driving an unregistered vehicle, the fine would increase from $457 to $471.
The fine for those caught speeding less than 10km/h over the limit will now be $202, up from $196.
Public transport users aren't exempt from these increases either. A regular metro card fare during peak travel times will go up from $4.25 to $4.40 a trip.
SA Treasurer Stephen Mulligan has pointed out that these increases are less than the annual rise in the Consumer Price Index in Adelaide, which was 4.3 per cent between March 2023 and 2024.
However, there is a silver lining for vehicle owners.
Mulligan said the cost for compulsory third-party (CTP) insurance is set to decrease, which should offer some relief against the increase in vehicle registration fees.
Metro drivers will see their CTP drop by $16.13 to $260.71, while the cheapest CTP rate outside the metropolitan area will be $179.39, down from about $189.
This reduction in CTP insurance means that the overall vehicle registration fees will actually decrease.
A 12-month registration for a four-cylinder car will be reduced from $663.93 to $657.10, saving drivers almost $7. Six-cylinder car owners will see a more modest saving of $1.83.
'We realise that everyone is watching every expense in their household budget at the moment, and we hope that today's news when it comes to vehicle registration bills will be welcomed by motorists,' Mulligan said.
This follows after Queensland made an announcement to enforce a more than four per cent increase in penalties for traffic infringements.
The decision came with a stern reminder from Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick, saying, 'We need to ensure the deterrent effect of penalties and fines remains current, and people who break the law do not get a free ride.’
The increased fines also set the stage for the ongoing debate about Queensland’s collection of road revenue, with Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie pointing out recent controversies. You can read more about the increased fines in Queensland here.
Have you found ways to cut costs in other areas to accommodate these increases? Do you have any tips for fellow seniors on navigating these financial changes? Share your experiences and advice in the comments below!
It's a reality that many, especially those who are carefully managing their retirement savings, need to prepare for.
Starting 1 July, the South Australian government announced an average increase of three per cent across various state charges.
This means renewing a five-year driver's licence will cost an additional $10, rising from $255 to $265.
For those looking at a ten-year renewal, the fee will jump by $20, from $510 to $530.
South Australia announced an increase in driver’s licences and other fees effective 1 July. Credit: Shutterstock
But driver's licences will not be the only ones to see a price hike—traffic fines are also on the rise.
According to the South Australian Government Gazette, if a driver were caught driving an unregistered vehicle, the fine would increase from $457 to $471.
The fine for those caught speeding less than 10km/h over the limit will now be $202, up from $196.
Public transport users aren't exempt from these increases either. A regular metro card fare during peak travel times will go up from $4.25 to $4.40 a trip.
SA Treasurer Stephen Mulligan has pointed out that these increases are less than the annual rise in the Consumer Price Index in Adelaide, which was 4.3 per cent between March 2023 and 2024.
However, there is a silver lining for vehicle owners.
Mulligan said the cost for compulsory third-party (CTP) insurance is set to decrease, which should offer some relief against the increase in vehicle registration fees.
Metro drivers will see their CTP drop by $16.13 to $260.71, while the cheapest CTP rate outside the metropolitan area will be $179.39, down from about $189.
This reduction in CTP insurance means that the overall vehicle registration fees will actually decrease.
A 12-month registration for a four-cylinder car will be reduced from $663.93 to $657.10, saving drivers almost $7. Six-cylinder car owners will see a more modest saving of $1.83.
'We realise that everyone is watching every expense in their household budget at the moment, and we hope that today's news when it comes to vehicle registration bills will be welcomed by motorists,' Mulligan said.
This follows after Queensland made an announcement to enforce a more than four per cent increase in penalties for traffic infringements.
The decision came with a stern reminder from Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick, saying, 'We need to ensure the deterrent effect of penalties and fines remains current, and people who break the law do not get a free ride.’
The increased fines also set the stage for the ongoing debate about Queensland’s collection of road revenue, with Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie pointing out recent controversies. You can read more about the increased fines in Queensland here.
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