Moving interstate checklist: what changes when you cross a border

Every state and territory runs its own licence, registration and tenancy system, and their deadlines are separate from each other. The list below covers all eight, with a link to the authority that sets each rule.

Before you go

Licence and registration are two separate deadlines

Do not assume one order. Licence transfer and vehicle registration have their own time limits, and in some states the registration deadline is the shorter one. In Queensland, for example, a vehicle garaged in the state generally needs Queensland registration within 14 days, while the licence transfer is required within three months. Check both dates for your destination, and put the earlier one in your plan first.

If you rent: bond and condition report

This section applies to renters only. In most jurisdictions your new bond is lodged with a government authority; in the Northern Territory the landlord or agent holds it in trust. Who lodges it and how is set by the destination’s tenancy law, so check the authority for your new state rather than assuming it works like the one you left.

Complete the entry condition report within your new jurisdiction’s deadline. Our bond guide covers what to record and where to dispute a claim.

After you arrive