Drive-away vs excl. government charges: what you actually pay
Two used cars can carry the same number on the windscreen and still cost you different amounts to drive home. The difference is usually in the words next to the price: drive-away, or excluding government charges. Here's what each one means, what the government charges are, and how to make sure the figure you agree to is the figure you pay.
Drive-away: one figure to take the car home
A drive-away price is meant to be the whole amount: the car, any dealer charges, GST where it applies, and the government charges for putting the car in your name. If the price says drive-away, that's the number to budget for, before any optional extras you decide to add.
Excl. government charges: the car, plus what the government collects
A price marked excl. government charges (you'll also see EGC or excl. govt charges) covers the car and everything the dealer charges, but not the fees and duty that go to the state government when the car changes hands. You pay those on top.
Under the Australian Consumer Law, a business that advertises a price has to show a single total that includes every compulsory charge payable to that business, plus taxes such as GST. So an admin, documentation, PPSR or delivery fee shouldn't turn up as an extra line after you've agreed on a price. If one does, ask why it wasn't in the advertised figure. Optional extras you choose, such as window tint or an extended warranty, are different: they're optional, so they can be priced separately.
The government charges, in Queensland
When a registered used car changes hands in Queensland, the buyer pays two things to the Queensland Government:
- A registration transfer fee. A set fee for moving the registration into your name. The current amount is listed on qld.gov.au.
- Vehicle registration duty, better known as stamp duty. It's worked out on the car's dutiable value: the higher of what you pay for the car (including any trade-in allowance) and its market value.
These are the duty rates for cars and other light vehicles (up to 4.5 tonnes), as published by the Queensland Government:
Vehicle | Dutiable value up to $100,000 | Dutiable value over $100,000 |
|---|---|---|
Hybrid or electric | $2 per $100 | $4 per $100 |
1 to 4 cylinders | $3 per $100 | $5 per $100 |
5 or 6 cylinders | $3.50 per $100 | $5.50 per $100 |
7 or more cylinders | $4 per $100 | $6 per $100 |
Duty is charged for each $100, or part of $100, of dutiable value. Rates checked on qld.gov.au in September 2026; confirm them before you buy. Two worked examples at those rates:
- A four-cylinder hatch at $24,950 counts as 250 lots of $100 (the last part counts as a full $100), so the duty is 250 × $3 = $750.
- A six-cylinder ute at $35,000: 350 × $3.50 = $1,225.
A trade-in doesn't lower the duty. Duty is based on what you pay for the car, and the trade-in allowance is part of that payment.
Registration and CTP
A registered used car keeps its registration when it's transferred to you, so you take over the time left on it. In Queensland, compulsory third party (CTP) insurance is paid as part of registration. Check the expiry date: if the rego runs out a month after you buy, the next renewal is your cost. If a car is unregistered, registering it adds the registration fee and CTP.
Registering the car in another state?
If you live over the border and will register the car in New South Wales or another state, that state's duty and fees generally apply instead. Check with its transport authority before you buy.
Questions to ask before you sign
- What's the total I'll pay to drive this car away, including the government charges?
- Is anything charged on top of the advertised price, and is it optional?
- When does the rego expire?
- Can I see that total in writing before I sign?
Your contract should set out the price and every charge. If a line doesn't make sense, ask before you sign, not after.
Buying from us
Looking at one of our cars? Ask us for the full amount to drive it away, including the government charges, and we'll work through it with you before you commit. You can browse our stock or send us a message.
General information only, checked against the sources below in September 2026. Government fees and rates change, so check the current figures before you buy.