(1)  The Registrar must register a motor vehicle or a trailer if satisfied, on an application for registration, that the vehicle is eligible for registration and the proposed registered operator is eligible to become the registered operator of the vehicle.

(2)  Despite subregulation (1) , the Registrar may refuse to register a vehicle if the Registrar reasonably believes that –

(a) the vehicle has been registered in another State or a Territory, the registration in that State or Territory has been cancelled or suspended and the reasons for the cancellation or suspension still exist; or

(b) the vehicle or a part of the vehicle may have been stolen; or

(c) subject to subregulations (3) and (4) , the identification number or vehicle identifier of the vehicle is the same as the identification number or vehicle identifier of a vehicle that –

(i) has been entered in the written-off vehicles register; or

(ii) has been entered in an interstate written-off vehicles register as a statutory write-off; or

(d) information given in or in relation to the application for registration is false or misleading; or

(e) a default has occurred in payment of a fine or other pecuniary penalty (or an instalment of a fine or other pecuniary penalty) arising out of the use of the vehicle in Australia; or

(f) the applicant has outstanding monetary liabilities to the Registrar or the Crown relating to the vehicle; or

(g) the applicant has failed to comply with a requirement imposed by or under the Act or these regulations in relation to registration of the vehicle.

(3)  The Registrar may not refuse to register a vehicle under subregulation (2)(ba)(i) if –

(a) the identification number or vehicle identifier of that vehicle was entered in the written-off vehicles register because the vehicle to which the identification number or vehicle identifier belonged was stolen; and

(b) the Registrar is satisfied that –

(i) the stolen vehicle was lawfully recovered; and

(ii) the vehicle to be registered is that recovered stolen vehicle; and

(iii) the vehicle is not otherwise a statutory write-off or a repairable write-off.

(4)  The Registrar may not refuse to register a vehicle under subregulation (2)(ba)(i) if –

(a) the identification number or vehicle identifier of that vehicle was entered in the written-off vehicles register because the vehicle to which the identification number or vehicle identifier belonged was a repairable write-off; and

(b) the Registrar is satisfied that the vehicle to be registered –

(i) is that repairable write-off; and

(ii) has been repaired so that it is roadworthy and complies with the relevant vehicle standards.

(5)  If the registered operator of a motor vehicle, or an applicant for registration of a motor vehicle, applies for its registration as a hire and drive vehicle, the Registrar may register the vehicle as a hire and drive vehicle by classifying it as a hire and drive vehicle in the register if satisfied that –

(a) the vehicle is –

(i) a passenger vehicle; and

(ii) eligible for registration; and

(b) the third-party insurance premium appropriate for registration as a hire and drive vehicle has been paid.

(6)  The registration, or renewal of the registration, of a motor vehicle or a trailer takes effect on a date recorded in the register of motor vehicles and trailers (which may be earlier than the date on which the application for registration or renewal of registration is decided but cannot be earlier than the date on which the registration payment is received by the Registrar).

(7)  In this regulation –

interstate written-off vehicles register means a register kept under a law of another State or a Territory that corresponds to the register kept under regulation 124(1)(a)(iv) .