Queensland motorists and residents will soon see higher costs for a range of government services, including driver’s licences and fines, as the state’s 12-month freeze on fees and charges officially ends on July 1.
Dylan Anderson
The fee freeze, introduced by the previous Labor government in the 2024 state budget, was aimed at easing cost-of-living pressures. It delayed the usual annual inflation-based increases for various services. However, following the election of the Liberal National government, the freeze will now be lifted, and fees will rise by 3.4 per cent.
What Services Will Cost More
Government-issued products and services such as driver's licences will be impacted by the increase. The cost of a five-year driver's licence, for example, will go from $198.35 to $205.09 starting July 1.
The rise also affects a wide range of state services and fines, but excludes car registration temporarily. A 20 per cent discount on registration costs, introduced in September 2024, will remain in place until September 16, 2025. After that, registration fees will also increase by 3.4 per cent.
Registration and Comparisons by State
Current registration costs for a four-cylinder vehicle in Queensland stand at $708, which includes compulsory third-party insurance and traffic improvement fees. This is slightly lower than the equivalent fees in New South Wales ($718) and significantly less than in Victoria ($906). South Australia and Western Australia are more affordable, with fees at $660 and $364 respectively, though WA’s lower fee applies to lighter vehicles under 1300kg.
Dylan Anderson
Government Position
The state government said the increase is consistent with past annual rises and is necessary to restore the state's financial position. Although the rise outpaces Brisbane's annual CPI of 2.7 per cent and the national rate of 2.4 per cent, the government maintains the changes are part of a broader effort to manage public finances.
The fee adjustment marks a return to pre-freeze policies and aligns with inflation-linked increases traditionally applied each year before the temporary pause in 2024.
More information about the full list of fee adjustments is expected closer to the implementation date in July.
Dylan Anderson
Dylan Anderson
