Duty exemption for FIRS heavy vehicle transfers

• WA garaged heavy vehicles that are currently licensed under the Commonwealth's Federal Interstate Registration Scheme (FIRS) will be exempt from duty should they become licensed in Western Australia
• The FIRS will be closed to new entrants as of July 1, 2018 and cease operating as of July 1, 2019 

The State Government will provide a motor vehicle duty exemption to Federal Interstate Registration Scheme heavy vehicles garaged in Western Australia, to enable them to become licensed under the Western Australian licensing system.

This exemption follows the Commonwealth Government's decision to cease the national operation of the FIRS, and the State Government is making the transition as convenient as possible.

Currently, the transfer of a heavy vehicle licence - a licence applying to a vehicle with a gross vehicle mass exceeding 4.5 tonnes - in Western Australia is subject to duty at a rate of $3 per $100 in dutiable value, capped at a duty payable of $12,000.

There are no more than 300 heavy vehicles currently licensed under the FIRS operating out of Western Australia.

Existing WA garaged FIRS vehicles may be licensed under the WA road law when the vehicle has passed an inspection.

The first inspection will be provided free of charge by the Department of Transport if the vehicles are inspected by Department of Transport examiners based in Welshpool.

Comments attributed to Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:

"Exempting the stamp duty provides operators of FIRS vehicles certainty about their licensing arrangements going forward.

"This change enables operators of FIRS vehicles to become licensed in Western Australia with minimal fuss."

Minister's office - 6552 5500