Queensland records smallest increase in regos in two decades

Queensland car registration numbers have had their smallest increase in two decades, and some of the factors from COVID-19 could be to blame.

The RACQ’s head of policy Dr Rebecca Michael.

The Courier-Mail can reveal there was an extra 75,289 vehicles registered in Queensland in 2019-20 – the equivalent of about 1,400 every week – bringing the total to more than 5.448 million as of June 30.

But the increase was the smallest since the 1999-00 financial year, with the RACQ warning that COVID-19 would have impacted a number of factors that affect registration numbers.

Queensland has recorded its smallest increase in vehicle registrations in two decades.

The RACQ’s head of public policy, Dr Rebecca Michael, said while there had been a bounce back, the financial uncertainty of COVID-19 had affected new car sales.

“Many people are reducing their debt levels by trading in higher priced models, and many people have chosen to buy a used car instead of a new car,” she said.

“It’s also likely that some older cars are no longer on the road because their owners now can’t afford to keep and maintain them.”

Dr Michael also pointed to lower population growth because of limitations on interstate and international migration.

“Some people may have chosen to deregister their vehicles during lockdown as the cancellation fee has been waived and motorists are not required to surrender their number plates,” she also said.

“Motorists are then able to re-register vehicles later with the same plates.”

Meanwhile, the number of registered motorhomes and campervans dropped for the first time since 1999, with 19,131 campervans and motorhomes recorded on the register as of June 30 this year – down from 19,423 recorded the previous year.

Queensland Tourism Industry Council chief executive Daniel Gschwind said he expected that number to climb this year, with dealers currently reporting high demand for campervans and motorhomes.