This article relates to the things you may or may not know about the caravans we use today, together with some home spun handy hints and/or recommendations to hopefully assist your caravanning experience. These articles are primarily intended for new caravanners, together with those people wishing to purchase their first or another caravan. Most of the topics are taken from my class notes for the “Caravanning for Beginners” course, I conduct at the Bruce TAFE in Canberra. Also some Articles are Club members Handy Hints and Safety Matters taken from the Canberra Caravan Club Web Site. In due course all these Articles will also appear on the Club web Site.
Motor Vehicle Registration and Driving Licence Renewal in the ACT
Re-Registration
This can sometimes be a bit difficult, especially when the vehicle has to be presented to an accredited inspector for whatever reason. It is OK if you are still within the Territory, or close by interstate. However, it is difficult to do this when you are a long distance interstate. I also know from personal experience, the ACT Motor Registry is not currently interested in Direct Debit bill payments. They do however, now allow you to pay by phone with a credit card, and most other forms of payment. So, may I suggest if this could apply to any of your vehicles, when you plan to be away caravanning interstate, you contact an ACT Shopfront and arrange to take appropriate action.
Registering Gas Fuelled Vehicles
All ACT registered motor vehicles, that use Liquefied Petroleum Gas [LPG] or Liquefied Natural Gas [LNG] as fuel, are required to have their Gas system inspected and re-certified annually by an ACT accredited Gas inspector. Also, every ten [10] years the LPG tank, on the vehicle, has to be removed and given a non-destructive examination and pressure test. For LNG the non-destructive examination and testing requirement is more frequent, not that too many caravanners use LNG. This annual system testing requirement can be a real problem, especially if you plan to be interstate at the time of rego renewal. I got caught with this in year 2004, and had to return home early from Queensland to have the LPG system on our tow vehicle inspected. However, I found a way of overcoming the problem for the future. On return to the ACT, I had the LPG system tested and re-certified as required. Then at the motor registry office I initially re-registered the vehicle for only 6 months. That then gave me a new registration renewal date, which was well away from the time of year I prefer to go caravanning interstate.
Driving Licence Renewal
In most Australian States and Territories all drivers are now issued with a photo ident drivers licence. In the ACT the duration of renewal can run up to five [5] years. Therefore each time this licence is due for renewal, you have to present yourself to one of the ACT shop fronts, pass an eyesight test, and if required, have a new photo taken for your new driving licence. There also is a mandatory requirement that this procedure be undertaken at five [5] yr maximum intervals. The five [5] year interval coincides with your age.
So, if you plan to be away caravanning when your driving licence duration reaches a five [5] year anniversary, you had better take countermeasures before you depart. The ACT motor registry will allow you to undertake this test up to three [3] months in advance, in order that you can plan accordingly. But be advised the ACT motor registry normally only give you about a one month renewal notification. It is therefore up to you to check well before your next trip.
Until next time, safe and happy caravanning.
© John Seeley February 2008
