Release of information
You can apply for the release of information or documents collected by the department relevant to your vehicle or ship registration.
Types of requests for information include:
- vehicle or ship details (such as make, model, VIN/Chassis number, engine number, year of manufacture, colour and number of seats)
- registration details (such as status of registration, expiry date, cancellation date, Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance details, registered operator, registration number, address of first registered operator)
- requests for original and copies of registration documents.
If you need a copy of a document, lodge an Application for Copy of Document Release Request (F4013).
Please note: This form is for obtaining copies of documents provided by individuals or organisational representatives for vehicle or vessel registration purposes. You cannot request copies of documents that do not contain your information, or the information of an organisation that you are representing. For example, you can request a copy of a vehicle registration application that you previously submitted.
Due to state retention periods, documents older than 7 years cannot be provided.
The following information may be released on request (for vehicles only):
- registration fees
- outstanding fees
- transfer date (may only be provided to the disposer or acquirer of the vehicle)
- axle configuration
- vehicle registration duty paid
- vehicle's dutiable value (may only be provided to the registered operator who was involved in the transaction to register or transfer the vehicle).
Written-off or stolen vehicle information can only be obtained on the Personal Properties Securities Register (PPSR) website. There is a fee payable for this service.
How do I apply for this information?
You can access some information online, including:
- registration details
- status of a vehicle's registration
- high-powered vehicle status
- replace a registration certificate.
Restricted information about your registration may also be provided verbally by calling 13 23 80. You will need to answer a series of questions to establish your identity before any information will be given to you.
If you wish to apply for a written release of your information, you can submit the completed Release of Information Request for Vehicle/Queensland Regulated Ship Registration Records (F3522) at a transport and motoring customer service centre or an authorised Queensland Government Agent Program office—a fee will apply.
Vehicles involved in an accident or incident
If you wish to apply for information about a vehicle's registered operator involved in an accident or incident, other than relating to recovery of a private carpark fee, you will need to:
- complete a Release of Information Request for Vehicle/Queensland Regulated Ship Registration Records (F3522)
- provide one of the following:
- an official request (on letterhead) from an insurance entity or solicitor/lawyer, detailing information about the incident—including incident date/time, location, registration number/s, make/description of the vehicle/ship and personal injury (if applicable)
- a statutory declaration witnessed by a JP or Commissioner of Declarations describing the accident or incident (must include vehicle details—registration number and make/description of vehicle/ship) and a Queensland Police traffic incident report (available through CITEC Confirm)
- a completed, signed and witnessed Notice of Accident Claim form (available through the Motor Accident Insurance Commission) and a Queensland Police traffic incident report (available through CITEC Confirm).
You will then need to lodge these documents at a transport and motoring customer service centre or an authorised Queensland Government Agent Program office—a fee will apply.
Release of vehicle registered operator information for recovery of a private car park fee
Queensland Legislation prohibits the release of information for the purpose of recovering a private car park fee in relation to the parking of a vehicle on private car park land. For example, where required to start a court proceeding or issue parking invoices or demand notices against the registered operator of a vehicle for:
- unpaid parking fees
or - a breach of contractual conditions at a private car park.
This restriction applies even if an order or direction is provided by a court or tribunal requesting personal information to recover a private car park fee (for example, a preliminary discovery order).
This restriction does not apply to statutory parking enforcement, such as by local governments. Enquiries about local governments enforcing car parking on private land can be made with the appropriate local council listed in the local government directory on the Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers website. If an infringement notice has been issued to you by a local government for parking on private land, their contact details will be listed on the notice issued.
Parking enforcement by residential Body Corporates
If you are a residential body corporate wanting to enforce parking on your property, you must have appropriate parking by-laws in place as provided under the Body Corporate and Community Management Act 1997 to obtain the personal information of a vehicle's registered operator.
If you do, you can lodge the following documents at a transport and motoring customer service centre or authorised Queensland Government Agent Program office and pay the relevant fee:
- a completed Release of Information Request for Vehicle/Queensland Regulated Ship Registration Records (F3522)
- have evidence to support you meet the requirements listed under ‘An authorised statutory entity’ on page two of the application, namely –
- a copy of the by-law/s your parking enforcement falls under
- proof that such by-laws include by-laws on managing the parking of vehicles on common property; and
- proof that the officer requesting the information is delegated to action on behalf of the Owners Corporation as required by the evidence of identity requirements detailed on the application form.
Personal information obtained for this purpose must not be disclosed to a third party (for example, a private car park operator to undertake your parking enforcement).
Visit the Office of the Commissioner for Body Corporate and Community Management website for further information on enforcing by-laws or to make enquiries about whether your by-laws support the above application for information.
Vehicles registered to a deceased person
If you (as the executor or administrator) wish to apply for a written release of information about a vehicle that is registered to a deceased person, you will need to:
- complete a Release of Information Request for Vehicle/Queensland Regulated Ship Registration Records (F3522)
- provide one of the following:
- an official request (on letterhead) advising that the solicitor/Public Trustee is the administrator/executor of the deceased estate or is acting on behalf of the administrator/executor
- a grant of probate or letters of administration showing that you are the executor of the estate
- an original or certified copy of the death certificate and the deceased person's last valid Will showing that you are the executor of the estate.
You will then need to lodge these documents at a transport and motoring customer service centre or an authorised Queensland Government Agent Program office—a fee will apply.
How do I apply if I am currently interstate, overseas or in a remote area?
If you are requesting the written release of your own information from interstate, overseas or a remote area of Queensland you may lodge your release of information request by:
- completing the Release of Information Request for Vehicle/Queensland Regulated Ship Registration Records (F3522)
- providing certified copies† of the evidence of identity requirements detailed on the application form
- providing a cheque or money order (in Australian Dollars) for the current fee—alternatively, the fee may be paid directly into your account linked to your driver licence number, at a driver licensing issuing centre.
Please note: If you choose to have someone pay the fee directly into your account, the fee must be paid prior to posting the completed application.
You will then need to post these documents to:
Department of Transport and Main Roads
Customer Service Support
GPO Box 5232
BRISBANE QLD 4001
† Your evidence of identity documents must be certified by an approved witness and contain the words 'I have sighted the original document and certify this to be a true copy of the original'. An approved witness (or local equivalent) includes a:
- doctor
- police officer
- consular or ambassadorial officer
- lawyer or judge
- Justice of the Peace or a Commissioner for Declarations
- Notary Public.
The witness must sign and print their full name, position title/designation and contact details (including office stamp).
All documents are to be witnessed in English or have an English translation.
Can someone else get my personal information for me?
You can authorise another person to obtain your information.
The authorised person must lodge the completed Release of Information Request for Vehicle/Queensland Regulated Ship Registration Records (F3522) at a transport and motoring customer service centre or an authorised Queensland Government Agent Program office—a fee will apply.
Please note: You will be contacted by the department to confirm you have given your consent. If you cannot be contacted during business hours, your application will be refused.
Who has the legal authority to apply for release of my information?
our written consent is not required if the application for release of information is requested by an eligible person, such as:
- a person who has been appointed as your power of attorney (a power of attorney is the legal power to make decisions on someone else's behalf)
- a police officer applying for a release of vehicle/vessel registration information if they are performing a function associated with their role as a police officer
- a court, by court subpoena (except for recovery of a private car park fee as outlined above)
- an interstate or federal authority which grants or issues vehicle/vessel registration under state or Commonwealth law
- a person representing an authorised government department or agency (the person applying must advise of the legislative provision/s entitling the release of information)
- an authorised statutory entity (such as a local government)
- a bankruptcy agent (such as an insolvency entity, trustee, receiver or solicitor)
- a solicitor/lawyer where the information is required for litigation in relation to an incident involving your vehicle
- a vehicle manufacturer conducting a national vehicle safety recall program.