CTP Single Seating Increase

From 1 July 2023, the Motor Accident Insurance Commission has made a large increase to Class 12 CTP (single seating) which will effect new registration costs and renewals.

WHAT IS THE INCREASE?

The CTP component of single seat registration will increase:

The above is based on 12 months private Class 12 single seating.

With the CTP increase, and a mild registration increase, the cost of new registration therefore from 1 July 2023 is:

The above is new business so includes the plate fee. A renewal price will be less.

Dual seating registration has only had a mild increase in comparison:

As you can see, the difference between dual and single seating is now only $78.00.
Read on to see our thoughts for when deciding if its worth converting to single from dual where possible.

WHAT IS CTP?

CTP or Compulsory Third Party insurance provides motor vehicle owners (and anyone who rides/drives their registered vehicle) with an insurance policy that covers their unlimited liability for personal injury caused by, through or in connection with the use of the motor vehicle.

In Queensland, CTP insurance protects motor vehicle owners and riders/drivers from being held financially responsible if they injure someone in a motor vehicle accident. It also enables a person who is injured wholly or partly due to the actions of another driver to access medical treatment and rehabilitation support as well as receiving fair and timely compensation.

HOW IS CTP PAID FOR?

Registration and CTP are seperate in Queensland, but paid for at the same time as they go hand-in-hand.  Queensland Transport and Main Roads manage the payment of the CTP policy as part of the rego payment.

WHAT MOTORCYCLE CLASSES ARE THERE?

Two classes exist:

• Class 12 for single seating
• Class 13 for dual seating

Your passenger car is Class 1 for example, with plenty more classes for all types of vehicles registered for Queensland's roads, like cars, trucks, tractors, buses, special use vehicles and so on.

IS SINGLE AND DUAL SEATING AUSTRALIA-WIDE?

No, Queensland is a rare State for motorcycle registration where we can choose dual or single seating depending on the approved seating capacity or rider chosen modifications to suit.

Other States/Territories have other methods that suit motorcycle costs, such as a lower capacity and less expensive rego cost, or variable CTP prices or higher or lower risk postcodes.

WHY PICK SINGLE OR DUAL SEATING?

Motorcycles such as the KTM Enduro range are single seating only through their ADR approval process to import to Australia, and cannot increase to dual seating, where as say a KTM 890 Duke is approved as dual seating, but with a seat cowl and passenger pegs removed can be ridden as single seat instead of dual seat.

Converting from dual to single may be of economical benefit if you never, ever pillion someone.

If you have a single seated motorcycle, you cannot at any time have a passenger, even to say take from the side of the road to another area to call for help if there was a flat tyre.

It is illegal to ride two-up with Class 12 CTP and QTMR and QPS state they can check registration to confirm the seating capacity, through plate scanning technology or worse, if you have an accident even if you aren't at fault.

Seating capacity is the rider's responsibility and can be modified to suit, after the motorcycle has had required modifications, via a Change of Circumstances at a QTMR office.  The motorcycle may or may not be inspected at the time of the change.

More information can be found on the Transport and Main Roads website.

WHY IS THE MOTOR ACCIDENT INSURANCE COMMISSION MENTIONED?

Quote from their website:  the Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC) regulates Queensland’s CTP insurance scheme. For over 25 years, MAIC has delivered financial protection for motorists, recovery for claimants, opportunity for service providers, and economic growth and skills building in the community.

The average cost of a CTP claim is $100,000.  Some are millions of dollars.

CTP IS MADE UP OF LEVIES AND FEES. WHAT ARE THEY?

• Statutory Insurance Scheme Levy - the estimated operating costs of the scheme and provides funding for research to accident prevention adn injury mitigation.
• Administration Fee - payable to QTMR for administration support.
• Hospital and Emergency Services Levy - a fund a reasonable portion of the cost providing public hospital and emergency services to those who are injured, who could become claimants of CTP insurance.
• Nominal Defendant Levy - the estimated costs for the scheme which provides funds to pay for claims related to unregistered (therefore uninsured) or unidentified vehicles.
• The National Injury Insurance Scheme Queensland (NIISQ) Levy - covering the estimated costs for the necessary and reasonable lifetime treatment, care and support for serious personal injury in a motor vehicle accident in QLD.

WHY IS THE CLASS 12 PRICE INCREASING 1 JULY 2023?

Motorcycles account for 5% of registered vehicles on QLD roads.
Yet 22% of NIISQ participants are motorcyclists.
Two-thirds of NIISQ motorcyclist partipants are either partially at fault or at-fault.
Most NIISQ members are older than 31 years.
The cost of funding the above has increased, therefore the Class 12 levies have which results in the price at registration time either new or renewal must increase.
Class 13 has also increased, but only a very small amount as it has previously been reviewed.

WHEN DOES THIS TAKE EFFECT?

• Any new registrations on or from 1 July 2023
• Any renewals where the expiry date is on or after 1 July 2023

SHOULD I STILL CONVERT MY DUAL SEAT BIKE TO SINGLE?

The Class 12 increase now reduces the gap between dual and single seating, and depending on why you are converting, it may now not be worthwhile to bother with it.  Especially if you must buy a passenger seat cowl, the cost of that if keeping the bike a short time may negate the change.

WHAT CAN I DO TO AVOID PERSONAL INJURY?

• Wear full riderwear every time you ride - EVERYTIME not just special trips.
• Undertake refresher courses - remember, most claims are older people.
• Ride to the conditions and ensure your motorcycle is in the best of health, like tyre pressures, tyre wear, mechanical's all working as they should, all adjustments like chain are spot on and keep your bike well cared for like lubing and fluid changes on brakes for example
• Be aware of other rider's skills in high traffic areas and also the road conditions such as after heavy rain for gravel washouts

We hope the above helps understand the investment in personal injury and why you pay your rego and how to enjoy your motorcycle making the most of your ownership experience, ready to ride another day in a relaxed state of mind.

The above prices are correct as of 30 June 2023 for activation on 1 July 2023. They are subject to change, the article will be corrected for the correct period.

As these costs are constantly being reviewed by relevant authorities, they will change; be mindful of the timeliness of you reading this article at a later date.  Generally per quarter changes are made to CTP and annually to registration at FY.