Cass
To re-inforce and add to what has been said.
Firstly you are allowed to drive an unregistered car to a blue slip inspection or to a mechanical repairer. No dispute there.

However, a local highway patrol officer said to me that we would interpret the law as following;

"That if the car and driver were returning from a mechanical repairer, or a blue slip inspector, to a place of residence without reapairs being made then he would regard that as an offence". That is, he agrees that a car can go to a repairer or inspector but it cannot be driven backwards and forwards at liberty. It can only be from residence to repairer to inspector and if necessary then to a repairer.

Its a grey area but not one that prohibits sensible use of the vehicle for the purpose of making it road worthy and indeed registered.

Yes I think there would be leniency in that example, I don't think it has to be the absolute closest, just not one that is a significant distance away, when there are closer alternatives available.

I would also recommend that you ring them up in advance and make a booking, then you can say "I have a booking at so and so's for a blue slip" if you were stopped on the way to or from and the police bothered to check (and it is doubtful they would), then your booking would be proof it was a legitimate travel purpose. On the way home of course you would hopefully have your blueslip to wave under his nose.
KB

_________________

You can also type up and write out a note stating the date and time of the commencement of the trip and the purpose. Then you can show Mr Plod if you get pulled over.

_________________
Brett Nicholson
Greendale (near Ballan) VIC.
1971 Morris Mini Moke
1966 Austin Mini
1965 Morris Mini Traveller
1973 LR Series 3 88
2007 LR Freelander 2

Cass,

You or your nominated agent (Dad) cna drive the car unregistered for the purposes of obtaining registration. The purposes of obtaining registration include but are not limited to,

Driving to/ from pinkslip/ blue slip repairer,
To/ From place to obtain CTP green slip,
To/ From RTA to register vehicle,
To/ from other place DIRECTLY related to registration purposes (eg seatbelt fitting station).

Obviously driving an unregistered car at 10pm on a sunday night does not fit the bill. As a minimum I would suggest the following,

Type up a letter to whom it may concern etc that on this day you will be attending blah blah blah for the purposes of obtaining registration. Carry all the relevant paperwork with you, CTP, mechanic's details, statement of ownership or stat dec etc.

In terms of the place of repair, this does become a grey area as the legislation says "Nearest OR most convenient place of repair" and "By the most direct route". For example straight there and back, no shopping along the way

You could also print out the blurb off the RTA website and keep that with you. If you get stopped dont worry, just explain what your doing and dont bother with the "TRAFFIC" cardboard number plates. Any probs or questions, PM me and I will give you a buzz.

Cheers,

Scotty

_________________
Your silliness has been noted.

Hopefully I will just be driving it to the mechanics and then to the RTA unregistered. Driving home it will want to be registered or else!!!

_________________

Talk is Cheap because Supply Exceeds Demand