If you’re like most Australian drivers, you probably think you know the road rules inside and out. After all, we’ve all sat through the learner’s test, and most of us have decades of experience behind the wheel.
But there’s one sneaky regulation catching even the most seasoned motorists off guard, and it could leave you with a fine bigger than most people’s holiday budgets.
It’s not speeding. It’s not using your phone. It’s not even running a red light. The rule in question? Driving with a dirty or obscured number plate.
Yes, you read that right. If your number plate is covered by mud, dust, or even a stray leaf, you could be hit with a fine of up to $2,200 in New South Wales (NSW), and a jaw-dropping $6,452 in Queensland if the matter goes to court.
And it’s not just a slap on the wrist—in NSW, you’ll also cop three demerit points and an on-the-spot fine of $544.
According to lawyer Avinash Singh, this is a ‘relatively common offence’—especially for those who love off-roading or live in regional areas where dirt roads are a fact of life.
‘In practice, the rule unfairly targets those drivers,’ Singh said.
But here’s the kicker: it doesn’t matter if you didn’t mean to obscure your plate or had no idea it was dirty.
This is an ‘absolute liability offence’—police don’t have to prove intent. You’re in the firing line if your plate isn’t visible 20 metres away.
Authorities said the harsh penalties are designed to stop people from deliberately covering their plates to dodge speed cameras, tolls, or other detection devices.
However, as Singh pointed out, the law doesn’t distinguish between someone who has just returned from a camping trip and someone who is trying to avoid a fine.
And while most of us would never dream of intentionally hiding our plates, it’s easy to see how a bit of mud or dust could build up after a weekend away or a drive down a country road.
The rules are strictest in NSW and Queensland, but it’s worth noting that you won’t be fined in other states and territories unless your car is so dirty that it poses a safety risk. Still, it pays to check your local regulations—and to keep your plates clean, just in case.
The same regulations also make it an offence to drive with an obstructed view out of your windows—so if you’ve got a boot full of camping gear, or your rear window is fogged up, you could be at risk of a fine.
These fines aren’t just about revenue-raising. Authorities nationwide are cracking down on dangerous driving to reduce the road toll.
The numbers are sobering: over the recent Easter period, 21 people lost their lives on Queensland roads, and three more in NSW. The national goal is zero fatalities by 2050, but we’re far off.
‘It’s been a horrific start to 2025,’ said RACQ’s Joshua Cooney.
‘At the current rate, we are heading towards another unacceptably high number of road crash fatalities in 2025 of around 300 deaths.’
Have you ever been fined for a dirty number plate, or do you know someone who has? Are these rules fair, or are they just another way to sting drivers? Share your stories and opinions in the comments below.
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