Just a word of warning to unsuspecting drivers out there..
Long gone are the days when we all received a reminder sticker for our vehicle registration renewal..
Recently while driving home I was pulled over by the Highway Patrol. I thought "Why are they stopping me?" I wasn't speeding, seatbelt was on, no phone in sight!
Thinking they must have made a mistake I asked why I was pulled over, they informed me that my Car Rego had been cancelled.. I was in total shock. How could that be?
 
I have driven for over thirty years and never before had this kind of problem. The police took my number plates off my car, gave me the third degree, gave me a huge fine and advised I could not drive the car. I can't tell you how shocked I was, believing there must be some mistake!!
I had been living at my Dads taking care of him until he passed away, when I went overseas for three months for a long earned break. I had my mail re directed to a friends so he could pay any bills etc for me while away. I later found out when speaking with Vic Roads that they had sent the one and only renewal notice, which had been forwarded to my friends address. Unfortunately it was placed in the letter box of the people in front of my friends home and not knowing who I was sent it back to Vic Roads. They informed me they had received it back in the mail. This all took place while I was still overseas.. I did not know when my renewal was due to no longer receiving the faithful reminder sticker. I firmly believed my registration was up to date and would pay as soon as I received the renewal. When I questioned the Vic Roads service officer why they don't endeavour to contact the recipient of the notice, they basically said, It is the vehicle owners responsibility to make sure they know. How they expect older people who don't have computers to know is beyond me. Therefore once you are sent your renewal the first and ONLY time should it go astray and you don't receive it BEWARE!! You could be inadvertently driving an un registered vehicle.!! I know, horrendous, particularly should you happen to be involved in an accident.... Why can't Vic Roads, as with other service providers and take some responsibility for the outrageous funds they squeeze out of every driver and make sure they have a mobile number or email address of the vehicle owner and contact them by this method should the renewal notice be returned to them. Possibly text or email a Warning, the registration is about to be cancelled!
 It would save vehicle owners an awful lot of extra expense and stress, let alone the embarrassment of being pulled over and treated like a criminal while your plates are being removed... I know of employees of  Vic Roads who receive extremely high salaries ( paid by our fees)... It's time Vic Roads took a little bit more responsibility for the service they are meant to provide their vehicle owners. When I mentioned, "There must be an awful lot of their more senior drivers, unaware they are driving un registered vehicles" The response was "I have hardly come across any". However, the mechanic who has to give the compulsory Roadworthy to re register my vehicle said knowingly, "Yes, it happens all the time now! It's a money raiser!!!"
Time to get with the program Vic Roads, move into the 21st Century and use the communication methods available, instead of one letter sent then wiping your hands of responsibility. I  guess maybe employment is provided to a lesser degree to the people who make the license plates to replace the old ones removed and left at the police stations in boxes for a couple of months until they are returned to Vic Roads.. This comes from the Patrol men themselves, who I might add, agreed it is not ideal that we no longer receive stickers for our cars as a constant reminder of the expiry date!!!!   
If changes are made to the policies used by Vic Roads, hopefully there will be a lot less people like myself driving un suspecting without valid registration..