The Department of Transport is the Western Australian state government agency responsible for road transport, driver and vehicle licensing, marine and coastal transport, and related regulatory and customer services. The Midland licensing centre is one of its Driver and Vehicle Services locations providing in-person licensing and registration services.
The Department of Transport (DoT) in Western Australia is a state government agency responsible for road transport, driver and vehicle licensing, marine safety, and related regulatory services. The Midland licensing centre is one of DoT’s Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) locations, where customers can complete in-person transactions such as driver’s licence applications and renewals, vehicle registrations, number plate orders, vehicle inspections, and some marine licensing services. Many of the same services are also available online via the DoTDirect portal at transport.wa.gov.au.
A charge from “Department of Transport”, “WA Dept of Transport”, “Transport WA”, or similar wording on your bank or card statement is usually linked to a licensing or registration transaction. Common reasons include renewing a vehicle licence (registration), renewing or upgrading a driver’s licence, paying a transfer fee when buying or selling a vehicle, booking a driving test, purchasing or transferring custom or optional plates, or paying a marine licence or vessel registration fee. Some charges are once-off (e.g., a driving test booking), while others recur at set intervals, such as annual or six‑monthly vehicle registration or 1–5 year driver’s licence renewals. You might also see temporary card authorisation amounts if you made or attempted a payment online or at a kiosk.
If you’re unsure about a Department of Transport charge, first check your recent vehicle and licence activity, including any online DoTDirect transactions, renewals, or test bookings. You can log in to DoTDirect at transport.wa.gov.au to view registration and licensing records and print receipts. For further clarification, contact Driver and Vehicle Services on 13 11 56 (within Australia) or visit the Midland licensing centre with identification and your vehicle or licence details; staff can look up the exact transaction that generated the charge. If you believe the amount is incorrect or was processed in error, you can request a review or refund through DoT, and if needed, follow up with your bank for charge disputes.
Bank Statement Variations
1 known variations
These are the raw merchant codes that appear on bank and credit card statements that we've identified as belonging to Department of Transport.
What types of transactions typically appear as a Department of Transport charge on my statement?
Most Department of Transport (WA) charges relate to driver and vehicle services, such as vehicle licence (registration) renewals, driver’s licence renewals or upgrades, learner’s permit fees, driving test bookings, plate transfer and replacement fees, or marine licence and vessel registration payments. If you recently visited the Midland licensing centre or used DoTDirect online, the charge is likely linked to one of those activities. The statement description may include terms like “WA DEPT OF TRANSPORT”, “TRANSPORT WA”, or “DVS MIDLAND” depending on where and how you paid.
What are common amounts I might see charged by the WA Department of Transport?
Amounts vary depending on the service, vehicle type, and licence duration, so they won’t be identical for everyone. Typical card charges might include vehicle licence (rego) renewals in the range of a few hundred dollars (often roughly AUD $400–$1,000 for 12 months for many private vehicles, including licence and compulsory third party insurance), or driver’s licence renewals of around AUD $50–$200 depending on the number of years (e.g., 1, 3 or 5‑year terms). Smaller amounts can relate to test bookings, transfer fees, plate replacement, or late payment fees. For exact current fees, check the “Driver and vehicle fees” section on transport.wa.gov.au.
Why do I see a small or pending Department of Transport amount on my card?
A small or pending amount can occur when the Department of Transport (including DoTDirect or a self‑service kiosk) verifies your card details. This may appear as a $0 or low‑value authorisation hold before a full payment is processed, or when a transaction is started but not completed. These holds normally drop off automatically within a few business days and are not actually charged to your account. If a pending authorisation remains for more than a week, contact your bank or card provider for an update.
Is the Department of Transport charge a recurring payment or subscription?
The Department of Transport does not run subscriptions in the usual commercial sense, but some charges recur on a regular schedule. The main recurring payments are vehicle licence (registration) renewals and driver’s licence renewals, which fall due on set dates (for example, every 6 or 12 months for vehicle rego, and every 1–5 years for driver’s licences depending on the option you chose). You do not get automatically billed without a due notice; instead, you receive a renewal notice and then pay via DoTDirect, mail, in person, or BPAY. If you opted for reminder emails or SMS through DoTDirect, those can help you link renewal reminders to the charge you’re seeing.
How can I confirm exactly what my Department of Transport Midland charge was for?
Log in to your DoTDirect account at transport.wa.gov.au using your driver’s licence or DoTDirect details and review your transaction history for vehicle and driver licensing. You can usually see the date, reference number, vehicle or licence it relates to, and print or download a receipt. If you cannot find the transaction online or don’t have DoTDirect, call Driver and Vehicle Services on 13 11 56 or visit the Midland licensing centre with your identification and card details; staff can trace the payment and explain what it covered.
How do I change, cancel, or reschedule a driving test I paid for at the Midland licensing centre or online?
If you booked your driving test through DoTDirect, log back into DoTDirect and navigate to your booking to see options to change or cancel it, noting that cut‑off times and reschedule rules apply. For bookings made in person at Midland or over the phone, you can call 13 11 56 or return to the centre to request a change. Depending on how close you are to the test date, a fee may apply or the original fee may be forfeited if you cancel late or fail to attend. Always check the current “Driving tests and assessments” conditions on transport.wa.gov.au for the latest policy.
How can I query a Department of Transport charge or request a refund or fee review?
If you believe a charge is incorrect—for example, a duplicate payment, a charged but failed transaction, or a fee applied in error—contact Driver and Vehicle Services as soon as possible. You can call 13 11 56, use the online enquiry forms at transport.wa.gov.au, or visit the Midland licensing centre with your ID, vehicle or licence details, and proof of the charge (such as a bank statement or receipt). DoT staff can investigate and, where appropriate, process an adjustment or advise you on submitting a formal refund or review request. If a charge is found to be valid but you still dispute it, you can also speak with your bank about lodging a transaction dispute.
Who do I contact if I don’t recognise a WA Department of Transport charge at all?
First, check with other drivers or family members linked to your vehicles or licences, as someone else on the same card or account may have paid a rego, test, or licence renewal. Then sign in to DoTDirect or contact Driver and Vehicle Services on 13 11 56 to see if any recent transactions match the date and amount of the charge. If DoT confirms there is no matching transaction in your name or linked vehicles, notify your bank or card provider immediately, as the card details may have been used incorrectly or fraudulently. Your bank can then help you block the card, investigate, and pursue a possible chargeback if appropriate.