A Veteran Gold Card opens up more than DVA-funded treatment. If you live in the ACT, there are territory concessions that can cut the cost of vehicle registration, public transport, rates and more. The ACT is one of the more generous jurisdictions for some concessions, free registration applies to every Gold Card holder, but its biggest household rebate is limited to certain assessments. Here is what actually applies in the ACT, who qualifies, and how to claim it.
Vehicle registration: free for all Gold Card holders
This is where the ACT stands out. Unlike states that limit the top vehicle concession to TPI or EDA holders, the ACT gives every DVA Gold Card holder (and Pensioner Concession Card holder) a full registration concession on one light vehicle:
- Registration: a 100% discount on registration fees for one light vehicle or light trailer in your name.
- Road rescue fee and motor vehicle tax: exemption on that same vehicle.
- Driver’s licence: a 100% discount on the fees to issue or renew a full driver’s licence.
You apply through Access Canberra and will need your DVA Unique Identification Number (UIN), found on your DVA card or correspondence. Note the Motor Accident Injuries (MAI) insurance premium component is not covered by the concession. The concession applies to the cardholder and one vehicle.
Public transport: MyWay+ concessions
Transport Canberra runs two tiers for veterans on the MyWay+ system across buses and light rail:
- Standard Gold Card: free travel during off-peak times (weekdays 9:00am to 4:30pm, after 6:00pm, and all day on weekends and public holidays), with a discounted concession fare during peak hours.
- TPI or EDA Gold Card: free travel at all times, including for a companion where attendant care is needed.
You will need to set up a MyWay+ card with your concession applied. Contact Transport Canberra on 13 17 10 for the current process.
Rates rebate and utilities: watch the embossing
Two of the ACT’s household concessions work very differently from each other:
- Rates rebate: a rebate of around 50% on general rates up to a yearly cap is available to Gold Card holders, one of the more inclusive concessions of its kind. Apply through the ACT Revenue Office.
- Energy and water rebate: the combined electricity, gas and water rebate (worth several hundred dollars a year) is only available to veterans whose card is embossed POW, War Widow or Widower, or TPI. A standard Gold Card is not enough.
That second point catches many Canberra veterans off guard. The ACT’s largest household concession turns on your assessment, not just on holding a Gold Card, so if you are close to a TPI assessment it can be worth a great deal more than the card alone.
A couple of things worth knowing
- Concessions are based on where you live. If you live in the ACT, ACT concessions apply regardless of where you work; if you live across the border in NSW, NSW concessions apply instead.
- A DVA White or Orange card does not attract these concessions. They are for Gold Card and Pensioner Concession Card holders.
- You apply to each provider separately, Access Canberra for registration and licence, Transport Canberra for MyWay+, and the ACT Revenue Office for rates.
Not sure you have the right assessment?
If you hold a Gold Card but are not TPI, you may be missing the energy rebate and the all-hours free travel, and reaching a TPI assessment comes down to how your permanent impairment has been assessed. That is claim work, and it is exactly what we do. Our card and claim eligibility check below is a quick way to see where you might stand.
Which DVA card could you be eligible for?
Answer a few quick questions and we will point you to the card that most likely fits. This is a guide only, not a determination.
This is a general eligibility guide only and not a determination by the Department of Veterans' Affairs. It does not constitute legal, financial or medical advice. Book a free consultation for a personalised assessment.
How KSC Law can help
KSC Law was founded by veterans who have lived the system. If your Gold Card is not delivering the concessions you expected, the answer is often in your assessment. Our expert team can review where your impairment sits, whether a TPI assessment is within reach, and run the claim to get you there.
The first conversation is free and there is no obligation. Call us on 07 2112 4752 or book a consultation.
This article is general information, not legal or financial advice. Concession eligibility and amounts are set by the ACT Government and service providers and can change. Confirm current details when you apply.