You need to apply for vehicle standards approval for:
- Installing nonstandard equipment such as hand controls and spinner knobs, for use by a person with a disability
- Dual-control fitment to a vehicle for providing driving lessons (where the vehicle is not a dedicated driving lessons training vehicle)
- Test and evaluation vehicles
- The following non-compliant vehicles:
- vehicles used by Australian Defence Force/government agencies to operate on public roads
- technology demonstration vehicles (- eg autonomous, alternative fuels)
- vehicles used in competitions such as World Solar Challenge
- Miscellaneous vehicles such as ATV/utility vehicles for use in restricted areas by non-primary producers or for non-government/LGA use.
If your motor vehicle has GVM greater than 4,500 kg you'll need to contact the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator - phone 1300 696 487.
Before making any modifications you should contact Vehicle Standards.
What you'll need
To apply you will need to provide:
- vehicle identification number (VIN) or chassis number, if known
- vehicle make, model, body type, and year of manufacture, if known
- details of the modifications
- intended use
- verification of registration in Australia.
If the application is for:
- a vehicle imported from overseas, you will need an import approval document issued by the Australian government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.
What happens next
It may take up to three weeks from receipt of all the relevant information for Vehicle Standards to review your application and provide advice back to you.
If you apply using your mySAGOV account, you can check the status of your application.
Vehicle Standards reference: MR1688.
