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Vehicle Standards Information 3 October 2020 This information sheet supersedes all previous copies of VSI 3.

Conditions for Registration of Imported Vehicles in

This Vehicle Standards Requirements Information (VSI) sheet Regulations introduced in August Note provides guidance to 1989 by the Australian Government The issue of a Vehicle Import under the Motor Vehicle Standards Approval by DITRDC does not assist people who are Act and regulations introduced guarantee registration approval considering importing in 2018 under the Road Vehicle will be granted in Victoria. Standards Act 2018 (RVSA) require a motor vehicle and certain procedures and conditions to wish to register it in be satisfied before a motor vehicle Vehicle Import Categories can be imported. A brief summary Victoria. For the purposes of this VSI sheet, of these requirements is contained imported vehicles that are eligible This information sheet applies in this Vehicle Information Sheet. for consideration for registration are to vehicles with a Gross Vehicle You should also refer to information classified as follows: Mass (GVM) of 4.5 tonne or less. published on the DITRDC website For heavy vehicle requirements on importing vehicles into . Vehicles Imported for Evaluation please refer to the National This website also contains the forms Vehicles imported as evaluation Heavy Vehicle Regulator website to submit an online application to at nhvr.gov.au. vehicles may only be registered in obtain a Vehicle Import Approval. the name of the person or company Introduction The Vehicle Import Approval will to whom the import approval has been granted. This is the name shown There are several regulations allow you to clear your vehicle at on the import approval documents. controlling the importation of vehicles its point of entry to Australia and The registration will be conditional, into Australia. Before importing a will be required for compliance and for a specified period and cannot vehicle, you should check with the registration purposes. It is essential be transferred. In addition to any Administrator Vehicle Standards, that the Vehicle Import Approval conditions for registration applied Commonwealth Department of is obtained before the vehicle is by VicRoads for evaluation vehicles, Infrastructure, Transport, Regional imported. the registration will also be subject Development and Communications In addition, the Australian Border to any conditions specified in the (DITRDC), that the vehicle is of a type Force should be contacted for import approval and in the guidelines that can be imported and registered information on taxes, duties and issued by the Administrator Vehicle in Australia. quarantine requirements. Addresses Standards, DITRDC. Complete vehicles cannot be for the Australian Border Force imported for wrecking or parts. and the Administrator, DITRDC are New Low Volume Vehicle Import Vehicles that are dismantled prior provided in the Further Information The low volume importation of new to importation for parts cannot be section of this VSI sheet. vehicles is limited to vehicle make reassembled and registered. and models that are on the register of Specialist and Enthusiast Vehicles specified by the Low Volume Scheme for new vehicles. Contact the DITRDC website for more information on new low volume vehicle imports.

.vic.gov.au Personal Import Personal Import A personally imported vehicle may A Personal Import is a vehicle Import approval comply with a later standard or ADR to that specified in Schedule 2. imported by a person that: A Vehicle Import Approval issued by the Administrator, Vehicle Standards, ∞ Is an Australian citizen or a person Left hand drive Personal Import DITRDC is required. This approval is who has applied to become an vehicles with a date of manufacture utilised for the following purposes: Australian citizen or has been less than 30 years old can not be granted permanent resident ∞ To clear customs and quarantine registered. status in Australia; and requirements administered at the Left hand drive Personal Import point of entry to Australia, ∞ Has owned and used the vehicle vehicles with a date of manufacture overseas for a continuous period ∞ To obtain a Personal Import Plate, 25 years or older but less than 30 of at least 12 months before ∞ To register the vehicle. years may be eligible to be used importing it to Australia; and under the club permit scheme. Refer ∞ Has not imported another vehicle Personal Import Plate and Vehicle to VSI 18 - Left hand drive vehicles Identification Number (VIN) under the personal import and vehicles converted to right hand scheme in the previous 5 years. A Personal Import Plate must be drive for further details. attached to the vehicle before it Used Low Volume Vehicle is presented for registration. The Emissions Import Personal Import Plate is in the form It is an offence under the A Used Low Volume Vehicle Import of a yellow coloured self-voiding Environment Protection Act 1970 is a vehicle which: label. to drive a vehicle on a public highway in Victoria, which has had ∞ Does not qualify as a Personal To have a Personal Import Plate the emission controls tampered with Import, and fitted to your vehicle you will need or removed. ∞ Was imported by a company to contact a Vehicle Assessment operating under the Registered Signatory Scheme (VASS) signatory If the vehicle is powered by a petrol Automotive Workshop Scheme who will inspect your vehicle and engine the idle carbon monoxide (RAWS). make arrangements for a plate to be level must not exceed 4.5% (v/v). supplied. This plate certifies that the The RAWS allows for the importation vehicle complies with the applicable The exhaust emission, except for and supply of used specialist or Standards for Registration. water vapour, is not to be visible enthusiast vehicles to the market to the naked eye for a continuous in Australia. Contact the DITRDC The VIN/Chassis Number on the period exceeding ten seconds when website for more information on plate must match the VIN/Chassis the vehicle is driven in any manner used low volume vehicle imports Number stamped on a substantial likely to occur in normal vehicle use. part of the chassis or body such under RAWS. Documentation as the chassis rail, firewall or the Imported Vehicles with a Date suspension tower before the vehicle The following documentation must of Manufacture 25 Years or can be registered. accompany the application for Older (other than a Personal registration of the vehicle: Import) A list of VASS signatories is available ∞ Endorsement of Compliance on the VicRoads website or from any Vehicles with a date of manufacture Certificate signed by a VASS VicRoads Customer Service Centre. 25 years or older can be imported signatory. The Endorsement provided a Vehicle Import Approval Construction and Safety of Compliance Certificate is has been issued for the vehicle by Requirements included with the Vehicle Import DITRDC. The Road Safety (Vehicles) Approval issued by DITRDC; Certification and Registration Regulations 2009 grant ∞ A Victorian Certificate of Requirements for Used a personally imported vehicle partial Roadworthiness issued not more Imported Vehicles exemption from compliance with than 30 days before the date of the Australian Design Rules (ADRs). application for registration; and The certification, construction and However, the vehicle must at least ∞ Where a right hand drive registration requirements for each comply with the standards set out conversion or any other used vehicle import category are in Schedule 2 of the Road Safety modifications have been carried outlined in this section. A summary (Vehicles) Regulations 2009 and out, an Approval Certificate from of these requirements is shown the ADRs specified in part 23 of a VASS signatory certifying the in the table at the end of this Schedule 2. information sheet. compliance and safety of the conversion and / or modification. vicroads.vic.gov.au Used Low Volume Vehicle Import Compliance Plate and Vehicle Documentation Compliance Plate and Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) The following documentation must Identification Number (VIN) These vehicles do not require a accompany the application for All used vehicle imports must be fitted Personal Import Plate or a Used registration of an imported vehicle with a Used Import Plate as evidence Import Plate, however they must still with a date of manufacture 25 Years or older (other than a Personal that the vehicle complies with all the comply with applicable Standards for Import): applicable Australian Design Rules. Registration. The Used Import Plate is in the form ∞ The Vehicle Import Approval; The VIN/Chassis Number on the of a magenta coloured self-voiding Vehicle Import Approval must match ∞ A Victorian Certificate of label and specifies details identifying the VIN/Chassis Number stamped Roadworthiness not more than the vehicle and the Registered on a substantial part of the chassis or 30 days before the date of Automotive Workshop that fitted the body such as the chassis rail, firewall application for registration; plate. or the suspension tower before the ∞ A VASS Approval Certificate if: vehicle can be registered. The VIN on the plate must match the - the vehicle has been converted VIN stamped on a substantial part Construction and Safety from left hand to right hand of the chassis or body such as the Requirements drive chassis rail, firewall or the suspension Vehicles subject to Australian Design - the vehicle was manufactured tower before the vehicle can be Rules (i.e. Vehicles manufactured after after 1968 (June 1975 for registered. motorcycles) 1968 or June 1975 for motorcycles) - the vehicle has unapproved Documentation must be certified by a VASS Signatory. modifications. The following documentation must Left hand drive used imported accompany the application for vehicles with a date of manufacture Driving Vehicles Before registration of a used vehicle import. 25 years or older but less than 30 Registration ∞ A Victorian Certificate of years, that are not converted to right In Victoria, vehicles may only be Roadworthiness issued not more hand drive cannot be registered. driven on roads if they are registered than 30 days before the date of However, these vehicles may be or covered by an unregistered vehicle application for registration; eligible to be used under the club permit. Unregistered vehicle permits permit scheme. Refer to VSI 18 - Left are usually valid for not more than ∞ A fully completed Consumer hand drive vehicles and vehicles 28 days and are issued subject to the Information Notice signed by a converted to right hand drive for following conditions: Vehicle Inspection Signatory for further details. the RAW (Photocopies are not ∞ The vehicle is driven on a highway acceptable); The requirement for the vehicle to be only for the purposes of: in the right hand drive configuration Imported Vehicles with a Date - moving the vehicle to a place does not apply if the vehicle has a of Manufacture 25 Years or Older where it will be garaged or date of manufacture 30 years or (other than a Personal Import) stored; older. However, in addition to all - obtaining registration e.g. Import approval other applicable standards, a vehicle converting the vehicle to A Vehicle Import Approval issued by that remains in left hand drive right hand drive, obtaining a the Administrator, Vehicle Standards, configuration must be fitted with roadworthiness certificate etc.; DITRDC is required. This approval is headlights which are suitable for a or utilised for the following purposes: right hand drive vehicle (i.e. dipped - driving the vehicle out of the ∞ To clear customs and quarantine beam cut-off to the left). State. requirements administered at the Requirements for left hand drive point of entry to Australia, vehicles operated under an ∞ To register the vehicle. unregistered vehicle permit are specified in VSI 18.

Unregistered vehicle permits may be obtained by phone on 13 11 71 or from any VicRoads Customer Service Centre.

vicroads.vic.gov.au Summary of Used Imported Vehicle Requirements

Classification of Import Approval Vehicle Compliance Plate VASS Certification Construction Imported Vehicle Documentation & VIN Requirements Requirements Requirements

Personal Import. Vehicle Import The Personal Import plate Endorsement of Compliance The vehicle must comply Approval issued by (self-voiding label yellow Certificate signed by a VASS with the Standards for the Commonwealth in colour) must be fitted signatory. Registration and the Department of to the vehicle. ADRs applicable to a Infrastructure, A VASS Approval Certificate is Personal Import as set Transport, Regional The VIN/Chassis Number only required if the vehicle has out in Schedule 2 of the Development must be stamped on a had a left to right hand drive Road Safety (Vehicles) and Communications substantial part of the conversion or has undergone Regulations 2009. (DITRDC). body/chassis. other modifications requiring an Approval Certificate. Victorian Certificate of Roadworthiness required. (See VSI 8 and VSI 18)

Used Import. Not required by The RAWS Used Import A VASS Approval Certificate is not The vehicle must comply VicRoads. plate (self-voiding label required. with the Standards for Imported by a magenta in colour) must Registration applicable company operating be fitted to the vehicle. The RAWS Consumer Information at its date of manufacture. under the RAWS. Notice signed by a Vehicle The VIN must be stamped Inspection Signatory for the RAW Victorian Certificate of on a substantial part of is required. Roadworthiness required. the body/chassis.

Imported Vehicles Vehicle Import A compliance Plate is not A VASS Approval Certificate is The vehicle must comply (other than Approval issued by required. required showing compliance with the Standards for Personal Imports) the Commonwealth with the applicable Standards for Registration applicable manufactured after Department of The VIN/Chassis Number Registration and covering any at its date of manufacture. 1968 (June 1975 Infrastructure, must be stamped on a other modifications including left for motorcycles) Transport, Regional substantial part of the to right-hand drive conversion. Victorian Certificate of and not less than Development body/chassis. Roadworthiness required. than 25 years. and Communications For left hand drive vehicles with (DITRDC). a date of manufacture 25 years or older but less than 30 years that are not converted to right hand drive, refer to requirements outlined in VSI 18.

Imported vehicles Vehicle Import A compliance Plate is not A VASS Approval Certificate is only The vehicle must comply (other than Approval issued by required. required if the vehicle has had a with the Standards for Personal Imports) the Commonwealth left to right-hand drive conversion Registration applicable manufactured Department of The VIN/Chassis Number or has other modifications at its date of manufacture. before 1969 (July Infrastructure, must be stamped on a requiring an Approval Certificate. 1975 Transport, Regional substantial part of the Victorian Certificate of for motor cycles). Development and body/chassis. Roadworthiness required. Communications (DITRDC).

Further Information Information on importing a motor Information on Australian Customs vehicle and obtaining a Compliance and Quarantine requirements Plate, where applicable, may be may be obtained from: obtained from:

Australian Border Force Administrator of Vehicle Standards Department of Infrastructure, Customs House Transport, Regional 1010 Latrobe Street Development and Communications Docklands GPO Box 594 Melbourne Victoria 3101. Kew Authorised and published by VicRoads 60 Denmark Street Canberra ACT 2601 VICTORIA VIC 3008 Call: 1800 075 001 or +61 2 6274 7111 10.20 Call: 1300 558 287 Website: infrastructure.gov.au Website: abf.gov.au STU02895