Connecting our communities Vehicle Standards Information 4 June 2021 This information sheet supersedes all previous copies of VSI 4. Summary of standards for registration requirements for motorcycles and mopeds This Vehicle for Registration. Where a motorcycle ∞ Some motorcycles and mopeds or moped has not been modified are manufactured for agricultural Standards Information from its original manufactured state or off-road use and do not comply sheet outlines the it will typically comply with these with the Standards for Registration. requirements. These vehicles are not eligible for minimum standards full registration but may be eligible Vehicles manufactured on or after for recreational or farm motorcycle requirements for July 1988 must be fitted with an registration. motorcycles and approved compliance plate or otherwise appear on the Register of Requirements mopeds with full Approved Vehicles, when presented registration in Victoria. for first registration. 1. General safety A vehicle must be constructed so If a vehicle rule in this document has This information sheet must be that it meets the requirements of the a date of implementation then the considered when determining applicable standards, is safe to use rule does not apply to vehicles built and unlikely to cause a danger to the roadworthiness of a before this date motorcycle or moped and any person. modified vehicles must not Definitions Refer to VSI 26 Roadworthiness contravene these requirements “Motorcycle” means a two wheeled Requirements for general roadworthy unless it complies with the motor vehicle with an engine cylinder requirements. Australian Design Rules capacity exceeding 50ml (50cc) or a 2. Tyres maximum speed exceeding 50km/h All tyres must be of a type suitable for and includes a motor cycle with a highway use, have load and speed Introduction trailer, forecar or sidecar attached. ratings appropriate to the vehicle and Vehicles have different design and “Moped” means a two or three be free from any feature or defect construction requirements based on wheeled motor vehicle, not being likely to make use of the vehicle their year of manufacture and the a power-assisted pedal cycle, with unsafe. Tyres carrying markings or Australian Design Rules (ADRs) that an engine cylinder capacity not codes indicating the tyre is unsuitable apply to them. exceeding 50ml (50cc) (or another for highway use are not acceptable. ADRs for motorcycles and mopeds power source) and a maximum speed were first introduced in 1975 and not exceeding 50km/h. 3. Lighting equipment and reflectors progressively introduced thereafter. 3.1 General “Australian Design Rule” (ADR) means The introduction dates for various Where two or more lamps of the a national standard for motor vehicles ADRs are listed in the relevant same kind or type are fitted, they as published by the Commonwealth sections of this document. must be at the same height and be Department of Infrastructure, symmetrically located about the Where an ADR exists for a relevant Transport, Regional Development vehicle’s longitudinal axis. Where only feature of a vehicle, the vehicle must and Communications (DITRDC). one lamp of a type or kind is fitted it continue to comply with the version Note: must be mounted centrally. of the ADR in force at the time the vehicle was manufactured, or a later ∞ Apart from some specific The lighting and reflectors version of that ADR. construction requirements for a for motorcycles and mopeds moped set out in this information manufactured on or after October A vehicle must not be modified in sheet, all safety, registration and 1991 must comply with ADR 19. such a manner that it no longer driver licence requirements for a complies with the ADRs or Standards motorcycle also apply to a moped. vicroads.vic.gov.au 3.2 Head lamps 3.4 Red rear lamps 3.9 Front lamp on a Side Car Motorcycles must be fitted with at All motorcycles and mopeds must be A side car attached to a motorcycle least one forward facing headlamp. fitted with at least one red rear lamp or moped built on or after July The centre of a low beam headlamp (tail lamp), which when lit shows a 1953 must be fitted with a lamp not fitted to a vehicle manufactured clear red light visible from 200 metres exceeding 7 watts of power which on or after July 1953 must not be to the rear and does not use more when lit shows a white or yellow light less than 500mm and not more than 7 watts of power. to the front of the vehicle visible from than 1.4m above the ground. Two a distance of 200 metres. The lamp must be mounted so that it is headlamps may be fitted within the not higher than 1.5m above the ground. The lamp must be fitted to the front above dimensions, either one above of the side car so that the centre the other or side by side at the same 3.5 Number plate lamp is not more than 150mm from the level above the ground and at equal All motorcycles and mopeds must extreme left edge of the side car. distances from the longitudinal axis be fitted with a number plate lamp of the motor cycle. which, when lit, illuminates the rear 4. Horn (audible warning system) number plate with a white light so Motorcycles manufactured after A horn must be fitted which, when that the characters on the number 1934 that are capable of a maximum operated, is capable of giving plate can be read at night 20 metres speed exceeding 60 km/h must have sufficient audible warning to other from the rear of the vehicle. The lamp headlamps providing both dipped road users of the presence of the must not project white light directly and undipped beams, and must be vehicle. to the rear except by reflection. The equipped with a headlamp dipping tail lamp, brake lamp and number Sirens, whistles or horns which emit device. plate lamp may be incorporated in an alternating or variable tone, or The effective range of headlamps one housing. sound like a warning device fitted to must be at least the following: emergency vehicles, are not allowed. 3.6 Turn signal lamps Headlamp type Distance Motorcycles and mopeds The horn for motorcycles and mopeds manufactured on or after High beam headlamp Not less than manufactured on or after July 1975 50 metres must be fitted with turn signal lamps. July 1988 must comply with the appropriate version of ADR 42. No dipping device fitted Not less than The two front lamps must show amber or white light and the two rear 50 metres 5. Rear vision mirrors lamps must show yellow light. Pairs of Dipped headlamp Not less than At least one effective rear vision lamps must not be less than 300mm 50 metres mirror must be fitted on the right apart, and must be between 350mm Headlamp on a motor cycle Not less than hand side of the motorcycle or and 1.5m above the ground. built before 1931 50 metres moped. A second mirror must be Headlamp on a moped Not less than When operated, the signal lamps must fitted to the left hand side of any 50 metres flash at a rate of between 45 and 120 motorcycle or moped manufactured times per minute and be visible from a on or after July 1975. 3.3 Brake lamps distance of 30 metres. Motorcycles and mopeds Where more than one rear vision manufactured after 1934 must be All turn signal lamps must be operable mirror is fitted, every mirror must be fitted with at least one red brake lamp. by the rider from the normal riding flat or every mirror must be convex. Brake lamps must be fitted so that position, and must be equipped with A combination of flat and convex they are not less than 350mm and not an audible or visible tell-tale indicator. mirrors is not allowed. more than 1.5m above the ground. 3.7 Fog lamps The radius of curvature of convex For motorcycles and mopeds Motorcycles may be fitted with one or mirrors must not be less than 1.2m. two white or yellow front fog lamps manufactured after 1974 the brake The mirrors for motorcycles and and one or two red rear fog lamps. lamps should operate when either the mopeds built on or after July 1988 front or rear brake is applied. However, The centre of the front fog lamps must comply with the appropriate motorcycles or mopeds manufactured must not be higher than the centre of version of ADR 14. before this date may be fitted with the low beam head lamp. If two lamps brake lamps that are operated only of a kind are fitted, they must be at 6. Braking equipment when the rear brake is applied. the same height and symmetrically All motorcycles and mopeds must have a braking system which has In addition to being switched on by mounted. The centre of a rear fog lamp either: brake application, the brake lamps must not be higher than 1.5m above may also be switched on by a device the ground and not closer than 100mm ∞ two independent braking systems sensing sudden deceleration. from the centre of any brake lamp. operated by a foot pedal and hand lever or two hand levers; or When on, brake lamps must show a 3.8 Reflectors red light visible 30 metres from the At least one red reflector must be ∞ one braking system operating rear of the vehicle fitted to the rear of a motorcycle, on all wheels but which retains sidecar or moped. The centre of a braking on at least one wheel after reflector fitted to a motorcycle or any component failure.