On 1 July 2021, the Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018 (RVSA) replaced the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 (MVSA). As a result, no new applications for MVSA Registered Automotive Workshop Scheme (RAWS) approvals are being accepted. However, applications submitted before 1 July 2021 will still be assessed and decided under the MVSA.
Further, specialist and enthusiast vehicles modified under RAWS can continue to be imported until 30 April 2023 if they are on the MVSA Register of Specialist and Enthusiast Vehicles, or until 31 December 2021 if they are on the Interim SEVS List.
More information about operating as a registered automotive workshop under the RVS legislation and through the transitional period is available at the RVS Registered automotive workshops (RAWs) web page.
More information about all the MVSA to RVSA transitional arrangements is also available.
The operational aspects of the RVSA are contained in the Road Vehicle Standards Rules 2019 (the Rules). The RVSA, the Rules and other related legislation are collectively referred to as the Road Vehicle Standards (RVS) legislation.
Under the RVS legislation, before road vehicles can be provided to another person for road use in Australia for the first time, they must be entered on the Register of Approved Vehicles (RAV). The RAV is an online database of vehicles that meet the requirements of the RVS legislation and are approved for provision to the Australian market.
Since 1 July 2021, all new applications must be submitted through the Road Vehicle Regulator (ROVER) online IT service. It manages the RVS legislation application and approval process. Applications after 30 June 2021 will not be accepted through the RAWS system.
You will need to create an account in ROVER so your identity can be verified and you can submit applications. More information including how to create an account in ROVER can be found on our ROVER resources webpage.
RAWS Scheme
The Registered Automotive Workshop Scheme (RAWS) was covered by Regulations 15 and 16 of the Motor Vehicle Standards Regulations 1989. It allowed for the importation and supply of used specialist or enthusiast vehicles to the market in Australia. Under this scheme only a Registered Automotive Workshop could import a used vehicle into Australia. A full list of Registered Automotive Workshops is available at the RAWS website.
Vehicles imported under MVSA RAWS were to be on the Register of Specialist and Enthusiast Vehicles (with the exception of unrestricted used motorcycles). For more information visit the RAWS website.