To support the safety, environmental and anti-theft performance of all road vehicles being provided to the Australian market for the first time, the Road Vehicle Standards (RVS) legislation has replaced the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 (MVSA).
Resources available:
- Register of Approved Vehicles
- Vehicle type approvals
- Concessional RAV entry approvals
- Importing a road vehicle into Australia
- Registered automotive workshops
- Model Reports
- Authorised vehicle verifiers
- Testing facilities
- Specialist and enthusiast vehicles
- Component type approvals
- Low ATM trailers
- High ATM trailers
- Varying an approval
- Withdrawing and amending an application
- RVS fees charges and payments
- RVS decision-making timeframes
- ROVER resources
- Refuse to consider powers
- Second stage of manufacture
- Guidance notes
- Compliance and enforcement
- Transition to Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018—Guidance Materials
- Road Vehicle Standards legislation
- Glossary of terms
- Cost Recovery Implementation Statement
Register of Approved Vehicles
- Approval pathways to enter the RAV
- Example of an XML file created using public data from the Road Vehicle Descriptor
- Guidance note—Adding a vehicle manufactured and/or imported under the MVSA to the Register of Approved Vehicles
- Guide to the RAV for vehicle type approval holders
- Guide to the Register of Approved Vehicles for authorised vehicle verifiers
- Guide to submitting a VIN to NEVDIS
- ROVER guide: How to add your road vehicle to the RAV once specified conditions have been met
- RAV submission CSV template
- RAV tips: Submitting second stage of manufacture vehicles to the RAV
- Register of Approved Vehicles publically searchable database
- ROVER template: Bulk RAV amendment template
- ROVER template: Bulk RAV amendment template non key update
- Vehicle Identification Numbers
- Written agreement for payment of RAV charge after vehicle entered on the RAV
- XML file generator (XML)
Vehicle type approvals
These resources provide further information for applicants who wish to apply for a vehicle type approval.
- Guide to varying an opted-in approval for the first time
- Guide to varying approvals in ROVER
- Guide to vehicle type approvals
- Guidance note: When are road vehicles on the RAV is considered to be provided to consumers for the first time
- How to enter a vehicle on the RAV for a vehicle type approval
- QMS checklist for vehicle type approvals
- Road Vehicle Standards—Road vehicle identification marking under the RVS laws—Overview
- Road Vehicle Standards—Using other approvals to support a vehicle type approval application
- Tips on how to complete your vehicle or component type approval
- Vehicle type approval—Import approval confirmation letter
- Vehicle type approval requirements video
- Written agreement for payment of RAV charge after vehicle entered on the RAV
Concessional RAV entry approval
The concessional RAV entry approval is a pathway for entering certain vehicles on the RAV that have concessions against the national road vehicle standards, but are otherwise suitable for use on public roads in Australia.
This resource provides further information for applicants who wish to apply for a concessional RAV entry approval.
- Guidance note—The effect of significant modifications on older vehicles
- Guide to concessional RAV entry approvals
- How to import your older vehicle (25 years or older)
- Importing a vehicle as personal effects—overview
- Road Vehicle Standards—Vehicles to be modified by a registered automotive workshop (RAW)—Overview
- Single road vehicle approvals video
- Guide to interim arrangements for importing a special purpose vehicle under the RVS legislation
- Conditions for single road vehicle applications with multiple identical vehicles
Importing a road vehicle into Australia
- Guide to interim arrangements for importing a special purpose vehicle under the RVS legislation
- Guide to reimportation import approvals
- Guide to submitting a VIN to NEVDIS
- How to import your older vehicle (25 years or older)
- Importing a vehicle as personal effects—overview
- Importing road vehicles under Status of Forces Agreements and certain Customs Tariff Act by-laws, supplementary information
- Guide to Non-RAV entry import approvals
- Single road vehicle approvals video
- Vehicle Identification Numbers
Registered automotive workshops
- Appendix 1—Registered automotive workshop declaration to be completed and provided when presenting the vehicle to an authorised vehicle verifier approval holder for verification
- Appendix 2—Information required to apply for a registered automotive workshop approval
- Appendix 3—Quality management system summary of measures and actions used by a registered automotive workshop approval holder to manufacture or modify vehicles in accordance with an approved Model Report
- Appendix 4—Expectations for conditions applied to a registered automotive workshop approval
- Guide to operating as an approved registered automotive workshop
- Guide to registered automotive workshops
- ROVER guide: How to apply to become a RAW
- Operating a RAW during the transition to the RVS legislation—Overview
- RAWs transitional arrangements video
- Registered automotive workshop (RAW)—Declaration template
- Road Vehicle Standards—Vehicles to be modified by a registered automotive workshop (RAW)—Overview
Model reports
- Guidance note—Model Reports—Emission control for light vehicles
- Guide to applying for a Model Report approval
- Guide to developing a Model Report for SEVs vehicles
- ROVER guide: How to vary an approved Model Report
- Model Report requirements video
- Model Report template for specialist and enthusiast vehicles
Authorised vehicle verifiers
These resources provide further information for applicants who wish to apply to become an approved vehicle verifier.
- Authorised vehicle verifiers requirements video
- Applying to be an AVV approval holder
- Authorised Vehicle Verifier (AVV)—verification report
- AVVs and conflict of interest
- Checklist for AVVs verifying road vehicles
- Criteria for deciding an application
- Details of AVV approval conditions
- Guide to operating as an approved authorised vehicle verifier
- Guide to the Register of Approved Vehicles for authorised vehicle verifiers
Testing facilities
- Guide to testing facilities
- List of approved testing facilities
- Road Vehicles Standards Rules 2019 (sections 108 to 124)
Specialist and enthusiast vehicles
- Guidance note—Specialist and Enthusiast Vehicles Register—policy position when a vehicle is genuinely available to consumers in Australia
- Guide to specialist and enthusiast vehicles
- ROVER guide: How to apply to import an interim SEVs vehicle
- Industry guide to refuse to consider powers
- MVSA Register of Specialist and Enthusiast Vehicles
- ROVER guide: How to transfer a vehicle from the Interim SEVs List to the RVSA SEVs Register
- Specialist and enthusiast vehicles
- Specialist and Enthusiast Vehicles Scheme under the MVSA
- Vehicles assessed under SEV interim arrangements as eligible for discretionary approvals
Component type approvals
- Guide to component type approvals
- Introduction to component type approvals and how to apply video
- List of component type approvals in force
- Position Paper—Component Type Approval—test reports not completed by an RVS approved testing facility
- Road Vehicle Standards—Using other approvals to support a vehicle type approval application
- Tips on how to complete your vehicle or component type approval
- Quality management system checklist for component type approvals
Low ATM trailers
- Vehicle Standards Bulletin 1 (Revision 6)—Trailers with an aggregate trailer mass of 4.5 tonnes or less
- Guide to vehicle type approvals for low ATM trailers (4.5t ATM or less)
- How to complete a vehicle type approval application for a low ATM trailer video
- New requirements for low ATM trailers video
- QMS checklist for vehicle type approvals
- Road Vehicle Standards—Road vehicle identification marking under the RVS laws—Overview
- Tips and quick reference guide for low ATM trailers
- Vehicle Standards Bulletin 1 (revision 6)
High ATM trailers
- High ATM trailer—overview
- Road vehicle Standards—Road Vehicle Identification marking under the RVS laws—Overview
- ROVER template: ADR 38/05 calculations
Varying approvals
- Guide to varying an opted-in approval for the first time
- Guide to varying approvals in ROVER
- ROVER guide: How to request a variation to an approved Model Report
Withdrawing and amending an application
- Guide to withdrawing, amending and resubmitting an application
- ROVER guide: How to withdraw, amend and resubmit or delete an application
- ROVER: How to withdraw, amend and resubmit or delete an application video
RVS fees charges and payments
RVS decision-making timeframes
- Guidance note—Requesting priority assessment of an RVS application
- Road Vehicle Standards—RVS legislation application decision-making timeframes
ROVER resources
- Applying to be an AVV approval holder
- Creating a user account in ROVER
- Guidance note—Model Reports—Emission control for light vehicles
- How is my personal and commercial information in ROVER managed?
- ROVER: How to add design and manufacturing control information for a type approval video
- ROVER: How to add design and manufacturing facilities for a type approval—video
- ROVER: How to add extent of compliance information for a type approval video
- ROVER guide: How to add your road vehicle to the RAV once specified conditions have been met
- ROVER guide: How to apply to become a RAW
- ROVER guide: How to apply to import an Interim SEVs vehicle
- ROVER How to complete a vehicle type approval application for a low ATM trailer video
- ROVER: How to create an account video
- ROVER: How to demonstrate compliance with a relevant UN approval—video
- ROVER: How to demonstrate compliance for ADR04—Seatbelts video
- ROVER: How to demonstrate compliance for ADR 29/00—Side Door Strength video
- ROVER: How to demonstrate compliance for ADR 29/00 using a component type approval video
- ROVER: How to reset your password video
- ROVER: How to start a vehicle type approval application video
- ROVER: How to set up multifactor authentication for existing users video
- ROVER guide: How to upload a VIN list when submitting a recall
- ROVER guide: How to request a variation to an approved Model Report
- ROVER guide: How to withdraw amend and resubmit or delete an application
- ROVER application statuses and notifications
- ROVER identity document guide
- ROVER portal
- ROVER guide: How to customise payment details
- ROVER guide: How to download an advisory notice
- ROVER guide: How to download Register of Approved Vehicles entries
- ROVER guide: How to report companies or people for a vehicle safety or non-compliance issue
- ROVER guide: How to report road vehicle safety or non-compliance
- ROVER guide: How to report a safety or non-compliance issue for a road vehicle component
- ROVER guide: How to upload multiple recall reports using the bulk report template
- ROVER: How to withdraw, amend and resubmit or delete an application video
- ROVER: How to navigate the dashboard once signed in video
- ROVER guide: How to report a safety or non-compliance issue not involving people, a road vehicle or a road vehicle component
- ROVER guide: How to transfer a vehicle from the Interim SEVs List to the RVSA SEVs Register
- ROVER guide: How to complete compliance information forms
- ROVER: How to request and authority to act video
- ROVER: How to provide someone authority to act video
- Tips on how to complete your vehicle or component type approval application
- ROVER guide: Multi-level authority to act
- ROVER guide: For existing ROVER account holders setting up multifactor authentication to sign in
- ROVER guide: How to revoke an RVS approval
ROVER Templates
- ROVER template: ADR 38/05 calculations
- ROVER template: Bulk RAV amendment
- ROVER template: Bulk RAV amendment non key update
- ROVER template: Multiple component type approvals as evidence
- ROVER template: Recall progress reporting
- ROVER template: Unique identification numbers under recall
- ROVER template: VINs under recall
Industry guide to refuse to consider powers
Second stage of manufacture
- RAV tips: Submitting second stage of manufacture vehicles to the RAV
- Second stage manufacture of vehicles – Overview
Guidance notes
- Guidance note—Adding a vehicle manufactured and/or imported under the MVSA to the Register of Approved Vehicles
- Guidance note—Amending entries on the Register of Approved vehicles
- Guidance note—Model Reports—Emission control for light vehicles
- Guidance note—Requesting priority assessment of an RVS application
- Guidance note—Specialist and Enthusiast Vehicles Register policy position on when a vehicle is genuinely available to consumers in Australia
- Guidance note—The effect of significant modifications on older vehicles
- Guidance note—When are road vehicles on the RAV considered to be provided to consumers for the first time?
Compliance and enforcement
- How to report a vehicle safety or non-compliance issue without a ROVER account
- ROVER guide: How to report a safety or non-compliance issue not involving people, a road vehicle or a road vehicle component
- ROVER guide: How to report a safety or non-compliance issue for a road vehicle component
- ROVER guide: How to report companies or people for a vehicle safety or non-compliance issue
- ROVER guide: How to report road vehicle safety or non-compliance
- RVS laws: A risk-based approach to compliance video
- RVSA compliance and enforcement strategy 2021–2023 PDF: 633 KB
- RVSA compliance approach and model PDF: 646 KB
- RVSA Public guidance: Inspection, monitoring and investigation PDF: 574 KB
Transition to Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018—Guidance Materials
This document provides the plan for how content from Administrator's Circulars and other MVSA guidance material will transition to RVSA guidance material.
Road Vehicle Standards legislation
The Road Vehicle Standards package of legislation includes:
- Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018 (RVSA) as amended by the RVSLAA
- Road Vehicle Standards Charges (Imposition—General) Act 2018
- Road Vehicle Standards Charges (Imposition—General) Regulations 2021
- Road Vehicle Standards Charges (Imposition—Customs) Act 2018
- Road Vehicle Standards Charges (Imposition—Customs) Regulations 2021
- Road Vehicle Standards Charges (Imposition—Excise) Act 2018
- Road Vehicle Standards Charges (Imposition—Excise) Regulations 2021
- Road Vehicle Standards (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2018 as amended by the RVSLAA
- Road Vehicle Standards Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (RVSLAA)
- Road Vehicle Standards Rules 2019
Road Vehicle Standards Determinations
- Paragraph 7(3)(b): Road Vehicle Standards (Classes of Components that are not Road Vehicle Components) Determination 2020
- RVSA section 6: Road Vehicle Standards (Classes of Vehicles that are not Road Vehicles) Determination 2021
- RVSA section 6: Road Vehicle Standards (Classes of Vehicles that are Road Vehicles) Determination 2021
- Section 12: Road Vehicle Standards (Information on the Register of Approved Vehicles) Determination 2021
- Section 88: Road Vehicle Standards (Model Reports) Determination 2021
- Subsection 89(2): Road Vehicle Standards (Model Reports—Compliance with Standards) Determination 2021
- Section 106: Road Vehicle Standards (Verification of Road Vehicles) Determination 2021
- Section 107: Road Vehicle Standards (Limit of Acceptable Damage or Corrosion) Determination 2021
- Section 135: Road Vehicle Standards (Additional Matters Relating to Eligibility for a Road Vehicle to be Entered on the Specialist and Enthusiast Vehicles Register) Determination 2021
Glossary of terms
The Road Vehicle Standards (RVS) legislation—Glossary of terms provides a comprehensive list of acronyms and terms used in RVS policies, procedures and guidance material.
Cost Recovery Implementation Statement
The Cost Recovery Implementation Statement provides information on how the department undertakes cost recovery arrangements for administrative and regulatory activities under the Road Vehicle Standards legislation.