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Appendix
One
In Victoria a Certificate of Roadworthiness is generally required when a vehicle is sold or if it is to be reregistered. In some cases a Certificate of Roadworthiness is also required to clear a Vehicle Defect Notice or a Notice of Unroadworthiness.
A Certificate of Roadworthiness can only be issued by a Licensed Vehicle Tester operating from a nominated garage or service station. Before a certificate can be issued the vehicle will need to pass a roadworthiness inspection.
The roadworthiness requirements do not prescribe testing methods but define the items and standards required by law necessary to ensure a safe vehicle. The inspection is a basic safety check of the vehicle, to ensure that any safety related components have not worn or deteriorated to the extent that the vehicle is unsafe for normal road use.
It is not a check of the mechanical reliability or general condition of the vehicle. If you require a comprehensive check on the overall condition of the vehicle then you should arrange for a separate independent report.
The roadworthiness test is not an assessment of a vehicle's compliance with the Standards for Registration which, in most cases, are the Australian Design Rules (ADRs). The ADRs are a set of minimum standards for the construction of motor vehicles and trailers and are administered by the Federal Office of Road Safety. In most cases compliance with these standards cannot be assessed by inspection alone.
The cost of obtaining a Certificate of Roadworthiness will depend to a large extent on the age, type and condition of the vehicle being examined. If you wish you may obtain a quote for the cost of the inspection.
A Certificate of Roadworthiness is valid, for the purposes of a transaction, for 30 days from the date of issue.
E Lamps, Signals, Reflectors, etc.
F Exhaust and Emission Controls
H Windscreen Wipers, Washers etc.
Regulation 611 of the Road Safety (Vehicles) Regulations 1999 provides that the Roads Corporation (VicRoads) may issue written directions to Licensed Vehicle Testers as to the standards vehicles must meet to obtain a Certificate of Roadworthiness.
This document constitutes the written directions given by the Corporation under Regulation 611 and Licensed Vehicle Testers must ensure that the vehicle meets these standards before a Certificate of Roadworthiness is issued. It supersedes all previous instructions and forms part of the Licensed Vehicle Testers Standards and Operations manual. The information provided in that manual may be of assistance when interpreting the requirements in this document.
This document also refers to the National Roadworthiness Guidelines which are in fact a list of defects which render a vehicle unfit or unsafe for use on the road. These national guidelines are primarily for identifying an unroadworthy vehicle and are less suitable for use by a licensed Vehicle Tester in providing certification that a vehicle is roadworthy i.e. issuing a Certificate of Roadworthiness.
Therefore a Licensed Vehicle Tester must continue to assess vehicles for compliance with the performance standards specified in this document but may take into account the national guidelines so that any vehicle with a defect listed in those guidelines would not pass a roadworthiness inspection. However, the absence of any defect outside the tolerance in the National Guidelines does not automatically mean the vehicle is roadworthy. The vehicle may have other defects which are not listed or a number of defects each less than the tolerance in the National Guidelines but together causing the vehicle to be unsafe.
Random and targeted audits are conducted by VIC ROADS Roadworthiness Supervisors to ensure this occurs and any non-compliance with this document may result in action being taken to suspend or cancel a licence.
This edition of the Roadworthiness Requirements was prepared by the Vehicle Safety Branch and is based on the document "Roadworthiness Requirements For Motor Vehicle: and Trailers" issued in October 1991 and now includes changes resulting from comments received on that earlier document, the introduction of the National Roadworthiness Requirements, and changes to the inspection requirements for commercial passenger vehicles such as taxis and buses.
New vehicles are manufactured to comply with a number of standards, notably the Australian Design Rules and various industry and consumer requirements which ensure that the vehicles achieve a certain level of safety, environmental harmony and serviceability.
During their use, vehicles can deteriorate or be altered from their original form and in some cases this can become a hazard to road users and others.
Although the owner of a vehicle is responsible for keeping the vehicle in a safe and roadworthy condition at all times, roadworthiness testing is undertaken to help minimise the possible hazard to road users including buyers of used vehicles where the vehicle may be in a potentially harmful condition, often without the owner being aware of it.
The roadworthiness requirements set out in this document relate to the inspections carried out by licensed testers for the purpose of issuing Certificates of Roadworthiness. They are based on the Standards for Registration, including the Australian Design Rules, wherever possible but have had to be considerably simplifiied in some cases.
It is also important to remember that the roadworthiness requirements cannot be used to impose more stringent requirements on a vehicle than it would be required to comply with in a new and unaltered condition.
The requirements have been limited to items which may be a hazard and which lend themselves to detection by inspection. It is not feasible to determine compliance with many of the Standards for Registration, including Australian Design Rules, in a roadworthiness test as they generally require highly specialised knowledge and equipment and in some cases even destructive testing.
A Certificate of Roadworthiness issued by a licensed tester is, therefore, certification that a vehicle meets the requirements in this document and is not an assessment of its compliance with standards. In other words, it is a basic check that the vehicle is fit for use on the roads.
A licensed tester must ensure that vehicles are examined in respect of the appropriate requirements in this document applying normal industry standards and test procedures. The tester must also take into consideration the requirements of the National Roadworthiness Requirements and any relevant information including manufacturer's specifications, certification by Recognised Engineers or testing authorities, and various guidelines, such as Vehicle Standards Information (VSI) sheets, and other information provided by VICROADS in assessing whether or not: the vehicles meet the criteria provided. The criteria in. this document may be over-ridden by this information in some circumstances.
This document contains 11 sections dealing with various aspects of vehicle safety and environmental requirements. Some of these will only apply to certain vehicles and should be disregarded where they do not apply. There will also be a number of vehicles which have been exempted from some requirements under the conditional registration or permit procedures. Irrelevant requirements should similarly be disregarded for these vehicles.
There is no requirement for a spare wheel to be carried on a vehicle used on normal roads and the Standards for Registration exclude wheels not normally used in service from any requirements. However, where a spare wheel is carried it must be securely retained in or on the vehicle.
All road wheels and rims must be free of cracks or any other type of damage likely to cause failure of the wheel, rim or tyre. The wheel/rim must not be bent or buckled. In the case of a passenger car, the rim width must not exceed by more than 25 mm the widest rim available for. the particular model from the vehicle manufacturer unless an engineers report is supplied for that modification. See VSI 8 for more information.
A Certificate of Roadworthiness must not be issued for a vehicle which has a temporary use spare tyre fitted to one or more road wheels.
Alloy wheels must bear the appropriate standards mark as specified in VSI 8.
On wire-spoked wheels, all spokes must be intact, straight, fitted and laced correctly and properly tensioned.
Welds on steel wheels must be of good quality and free of defects. Widened wheels must have no more than one peripheral weld. Welds or any other type of repair on wholly cast wheels or cast structural components of wheels are unacceptable. Chromed wheels other than those chromed during the manufacturing process are not acceptable.
When in the straight ahead position, the wheels and tyres must not project beyond the extreme width of the mudguards and must not contact any part of the vehicle under any combination of steering and/or suspension movement.
The wheels must be securely attached with the correct number and type of nuts, studs or both. Stud or bolt holes, and any locating washers, must not be expanded or elongated and all wheel and retainer tapers must match. All studs must be securely fitted and engage for at least the same thread length as provided originally by the vehicle manufacturer.
Any tyre retaining rings on heavy vehicles must be in good condition and correctly located. On truck spider wheels, appropriate nuts and clamps must be used and there must not be any slippage or excessive runout.
In the case of passenger cars and light goods vehicles, for axles with independent suspension, the track measured to the centre of the tyre treads must not exceed the original specification by more than 25 mm. For other types of suspension, the track must not exceed the original specification by more than 50 mm. However, for vehicles fitted with diagonally split braking systems, there must be no change in front or rear track from the original specification. Hub/rim spacers are unacceptable unless specified by the vehicle manufacturer.
All tyres fitted to the road wheels of a vehicle, must be of a type constructed for normal road use and must have a minimum tread depth of 1.6 mm at any point on the tread normally in contact with the road surface other than at tread wear indicators. Where tread wear indicators are provided the tread must not be worn to the extent that any tread wear indicator contacts the road surface. The tyres must not be regrooved unless they are of a type marked by the manufacturer as being suitable for regrooving.
Tyre sizes must be compatible with rim sizes as set out by the Tyre and Rim Association.
All tyres must be free of deep cuts, cracks, bulges, exposed cords, evidence of carcass failure or separated or perished rubber.
For vehicles up to 4.5 tonne GVM fitted with passenger car tyres and manufactured after 1 January 1973, all tyres fitted to the road wheels must be of the( same carcass construction (i.e. radial ply, cross ply, bias belted, etc) but may have a different tread pattern.
Repairs to the sidewall or shoulder areas on radial ply passenger car tyres are not acceptable.
Tyres on vehicles subject to ADRs must have a load rating at least equivalent to the minimum ratings shown on the tyre placard. The speed rating must be at least equivalent to the maximum speed limit applying in Victoria but a lower speed rating is acceptable providing the vehicle cannot exceed the rated speed of the tyre fitted.
All pneumatic tyres not marked "Tubeless" must be fitted with a tube and all retreaded tyres must be marked with the identification of the retreader and the word "Retreaded" and any other markings required by the relevant Australian Standard.
See VSI Numbers 8 and 16 for more information on wheels and tyres.
The vehicle steering system must be free from excessive play, and the vehicle must track satisfactorily without undue wander.
All steering components, including dust and grease seals, must be in good condition, securely and correctly mounted and free from damage and excessive weal: All nuts, bolts and other fasteners used on steering components must be secure and fitted with appropriate retaining or locking devices where necessary There must be no binding in the steering system from lock to lock.
Any power steering pump or associated components must work and be securely mounted. Hoses, pipes and drive belts, etc. must not foul any other components in a manner likely, to cause failure. All fittings must be free of dripping or running oil leaks, however, dampness or staining around seals is acceptable. The reservoir must be correctly filled.
All suspension components must be properly mounted and aligned with no distortion, cracks, fractures or other damage likely to cause failure or instability. There must be adequate clearance between components and the vehicle body, and all joints, bushes, pivots, dust and grease seals, wheel bearings and mountings :must be in good condition.
Shock absorbers and struts must be securely mounted, function effectively and be free of leaks. Dampness or staining around seals is acceptable.
Modified suspensions must comply with the relevant sections of VSI 8.
All brake components must function correctly, be securely mounted, appropriately located and free from visible wear, distortion or damage likely to cause failure or malfunction.
Brake piping must be of an appropriate material and adequately supported.
Hydraulic systems must be filled to the appropriate level and all pipes, hoses, cylinders and reservoirs must be free from leaks and apparent contamination. However, dampness or small quantities of brake fluid behind cylinder boots is acceptable and alone should not be a cause for rejection.
Air systems, including trailer brake connections, where fitted, must be free from leaks. Compressors must be properly mounted and aligned with drive belts in good condition and correctly tensioned.
Air compressors must be capable of rapid build-up, recovery and working pressure maintenance. Air tanks and other valves and components must be free of contamination, including excessive oil build up, which may adversely affect their operation.
Lining material must not be worn down to the wear indicators where they are provided. Where no wear indicators are provided, the minimum remaining useable thickness of lining material measured at any point on the lining must be no less than the vehicle manufacturer's minimum recommended thickness and in any case must be no less than 1.0 mm. Brake lining materials must not be contaminated.
The thickness of the friction section of a brake disc or the internal diameter of a brake drum must be within the manufacturers specifications. Light circumferential scoring is acceptable on friction surfaces providing it does not affect the operation or durability of the brake system.
Vehicle service brakes must function correctly and be capable of either.
· stopping the vehicle with one sustained application of the service brakes, under normal operation and application conditions, on a dry smooth surface free from loose material, within the distances specified in table 1, or
· achieving the deceleration rate specified in table 1.
Table 1
| Vehicle Type by GVM | Maximum stopping distance from 35 km/h | Minimum average deceleration | Minimum peak decelateration |
| Vehicles less than 2.5 tonnes GVM | 11.0 metres | 0.45 g | 0.6 g |
| Vehicles 2.5 tonnes or more GVM | 16.5 metres | 0.3 g | 0.4 g |
The application of the brakes must not cause the vehicle, when travelling in the centre of a 3.7m wide lane, to project outside that lane.
Vehicle parking; and emergency brakes must function correctly. Parking brakes must be capable of holding the vehicle stationary on any up or down grade found on highways.
Emergency brakes - including parking brakes intended to provide emergency braking such as those on vehicles which do not have split system service brakes or are not subject to ADR 31/.. or 35/.. must be capable of either:
· stopping the vehicle on a dry smooth surface free
from loose material, within the distances specified in table 2, or
· achieving the deceleration rate specified in table 2.
Table 2
| Vehicle type by GVM | Maximum stopping distance from 35 km/h | Minimum average deceleration |
| Vehicles less than 2.5 tonnes GVM | 27.0 metres | 0.18 g |
| Vehicles 2.5 tonnes or more GVM | 40.5 metres | 0.11 g |
Any audible or visible warning devices fitted must be properly mounted and function correctly.
Where required, trailer breakaway brakes must be fitted and operational.
Where a motor vehicle is fitted with vacuum assisted or air operated brakes and that vehicle is equipped to tow a trailer or a semi-trailer, the motor vehicle must be equipped with a means for providing that, if the trailer or semi-trailer breaks away, the brakes of the motor vehicle are capable of stopping the motor vehicle within the appropriate distance specified in Table 2
All seats and backrests must be secure, structurally sound and free of jagged edges or protrusions which could be hazardous. Any padding originally provided on bus seat backs must be present and in good condition. The driver's seat and backrest must also be free from any defects which might impair the driver's ability to control the vehicle. In buses, any guard rail provided for the driver must be secure and in a sound condition.
Seat slides and other control mechanisms used for adjustment of the seat must be functional, have no abnormal looseness and be effective in the release and locking actions. Optional mechanisms such as lumbar adjustments need not function providing they do not interfere with seat security or a driver's control of a vehicle. Where provided, head restraints must be secure and in a sound condition.
Seat belts must be present as specified in VSI 21
All seat belts must comply with the appropriate seat belt standard and where initially fitted by the manufacturer for ADR compliance, the seat belts must be original equipment or appropriate replacement parts.
Seat belts must be appropriately and securely fitted, and be accessible, and all components, including retractors where fitted, must function correctly. Seat -belt webbing must be firmly secured to its end fittings and must not be damaged, cut, knotted or frayed. Repairs or modifications to webbing, buckles, retractors or other seat belt components are not permitted.
See VSI 21 for :more information on seat belts.
Lighting requirements (lamps, reflectors and marking plates) vary substantially with the type of vehicle and its date of manufacture.
For recent vehicles and optionally for older vehicles, details of the requirements together with the type, number, location, colour, operation and adjustment of lamps and reflectors are set out in the Third Edition Australian Design Rules (ADRs). A summary of these requirements is set out in VSI 10. Alternatively, for vehicles not required to meet the Third Edition ADRs, the requirements specked in the Standards for Registration for that particular type of vehicle should be applied.
Generally, all motor vehicles must be fitted with headlamps, stop lamps, front and rear position lamps, a number plate lamp and turn signal lamps. All other vehicles (trailers etc.) require rear position lamps, stop lamps, a number plate lamp and turn signal lamps.
In addition to these lamps, a number of other lamps such as work lamps, auxiliary driving lamps, front and rear fog lamps, reversing lamps, external cabin lamps, clearance lamps, marker lamps, daytime running lamps and front; lamps on sidecars are either required or permitted. Hazard warning lamps are required on certain licensed buses and late model vehicles.
Some vehicles subject to conditional registration or permits will not be fitted with some of the prescribed lighting or in some cases may be fitted with additional lamps such as amber flashing/rotating warning lamps.
Vehicles must not be fitted with lights or reflectors not required or permitted by the Standards for Registration or the ADRs.
Generally, new vehicles are constructed to comply with the lighting requirements. Therefore, only if the vehicle is substantially modified from its original construction or there is evidence that lamps originally fitted have been removed or otherwise altered, will it be necessary to check that all the mandatory lamps are provided.
All mandatory internal warning lamps, including the airbag check lamp where fitted, must function correctly. In licensed buses, lamps used for interior lighting, including any stairwell lighting are mandatory lamps.
All lamps fitted to a vehicle, including any optional lamps but excluding undipped headlamps, ancillary driving lamps and work lamps, must be fitted with lenses or otherwise shielded so that the light emitted does not cause glare. All lenses must be of the correct colour, not substantially faded and must be clean on the inside and free of any damage which would permit dust or water to enter the lamp. Headlamp reflectors must be in good condition. The presence of minor condensation on semi-sealed lamps is acceptable.
All lamps must be securely mounted and correctly orientated.
Reflectors must be functional, of the correct colour and securely mounted.
Portable warning devices on tow trucks must be of an approved type and not deteriorated to an extent which reduces their effectiveness.
Rear marking plates must not be faded or deteriorated and must be of the correct type and correctly located.
Some vehicles, due to the nature of their use, require additional or special lighting or lighting located in noncomplying positions. These vehicles will usually belong to Police, Emergency, Road Maintenance or other organisations.
Other vehicles owned by private organisations requiring special lighting may be allowed to fit the lighting under conditional registration provisions.
The exhaust system of a vehicle must not pass through the cabin or any passenger area and must be free of leaks. Condensation drain holes are not leaks.
The exhaust system must be fitted with an effective silencing device and all exhaust gases must pass through the device.
All mountings must be secure and the exhaust system must have adequate clearance between all other parts of the vehicle and the road.
Unshielded parts of an exhaust system, other than the outlet, must not protrude beyond the profile of the vehicle other than on the underside. The outlet must be located so as to avoid direct entry of gases into the passenger compartment and must not extend beyond the plan of the vehicle. See VSI 8 for more information on exhausts.
Vehicles manufactured to comply with emission control ADRs must have all pipes, hoses, valves, sensors, fuel and air control devices and any other emission control equipment originally fitted by the vehicle manufacturer properly located and connected and not apparently damaged, deteriorated or altered in any way so as to appear ineffective.
Dual fuelled vehicles must retain any emission control equipment fitted to enable them to meet emission requirements while operating on petrol. However, allowances are made for minor air cleaner and carburettor modifications required to fit the conversion. The heated air intake system can be removed and the air cleaner replaced with one to suit the LPG conversion.
For vehicles fitted with a four stroke engine, exhaust emissions (except for water vapour) should not be visible to the naked eye for more than 10 seconds under normal operating conditions. When running, the engine must not discharge excessive crankcase fumes and where crankcase ventilation equipment is fitted it must be secure and leak free.
Crankcase ventilation recirculation equipment is required on petrol engine vehicles (other than motor cycles) built after June 1970.
Nitrous oxide systems are not acceptable on motor vehicles used on the road.
All glazing used in a motor vehicle built after June 1971 must be safety glass or other approved material.
The primary vision area of the windscreen of a vehicle may be lightly tinted with a minimum light transmittance of 7590 if the vehicle was made after 1971 or 70% if made earlier. Tinting in the primary vision area must have been incorporated during the manufacture of the windscreen and not by coating or tint films added afterwards.
The area outside the primary vision area need not meet these tinting requirements.
For cars and other light vehicles, the primary vision area can be approximated by excluding the area above the wiper arc or the top 10% of the windscreen, whichever is the greater. For buses and other heavy vehicles with large windscreens, exclude the area above the wiper arc or above a horizontal line 200mm above the height of the driver's eye when seated in the normal seating position, whichever is the greater and the area below the top of the steering wheel when looking from the driver's seat in a normal seated position..
It must be accepted that during service the windscreen will be subject to some damage such as sandblasting, cracks, bulls eyes, and various other types of fractures. Therefore the roadworthiness requirements for windscreens allow for some deterioration from the new condition. A windscreen with minor damage which does not exceed the requirements set out in this section should not be failed during a roadworthy inspection.
That part of the primary vision area of the windscreen to the right of the centre line of the vehicle and swept by the wiper blades must not be cracked, scored, chipped, badly sandblasted or otherwise defective so as to interfere with the driver's vision. In addition parts of the windscreen traversed by wiper blades must not be cracked or chipped to an extent likely to damage the wiper blades.
Generally bulls eyes and star fractures up to 16mm in diameter and finished cracks not more than 150mm long, which do not penetrate more than one layer of glass in a laminated windscreen, and which do not interfere with the drivers vision are acceptable.
In some cases damage which exceeds the above requirements can be successfully repaired. For example Australian Standard AS 2366-1990 sets out repair procedures for a range of damage but does not preclude the repair of more extensive damage.
In a repaired windscreen a faint outline of the repaired damage or in some cases a slightly dull spot may be visible where the repair has been performed. A repaired crack may also be detectable by a fine hairline surface mark. These are acceptable and should not be rejected during a roadworthy test providing the rest of the windscreen complies with the requirements as set out in this section.
Laminated windscreens may have discolouration up to 25mm from the edge of the visible glass area.
In addition windscreens which have evidence of sandblasting should not be rejected unless the sandblasting is considered heavy to the extent that its would be a safety hazard.
Apart from any pillar or other part of the vehicle's structure or fittings, there must be no internal obstructions to a driver's view through the swept area of the windscreen, to the right of the driver's position or 60 degrees to the left of the driver's position, except for the area outside the primary vision area.
See VSI 29 for more information on driver's view requirements.
Glazing material must not be broken in any area exposing sharp or jagged edges.
Where alternative signalling devices are not provided, the driver's side window must be capable of being opened or some other means provided to give hand signals.
Any tinting applied to the windows of a vehicle must comply with the: requirements specified in VSI 2.
All motor vehicles (except motorcycles) fitted with a windscreen must be fitted with an effective windscreen wiper system. If manufactured before 1963 then the wiper need only be fitted to the drivers side. On vehicles where the windscreen is such that a driver, in the normal driving position, can obtain adequate vision of the roadway ahead by looking over the top, below or to a side of the windscreen, a windscreen wiper system is not required.
All motor vehicles manufactured on or after 1 September _1966 and required to be fitted with a windscreen wiper system must be fitted with an effective windscreen washer system.
Both the windscreen wiper system and the windscreen washer system must be capable of being operated by the driver from the normal driving position.
All components of both systems must be secure, functional and not excessively worn. Windscreen wiper blades must only sweep over the windscreen glass and not contact any other component to an extent which could affect their performance while in operation.
Windscreen washer jets must be correctly aimed.
Vehicles required to comply with demisting provisions (e.g. ADR 15 ;and licensed buses) must have the necessary equipment present and operational.
The structural components of all vehicles must be sound and free from cracks, damage, faulty repairs or modifications, rust, deterioration or distortion which could lead to structural failure of the vehicle or adversely affect the performance of safety related features.
In some buses, extensive corrosion may be hidden by inner and outer body panels necessitating panel removal or other means to determine the extent of structural deterioration.
The body of all vehicles must be free from any damage which might increase the risk or severity of injury to any occupant, pedestrian or other motorist. The body must also be free of any damage likely to allow the entry of exhaust gases into the passenger area. All seals at body openings necessary to prevent the entry of exhaust gases into any passenger area must seal effectively.
Floors including floors in load areas must be in a sound condition. Floors in passenger areas must be free of loose material or objects or tears, or incorrectly fitted, matting or covering likely to interfere with the driver's ability to safely operate the vehicle. In licensed buses, floors and steps must have a suitable non slip surface.
All doors, boot lid, bonnet, hatch, tailgates and any other hinged or removable covers, and all other attachments to the body both inside the passenger area and outside the vehicle must be securely mounted or located. All latches and latch mechanisms, hinges and other securing devices including tilt cab latches must be in good condition and effective.
Driver controlled doors on buses must open and shut correctly when operated from the driver's position.
All latches and secondary latches on all doors giving access to the passenger areas must function correctly and secure the doors and allow them to be readily opened in an emergency.
Emergency exits on buses must be clear of obstruction and must be clearly identified, with the method of opening clearly indicated unless obvious from the design. The exits must appear capable of being readily operated.
Effective wheelguards must be fitted for all wheels on all vehicles except front wheels on mopeds and motorcycles manufactured before 1 July 1988. Wheelguards may include parts of bodywork, etc. Wheelguards must cover the full width of the wheels and tyres in the case of rear wheels on trucks, buses and trailers.
Mudflaps are not normally required on passenger car type vehicles. However, mudflaps must be in place on vehicles where they form part of the wheelguard system such as on some motor bikes, heavy vehicles and vehicles with a tray type body.
Prime movers must also comply with the wheelguard requirements. However the guards over the rear wheels may be of a flexible material provided they are adequately supported.
Flexible wheelguards or mud flaps must retain their functional position when the vehicle is in motion.
For passenger cars the tyre section width at the top of the tyre must be covered when the wheels are in the straight ahead position. For motorcycles, side cars and trikes, guards must cover the tyre section width.
Relaxed wheelguard provisions apply to some special purpose vehicles such as timber jinkers.
Bumper bars and bull bars, where fitted, must be secure and designed to eliminate sharp corners or protrusions which might cause injury to other road users. They must not obscure any lamps, unless additional lamps are fitted, and must not substantially exceed the normal width of the vehicle body. ADRs and VICROADS information sheets cover visibility angles of lamps. Ends of bumper bars must turn towards the body to a sufficient extent to avoid any risk of hooking or grazing.
See VSI 1 for more information on Bull Bars.
Any towbars, eyes, hooks, turntables or automatic couplings fitted to a vehicle must be in good condition, secure and not cracked, excessively deformed or damaged in a way likely to cause failure. All electrical wiring, connectors, couplings, flexible pipes, etc associated with a device for coupling a trailer to a motor vehicle must be in good condition.
Bonnet scoops of a type not provided by the original vehicle manufacturer must not have any front openings greater than 4000mm2 and all edges and protrusions must be suitably smoothed and rounded. The scoops must not be high enough to obscure the road 11m ahead of the driver. See VSI 8 for more information on bonnet scoops.
All mountings, brackets and fastenings necessary for the safe operation of the vehicle must be secure and free from damage, deterioration or abnormal distortion. All shafts, splines, universal joints, support bearings, tail shaft guards and other drive-line components must be in good condition and free of, excessive wear.
The power unit, clutch system, transmission system, differentials, axle housings and all associated pipelines must be properly sealed and free of dripping or flowing oil leaks onto the roadway, exhaust system or brake friction surfaces. Dampness, weeping, staining or formed drops are acceptable but oil leaking from the underside of the vehicle to such a extent that it is likely to leave excessive quantities of oil on the road surface (if the vehicle is parked or idling stationary for any length of time) is unacceptable.
In licensed buses, any insulating material in an engine enclosure must be in good condition and free from contamination by fuels or lubricants and there must not be any accumulation of fuel or lubricant in engine compartments.
The Standards for Registration detail requirements for LPG vehicles.
A LPG system fitted to a vehicle must comply with the requirements of the Australian Standard, AS 1425 applicable at the date of the installation. If the date of installation is not known the age of the vehicle and LPG tank date stamp may be used in determining the date of installation.
The LPG system must be free of leaks and all components secure and free from damage and deterioration.
The periodic inspection requirements of Australian Standard 1425 should be used when carrying out a - roadworthy inspection on a vehicle fitted with LPG.
All driving control pedal faces must have an effective non-slip surface or be covered with a non-slip material. All essential driving controls must function properly. Steering wheel rims, knobs and other devices which have deteriorated to an extent that they are hazardous are unacceptable. Steering wheel covers, if fitted, must be secure.
Dashboard and sunvisor padding where originally provided must be secure and must not have deteriorated to the extent that its effectiveness is substantially reduced.
Vehicles manufactured from 1 July 1988 and licensed buses and taxis of any age must be fitted with a functioning odometer and a speedometer calibrated in km/h.
All motor vehicles must be fitted with a rear vision mirror capable of providing a clear view to the rear of the vehicle from the normal driving position. Any vehicle designed primarily for the carriage of goods or any vehicle subject to internal rear vision obstruction must be fitted with external rear vision mirrors on both sides of the vehicle.
All rear visions mirrors must be securely and firmly mounted and capable of appropriate adjustment. The reflective surface must not be cracked or broken nor peeled, tarnished, discoloured or deteriorated to such an extent that its effectiveness is reduced.
On all vehicles subject to ADR 14 except motorcycles, any internal and at least one driver's side external rear vision mirror must be flat. However, additional curved mirrors may also be fitted, either independently or on standard mirrors. If fitted on a standard mirror they must not occupy a substantial part of the reflective surface of the standard mirror.
All motor vehicles must be fitted with one or more effective horns or other audible warning device which produces a steady sound of constant pitch.
Fuel tanks must be securely mounted and the fuel system including fuel lines and filler pipes must not project beyond the widest part of the vehicle.
Additional or replacement fuel tanks must be at least of an equivalent standard to the original tanks and not affect the vehicle's compliance with evaporative emission or other provisions.
All fuel lines, vent lines, pumps, valves and fittings must be secure, free of leaks, adequately protected from damage and must not chafe or rub against each other or other parts of the vehicle.
Fuel filler caps must be secure and seal properly. Plastic emergency fuel filler caps are not acceptable.
Hand grips, rails, straps or stanchions on licensed buses must be in a serviceable condition.
Electrical wiring must be properly supported at least every 600mm, insulated, protected from chafing and located to minimise hazards to vehicle occupants or others.
Passenger stop signals fitted to route buses must function properly.
Tow trucks, licensed buses and motor homes and caravans subject to ADR 44 must have the correct number and type of extinguishers fitted in an accessible location and the extinguishers must be in a serviceable condition.
Additional equipment fitted to the interior or exterior of a vehicle must not present an undue risk to occupants or others.
Where optional and non-essential equipment is fitted such as air conditioning, rear window demisters, etc, it is not necessary for it to work providing it does not adversely affect the safety of the vehicle or its compliance with mandatory Standards for Registration.
Modifications to vehicles fall into three broad categories:
(1) those with blanket approval listed in the Government Gazette;
(2) those covered by guidelines published in vehicle Standards Information sheets,
and,
(3) those which require individual approval and thus an assessment by a recognised engineering
signatory.
This makes it difficult to determine whether the modification has been approved in the context of a roadworthiness inspection.
In these circumstances an examination should be confined to checking that the modification appears to be properly executed and not in a condition which presents a hazard.
See VSI 8 for more information on modified vehicles.
Compliance plates were required on vehicles manufactured after June 1988 as evidence that, at the time of first registration, the vehicle complied with the applicable Australian Design Rules. However, compliance plates are often damaged , lost or stolen during the life of the vehicle. Therefore the presence of a compliance is not a mandatory requirement for the issue of a Certificate of roadworthiness.
Similarly engineers reports are generally supplied as evidence at the time of registration or change of description that the vehicle complies with the applicable standards for registration.
An engineers report should only be requested by a Licensed Vehicle Tester when a vehicle modification which affects the safety and or structural integrity of the vehicle does not appear to comply with good industry practices. However in most of these situations it would be more appropriate to have the faults rectified.
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