This Determination is the Motor Vehicle Standards (Placement of Used Import Plates) Determination 2002.

This Determination commences on the commencement of the Motor Vehicle Standards Amendment Act 2001.

(1) In this Determination:

Act means the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989.

vehicle approval number, for a vehicle, means the number stated on the approval issued to a registered automotive workshop to fit a used import plate to that vehicle.

vehicle identification number, for a vehicle, means a number:

(a) corresponding to the vehicle identification number of the vehicle; and

(b) stated on a used import plate that identifies the vehicle.

(2) Unless the contrary intention appears, a word or expression that is used in this Determination and in the Motor Vehicle Standards Regulations 1989 has the same meaning in this Determination as it has in those Regulations.

Note 1 The following terms are defined in the Act:

 registered automotive workshop

 used import plate

 used imported vehicle.

Note 2 The following terms are defined in the Motor Vehicle Standards Regulations 1989:

 RAW approval

 restricted volume two-wheeled or three-wheeled vehicle

 RVCS participant number

 three-wheeled vehicle

 two-wheeled vehicle

 unrestricted volume two-wheeled or three-wheeled vehicle

 vehicle category.

4 Purpose

This Determination sets out procedures and arrangements relating to the placement of used import plates on used imported vehicles.

5 Categories of used import plates

For paragraph 13B (2) (a) of the Act, the following categories of used import plates may be placed on a used imported vehicle by a registered automotive workshop:

(a) Category A — for used imported vehicles other than two-wheeled and three-wheeled used imported vehicles;

(b) Category B — for restricted volume two-wheeled and three-wheeled used imported vehicles;

6 Content, form and function of used import plates

(1) The functions of a used import plate are to:

(a) indicate to vehicle registration authorities in the States and Territories that the Minister is satisfied that the vehicle meets the requirements of the Act; and

(b) indicate that the vehicle has been imported and modified by a registered automotive workshop; and

(2) A used import plate must contain the following:

(a) a description of the vehicle to which the plate will be affixed;

(b) the corporation name or trading name of the registered automotive workshop, as stated on its RAW approval;

(d) the vehicle identification number;

(e) the vehicle approval number;

(f) the applicant’s RVCS participant number (called the registered automotive workshop number on the plate);

(g) the vehicle category code;

(h) for a category A plate — the seating capacity of the vehicle;

(i) for a vehicle in any vehicle category except for an MA, MB or MC category vehicle, a two-wheeled vehicle or a three-wheeled vehicle — the Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM).

(3) A used import plate must also comply with the following requirements as to form:

(a) the plate must be made of metal;

(b) information that must be stated on the plate must be in relief (for example, the information must be embossed, indented, etched or engraved);

(c) variable information that is stamped on the plate must have a minimum character height of 2.5 mm (7 point) with the characters properly aligned;

(d) the vehicle identification number must be shown on one line without blank spaces between characters;

(e) the plate colour must be Australian Standard AS2700S 1996 Colour Standards for General Purposes — Magenta.

(4) A used import plate that is not approved for placement by the Minister and does not comply with this Determination in respect of the content and form of used import plates, and the manner in which it must be fixed to the relevant used imported vehicle, must not be placed on a vehicle.

(5) Examples of used import plates and the information they must contain are set out in Schedule 1.

7 Manufacture and supply of used import plates

(1) A registered automotive workshop must obtain all used import plates from a supplier approved by the Minister.

(2) A registered automotive workshop, other than one shown on the approval to import, may fit a used import plate to the vehicle, if:

(a) the plate is fitted to the vehicle in accordance with its conditions of approval as a registered automotive workshop; and

(b) the plate is fitted with the agreement of the workshop identified in the approval to import, and the Minister.

8 Placement of used import plates

(1) A used import plate must be affixed to the body of a used imported vehicle in a position where the plate:

(a) may be easily seen; and

(b) would be exposed to minimum crash damage or disfigurement; and

(2) Without limiting subsection (1), a used import plate is properly affixed for that subsection if it is affixed to the vehicle as follows:

(a) for passenger cars and bonneted trucks:

(i) on the panel separating the front compartment from the passenger compartment; or

(ii) on a front suspension tower; or

(iii) on an engine compartment side deck; or

(iv) on the boot floor;

(b) for cab-over-engine trucks — in the passenger compartment rearward of the driver or passenger door;

(c) for forward control passenger vehicles and vans — in the passenger compartment in the front passenger’s footwell area;

(d) for two-wheeled and three-wheeled vehicles — on the steering head.

(3) A used import plate must be fixed to a used imported vehicle by riveting or welding, or with hammer drive screws.

Schedule 1 Used import plates — examples

(subsection 6 (5))

Do not delete : Schedule Part Placeholder

Content and form of used import plates

(a) Category A plate

For use on vehicles, other than two-wheeled and three-wheeled vehicles.

Vehicle

Approval No Vehicle Category Code

Make Model / Year

Approval Date Vehicle Identification No

GVM (where Seating Capacity

applicable) RAW Name on Vehicle

Approval

Dimensions 100 mm  50 mm (approx)

(b) Category B plate

For use on restricted volume two-wheeled and three-wheeled vehicles.

Vehicle

Approval No Vehicle Category Code

Make Model / Year

Approval Date Vehicle Identification No

RAW Name on Vehicle

Approval

Dimensions 95 mm  35 mm (approx)

For use on unrestricted volume two-wheeled and three-wheeled vehicles.

Vehicle

Approval No Vehicle Category Code

Make Model / Year

Approval Date Vehicle Identification No

RAW Name on Vehicle

Approval

Dimensions 95 mm  35 mm (approx)