Modified light vehicles

If you modify or construct a light vehicle, it may need to be certified by an authorised engineering signatory. Engineering assessment and certification needs to be carried out before the vehicle is inspected for modification endorsement at the Access Canberra Motor Vehicle Inspection Station.

All vehicles with a gross vehicle mass of 4.5 tonnes or less are considered light vehicles.

The National Code of Practice for Light Vehicle Construction and Modification (the Code) determines whether the modifications need certification.

The Code is a live document maintained by the Australian Government.

Applying the Code in the ACT

For ACT purposes the Code must be applied in conjunction with:

• Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Act 1999
• Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Regulation 2000
• Light vehicle inspection manual [PDF 5.37 MB]
• Australian Design Rules
• Vehicle Standards Bulletins
• Australian light vehicle standards rules

The Code specifies modifications under two main subcategories:

• Owner certified modifications to light vehicles for modifications that do not require prior approval or engineering certification.
• Significant or extensive modifications to light vehicles for modifications that require engineering certification by a recognised engineering signatory.

Vehicles that need certification

Vehicles that need certification must be inspected at the Access Canberra Motor Vehicle Inspection Station. Bookings are essential and an inspection fee is payable.

You will need to bring with you a valid engineering certification report, and all supporting documents addressing the modifications performed to the vehicle.

Read about roadworthy inspections and vehicle identity inspections.

To book an inspection, contact Access Canberra by phone on 13 22 81.

Engineering certification reports

Depending on the modifications performed, engineering certification reports may need to include the following:

• Relevant NCOP checklists
• IM240 or RG240 emission testing reports
• Lane change testing
• Chassis analysis and Beaming and Tortional testing
• Design reports
• Other complex engineering analysis and testing.

Note: Some individually constructed vehicles may be granted partial exemptions from certain Australian Design Rules. These include occupant protection requirements and advanced active safety systems.

Contact the Access Canberra Motor Vehicle Inspection Station for further advice on exemptions.

Access Canberra may only accept modification certification reports from:

• authorised persons listed on the ACT Recognised Engineering Signatories list
• engineering signatories authorised in other Australian states and territories.

The report must meet the following requirements:

• The engineering signatory must be authorised with the applicable codes to certify the modifications performed and vehicle category. For more information, contact the relevant road transport authority or scheme administrator.
• The modified vehicle and the engineering report must comply with the National Code of Practice and ACT vehicle standards legislation.
• All light vehicle modifications must be certified in accordance with the national code and applicable Australian Design Rules. Where individual state and territory variances exist, a vehicle may need to be recertified and/or altered to meet ACT compliance standards.
• The engineering report must contain sufficient evidence and detail to comprehensively address all modifications performed.

Important information

• An engineering report issued in another jurisdiction may not always be sufficient to cover every type of modification or provide sufficient test evidence to substantiate the modifications performed.
• All engineering certification reports are assessed on a case-by-case basis and may be rejected by Access Canberra after review.
• Where a vehicle has been rejected for unapproved modifications after inspection at the ACT Government Inspection Station, the vehicle inspection report may not outline an exhaustive list of defects or areas which require certification. The engineering signatory will undertake a comprehensive assessment of the whole vehicle and provide guidance on vehicle modifications that require certification and testing.
• Individuals providing professional engineering services (including developing or overseeing the development of engineering designs) in the prescribed areas of engineering must be registered when providing those services in the ACT, or from outside the ACT when they are not registered under a mutually acceptable scheme.
• The Professional Engineers Act 2023 establishes the requirements of the ACT’s Professional Engineers Registration Scheme (The Scheme).

ACT Recognised Engineering Signatories

The following mechanical engineers have demonstrated to Access Canberra that they have the qualifications, knowledge and experience required in automotive engineering standards and design.

Access Canberra does not endorse the services of any signatory and is not responsible for the quality of work they provide.

Fee arrangements are a matter between the signatory and the client. Access Canberra will not become involved in disputes.

Requirements for engineering signatories

The engineering signatory who certifies a vehicle must:

• personally inspect the vehicle
• ensure that all modifications comply with ACT legislation, Vehicle Standards, National Code of Practice and all applicable Australian Design Rules
• provide a detailed report outlining all modifications and the testing undertaken
• submit all complex engineering reports to ACT Vehicle Safety Standards for review, at least one week before the vehicle is presented for inspection.

Further information

You can contact Vehicle Safety Standards for further advice.

• Phone: (02) 6207 7236
• Email: vitu@act.gov.au