Vehicle construction

Individually Constructed Vehicles

An Individually Constructed Vehicle (ICV) is any vehicle that is not a "production vehicle" and can be used only for personal use.

The defining feature is that Individual Constructed Vehicles always need a new Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and hence a new identity.

A production vehicle means "a vehicle manufactured or marketed in volume for normal road use". Those manufactured after January 1969 for use in Australia would normally be fitted with a compliance plate or personal import plate.

If you want to construct more than three vehicles per year, you need to seek advice from Vehicle Safety Branch and the Department of Transport and Regional Services (DOTARS). Such vehicles will need to be certified by DOTARS prior to commencing manufacture. For more information about certification go to the DOTARS web site.

Approval Processes

If you want to construct an Individually Constructed Vehicle you must obtain approval from the Manager, Technical Section, Vehicle Safety Branch, before starting construction.

ICVs will generally need to be constructed under the guidance of an Engineering Signatory or other suitably qualified engineer. The engineer will be required to provide a report verifying that the vehicle complies with all the relevant Australian Design Rules, Road Traffic (Vehicle Standards) Regulations and Road Traffic (Vehicle Standards) Rules.

The National Code of Practice for Light Vehicle Modifications provides the necessary guidelines to construct Individually Constructed Vehicles. ICVs built to this code will comply with the above regulations and be suitable for licensing subject to a final vehicle examination.

Kit Cars

A kit car is a form of Individually Constructed Vehicle (ICV) and therefore must comply with all the requirements for such vehicles. Kit cars may be built from a partial or complete kit provided by a manufacturer or supplier. Owners are free to assemble the vehicle in a personally customised form providing they comply with the ICV guidelines.

If you want to construct more than three vehicles per year, you need to seek advice from Vehicle Safety Branch and the Department of Transport and Regional Services (DOTARS). Such vehicles will need to be certified by DOTARS before you start manufacture. For more information about certification go to the DOTARS web site. Note that a supplier or an assembler of complete kits will usually need to have the vehicle certified by DOTARS according to the certification system applicable to the number of vehicles offered to the market.

Street Rods

A Street Rod is defined in the Australian Vehicle Standards Rules and the Western Australian Road Traffic (Vehicle Standards) Rules 2002 as. "A Street Rod shall mean a vehicle that has a body and frame that were built before 1949, that has been modified for safe road use, or a replica of a vehicle the body and frame of which were built before 1949."

Prior application required

Before commencing the construction of a street rod an "Application to Construct/Modify a Street Rod" form needs to be completed. You may obtain copies of the form from the Manager Technical Section at the Vehicle Safety Branch.

Application forms are also available from the Australian Street Rod Federation (ASRF) and Western Australian Rodders Association (WARA) examiners, for use by their members. While you don't have to be an ASRF or WARA member to construct a street rod, we recommend it as these organisations offer valuable expertise and technical support.

Note that you must complete an "Application to Construct/Modify a Street Rod" form when you propose to make modifications to any currently registered Street Rod.

Construction requirements

The Department of Transport and Regional Services (DOTARS) web site has a comprehensive set of guidelines, which the Vehicle Safety Branch has endorsed and which specify construction requirements for street rods. Vehicles constructed to these requirements are generally acceptable for registration. After the street rod has passed a full inspection and "3/4 front and rear" photographs of the vehicle have been provided to the Vehicle Safety Branch, the vehicle can be licensed conditionally ("B" Class). Street Rods that do not comply with the street rod guidelines are deemed to be Individually Constructed Vehicles. Street Rods that fall into this category will need to comply with the National Code of Practice for Light Vehicle Modifications and must be accompanied with relevant reports and checklists as required by that code.

Interstate transfers

While standards of construction and modification for street rods are very similar across Australia, the method of registration and the permitting of these vehicles varies. Therefore, we advise that you contact the appropriate jurisdiction/s before transferring a vehicle interstate.

Further information

For more comprehensive information regarding the construction or modification of street rods, we recommended you approach the Australian Street Rod Federation (WA) or the WA Combined Rodders Association.

Special Purpose Vehicles

A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) is a motor vehicle (other than a tow truck or an agricultural vehicle) built for a purpose other than carrying a load. In the case of some SPVs, such as concrete trucks and fire trucks, water may be carried.

SPVs include vehicles such as garbage trucks, street sweepers and cranes.

The Road Traffic (Vehicle Standards) Regulations 2002 provide special provisions for SPVs operating under a Class One Notice. The regulations provide for longer overall length, greater rear overhang and forward projection.

Special provisions also cover items such as allowable axle mass limits, marking and lighting. You should refer to these regulations for specific details.

Truck-based SPVs built in large numbers generally need to be certified by Department of Transport and Regional Services. For more information about certification go to the DOTARS web site.

If you want to buy or construct over-dimensional or over-mass SPVs, you should contact the Manager, Technical Section first. In the majority of cases Main Roads WA will also need to be contacted for information about access to the road system, or in the case of extremely large and/or heavy vehicles about exceeding axle mass limits, which requires a permit.