AustraliaMy vehicle doesn't appear on the Register of Approved Vehicles. Can I still drive it?
No, you generally cannot legally drive a vehicle in Australia if it is not on the Register of Approved Vehicles (RAV), unless it qualifies for a specific exemption such as being an 'excluded vehicle' or covered by transitional arrangements.
What the Law Says
The Register of Approved Vehicles (RAV) is Australia’s national database of vehicles approved for use on public roads. Under the Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018, only vehicles on the RAV — or those falling under defined exemptions — may be supplied or used on roads.
The Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018 (RVSA) replaced the previous Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 and introduced stricter national oversight. It makes it an offence to supply (including sell, lease, or import) or use a road vehicle that is not on the RAV — unless the vehicle is specifically excluded or exempted.
‘Use’ includes driving or permitting another person to drive the vehicle on a road. Exemptions include certain historic vehicles, competition-only vehicles, and vehicles covered by transitional provisions (e.g., those approved under the old scheme before July 2021).
Importantly, registration with a state or territory transport authority does not override the federal RAV requirement — a vehicle must satisfy both state registration rules and the RVSA.
Statutory TextA person must not supply a road vehicle unless the vehicle is on the Register of Approved Vehicles or is an excluded vehicle.
— Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018, s. 15 — Supply of road vehicles
Statutory TextA person must not use a road vehicle on a road unless the vehicle is on the Register of Approved Vehicles or is an excluded vehicle.
— Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018, s. 16 — Use of road vehicles
What to Do
Check the official RAV database at roadsafety.gov.au/rav to confirm your vehicle’s status.
If not listed, determine whether it qualifies as an ‘excluded vehicle’ (e.g., historic, low-volume, or competition-only) under section 7 of the RVSA.
Contact the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts for advice on eligibility for approval or transitional pathways.
Do not drive the vehicle on public roads until it is either approved for the RAV or confirmed as lawfully exempt.
If already driving it, stop immediately and seek legal or regulatory advice — penalties apply per offence.
Sources
Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.