If you have a pre-existing approval, either in writing or verbal, RTA ACT (not NSW) are saying they are only allowing a 2 year build time from the date of approval! This means, if you have or will pass that date before finishing (like a number of us) - you will not be allowed to register your car - even with engineering approval! If you only have verbal approval - you're in an even worse position, but if I can get emails from enough people they'll be forced to change their mind.

If you are in another state, don't smile because your state may adopt the code soon - it is a National Guideline and the push is for all vehicles to conform! It is already very hard to sell modified vehicles interstate, but soon it will be even harder. If you are building an ICV (Individually Constructed Vehicle), you have to meet current ADR's, have a motor out of a less than 4 year old vehicle, complete it in under 2yrs, get engineering signoff etc - check the NCOP.

The new standards in the ACT are very unfair! A standard XBGT Falcon can have up to a 475 Ci (7,785 cc) motor yet you can't stick a turbo or supercharger on a standard one with a 302 or 351! A Hr Holden can have a 289 with Turbo's or a 350 without in NSW, but no turbo's in the ACT! Not only do NSW use a different multiplier, but if a vehicle came out with a six cylinder originally, it can have a bigger engine than the same weight four. ACT ignores this fact (check the tables below)!

Oh, and two more things - as of Jan1 2007 - all vehicles under 10 years old that come from interstate to the ACT for registration need an identity check at a cost of $37 or $400 if it was a 'repairable write off' on top of the $37 registration inspection fee, $64 establishment fee, $18 Road Rescue/Safety Fee, 3% stamp duty etc(click link for detail)! - update - I was told by the inspector checking my interstate bike today (19/1/07) that if you pass, they refund $363 (so you only pay $37). If it's stolen, the police turn up!

Secondly - In the ACT, vehicles are allowed to sit around unregistered for less than 12 months under the seasonal registration scheme. I have been told that if a vehicle with an engineering certificate is left unregistered for 3 months, it will lose that engineering approval and have to be re-registered under the new VSB14 standards! This is a Myth! I talked to Gerry at Technical Standards - he said 'as long as a vehicle does not go over the 12mth limit it will still comply' If you let any vehicle go past this you will have to apply for a new registration whhich means you will have to pass VSB14. Many cars approved under the old standards won’t pass VSB14!

The following is links to each state's code of practice for modified vehicles. Note, some states have no info listed as I believe they use the RTA inspectors. If you have information that updates or contradicts this please contact me at the email below and I will update it.

( NB: I live in the ACT, so please don't ask me technical questions about other state's rego requirements - contact them directly! Note: dead links below mean I haven't found them yet.)

• NCOP (National Code of Practice) Link (scroll down the page for the pdf 's)
  (RTAACT has adopted them - other states are to follow! Beware!)
• NSW Current Code of Practice for Modified Vehicles (read VSI 2, 3, 6, 9, 15)
• VIC Current Code of Practice for Modified Vehicles VASS Signatory Approval (an approved Engineer)
• QLD Current Code of Practice for Modified Vehicles (RTA QLD have an 'approved persons list' - you must complete this form to contact them with what you want to do before you start - they used to charge $150 per modification at the pits but this has changed)
• SA Current Code of Practice for Modified Vehicles (SA RTA make the decision - contact them with what you want to do before you start, engineers report needed)
• WA Current Code of Practice for Modified Vehicles ?
• TAS Current Code of Practice for Modified Vehicles (TAS RTA make the decision - contact them with what you want to do before you start, probably the most relaxed in Australia)

If you are currently building an MPV (Modified Production Vehicle) in the ACT you need to know that new national guidelines were adopted by RTA ACT in July 2006! This does not apply for existing approved and registered vehicles. However, if you allow a vehicle with an engineers report to be unregistered for more than 3 months (as is allowed under 'seasonal registration rules'), I have been told that you will be considered unregistered and will have to meet the new standards to get it re-registered! If you think this is not a problem - you may be in for a shock! The new power to weight ratios mean your existing motor/wheels/turbo's/wheel tubs may then be illegal! Check the tables below. Note the vehicle weight is the maximum weight for an unmodified vehicle of your variant - ie: the heaviest luxury model (such as an EH Premier, XW Falcon 351 GT, etc) not your weighbridge weight when modified.

The new standards for engine size are pathetic in the ACT compared to NSW and all other states.You will notice that NSW don't use all the new standards, but have partially adopted them. I have been reliably told they were the ones pushing for the new standards, and they were certainly involved in their development, yet it seems the paperwork to implement them was too much (and maybe they thought they were unfair - check the differences!).

Contact me at the email below!

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