On this page:

• Introduction
• SEVs Register under the RVS legislation
• SEVs interim arrangements
• Applying to enter a road vehicle on the SEVs Register
• What IT system do I need to access?
• Creating a user account in ROVER
• SEVs Register eligibility application process
• SEVs resources
• More information
• Contact us

Introduction

The Specialist and Enthusiast Vehicles (SEVs) Register is a database of vehicles that have met one or more of the eligibility criteria for entry on the SEVs Register and that may be eligible for concessional Register of Authorised Vehicles (RAV) entry if additional criteria are met.

The Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018 (RVSA) is replacing the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 (MVSA). The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications (the department) is implementing the new legislation.

The detail of how the new regulatory framework operates is contained in subsidiary legislation, the Road Vehicles Standards Rules 2019 (the Rules). The RVSA and other related legislation is known as the Road Vehicle Standards (RVS) legislation.

The eligibility criteria required for specialist and enthusiast road vehicles to be entered on the SEVs Register under the RVS legislation is markedly different from that of the Register of SEVs under the MVSA.

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SEVs Register under the RVS legislation

To meet specialist and enthusiast demand more effectively, the RVS legislation has updated eligibility criteria for entry on the SEVs Register.

Instead of only assessing vehicle models, vehicle variants not provided in Australia under a road vehicle type approval are also eligible where 1 or more of 6 eligibility criteria are met.

A variant will need to be significantly different to a variant already provided in Australia, such as having a different engine, transmission, drivetrain or body type.

The Guide to specialist and enthusiast vehicles (which will be published soon) explains the SEVs process in detail.

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SEVs interim arrangements

For the period from 10 December 2019 until when the SEVs Register starts, SEVs applications were assessed against both the MVSA and RVS eligibility criteria.

Previously, vehicles assessed as eligible under the MVSA criteria were added to the MVSA Register of SEVs in the usual way and subsequent approvals were administered using existing processes.

The interim arrangements were only applicable to vehicles eligible under the RVS eligibility criteria but ineligible under the MVSA eligibility criteria.

Under the interim arrangements, vehicles meeting the SEVs Register eligibility criteria were placed on the ‘List of eligible SEVs under the interim arrangements’.

Vehicles on the ‘List of eligible SEVs under the interim arrangements’ will be entered on the SEVs Register if the following happens:

• a SEVs Register entry application is submitted, and
• the application fee is paid.

If the vehicle continues to meet the SEVs Register entry criteria and the application satisfied the above requirements, its details will be entered on the SEVs Register with an expiry date of 3 years from the date the SEVs Register entry was made.

Where the vehicle no longer satisfies the SEVs Register entry criteria, the vehicle’s details will still be entered on the SEVs Register. However, the entry’s expiry date will be 3 years from the date the vehicle’s details were entered on the ‘List of eligible vehicles under the interim arrangements’.

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Applying to enter a road vehicle on the SEVs Register

Any person (being an individual or company) may apply to have the details of one or more variants, or a make and model, of a road vehicle entered on the SEVs Register. Any person (being an individual or company) may apply to have the details of one or more variants, or a make and model, of a road vehicle entered on the SEVs Register.

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What IT system do I need to access?

The department’s online IT service, ROVER integrates activities and approvals under the RVS legislation. The department’s online IT service, ROVER integrates activities and approvals under the RVS legislation.

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Creating a user account in ROVER

Before submitting an application, an applicant or their representative must create an account in ROVER, including uploading identification documents.

Agents or representatives creating an account are required to include details about the company or individual they are representing.

When acting on behalf of an applicant, the representative must upload documentation (for example, a company letter) stating that the agent or company employee has authority to act on the applicant’s behalf.

Identity documents and an authority to act are verified when creating an account in ROVER. You may have limited access to, and will not be able to submit, applications until your user account details have been verified.

A guide to creating an account in ROVER is available on the department’s ROVER resources webpage.

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SEVs Register eligibility application process

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Resources

• RVS legislation, guides and resources
• Guide to specialist and enthusiast vehicles, March 2021 PDF: 2196 KB 
• Specialist and Enthusiast Vehicles interim arrangements
• Specialist and Enthusiast Vehicles Scheme under the MVSA
• Vehicle type approvals
• Variant Details PDF: 128 KB 

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More information

More detailed information about the RVS legislation is available from the RVS legislation implementation webpage.

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