Caravan regulations

[Franklin1]

1953 Victorian Caravan Regulations:



-------------------------------------------------------

1957-1958 VICTORIA regulations (source 1957-1958 RAC Vic Caravan and Camping Guide)

[Franklin1]

1969 NSW regulations (source: Dept Motor Transport, April 1969)

[Franklin1]

1965 advisory information:



(source: RACV Royal Auto magazine, Dec 1965)

[Franklin1]

1966 Gas safety advice:






1966 Wiring advice:





(source: RACV Royal Auto magazine, Nov 1966)

[Don Ricardo]

State caravan regulations in 1956:




(Source: Keith Winser, Australian Caravan & Touring Manual for 1956, pp 167-168)

[cobber]

From the May 1958 Australian Motor Manual.



Probably still the same

Cobber

[RollyDog]

That explains why the trailahome Bantam I found last year was towed with a 58 Hillman Minx wagon. They only needed to go 25 mph. ;D
Rollydog

[Don Ricardo]

Hi all,

In his 1967 Caravan & Touring Manual, which was published in late 1966, Keith Winser reported that Victoria was about to introduce the compulsory registration of caravans:


(Source: K Winser,Caravan Manual & Tourist Park Guide, 19th edition, 1967, page 5)

Mandatory registration for caravans (and trailers) became law in May 1967.  Prior to that point, unless they were used 'in the course of business or trade', caravans in Victoria did not need to be separately registered, but had to display the registration number of the tow vehicle.  My memory from the time is that there was a lead up period of at least a few months during which caravan owners could arrange to get their vans registered.

The number plate series for Victorian caravans and trailers being registered at that time was in the format 'Gxx-xxx'. That series was introduced in 1963, prior to registration becoming compulsory for all vans and trailers, and may already have been being used for trailers used in the course of business or trade.

The 1968 Winser Caravan & Touring Manual (published in late 1967) opined that "This year Victorians had to register their trailers for the first time, and we hope the extra revenue thereby obtained will be used for their benefit, as we have been promised" (page 10).

Interesting to see that in 1967 the cost of registration was $3.00 plus 40c per extra cwt (hundredweight) over the first 7 cwt.  On that basis the registration cost for our van would have been $7.40.  The flat fee for caravan registration in Victoria now (2018) is $59.00, so approximately 8 times the cost 50 years ago, but still a lot cheaper than in other states.

Don Ricardo

[Roehm3108]

Hey DonR. You do realise that Vicroads keep track of these sorts of comments about registration costs, especially when the fees haven't kept up with inflation!! Wouldn't surprise me if you will see a fee rise coming up, just so that Vicroads can play "catch-up"!!!!!

I presume that box trailers still don't need rego and need only display the tow car number plates?

[aussieute]

In Victoria 6x4 can get an exempt trailer plate or put your car reg on back so no annual fee for Reno cheers chris

[kingswood308]

Dec 15, 2018 18:41:42 GMT 10 aussieute said:

In Victoria 6x4 can get an exempt trailer plate or put your car reg on back so no annual fee for Reno cheers chris

But if you strap your little alloy dingy to the 6x4 it automatically becomes a boat trailer and therefore it must have rego.

Dave.

[Don Ricardo]

Victorian caravan requirements in 1938:

Article printed in the Melbourne Herald on Tuesday, 17 May 1938 (page 21):


(Source: National Library of Australia nla.gov.au/nla.news-article243157857 )

A bit hard to read, so here's a transcription:

---

ROAD RULES FOR CARAVANS

Inspector Salmon, in charge of the
Traffic Police, has this today to caravanners: —

RULES

No trailers may exceed. 8ft. in width, and if more than 6ft 6in must carry side lights attached to the front of the vehicle;

A red light, visible for at least 200 yards, must be shown at the rear of the caravan when travelling at night;

A rear-vislon mirror must be attached on the outside of the car drawing the caravan, so that traffic approaching from behind may be seen;

The registered number of a car drawing a caravan must also be displayed on the back of the caravan. The plate on the car may be transferred, but a duplicate number sign will be more suitable.

ADVICE

Car brakes should be in first-class condition and tested immediately before the outing. Couplings also should  be examined.

Always drive as near the left-hand side as possible, especially when rounding corners, because of the greater width of the caravan compared with that of the car.

Speed should not exceed 30 m.p.h. In emergencies, drivers of even the most up-to-date cars may experience difficulty in avoiding an accident because of the extra width and unwieldiness of the caravan.

When parked by the roadside the vehicles should be off the road itself. At night, lights indicating their position should be shown fore and aft.

---

If only the rules were as simple now, eh?  And don't forget all you hoons...don't exceed 30 mph (50 kmh)!! 

Don Ricardo

[jdazzle]

Hoping this thread is still active - I have a early 1960s coronet never manufactured with brakes, that has managed to have Victorian registration up to 2016. I now cannot reregister it in NSW, or likely anywhere else without brakes being fitted, as it weighs more than 750 kgs. I have explored exemptions as a historic vehicle, argued with VIC roads about how the van had managed to be on the road, and how it should still be permitted, given precedent (even if an oversight). Can anyone help? 

[Don Ricardo]

2023 Caravan Registration Requirements

There has been a bit of discussion on the Forum, as well as on various Facebook sites, about the changes which have been recently introduced in relation to the registration of vintage caravans. After a bit of investigation, I've come up with the following information that may be useful for people trying to navigate the new system.

I've highlighted and commented on the most important sections relating to vintage caravans, but if you are going to follow the procedure outlined it would be wise to read through the full text.  When it comes down to it, the procedure isn't all that complex, it just involves filling out an online application form before registration, but you will probably need more information and photos than were required previously.

There is a link under each item which will take you to the webpage concerned to read more or click on the links in the webpage.

The first item dated 14 April 2023 is from the TrailersRUs website advising that new registration laws applying to all unregistered caravans and trailers were to come in to effect on 1 July 2023. As part of the new laws "...it is mandatory for all light trailers to have an entry in the Register of Approved Vehicles (RAV) in order to be eligible for registration or sale in Australia".  'Light trailers' includes caravans:

            (Source:  www.trailersrus.com.au/blog/news-articles/new-trailer-caravan-registration-laws-2023/ )

The TrailersRUs website provides a link to a webpage of the Australian Government department which governs the Register of Approved Vehicles.  (It's the Dept of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, since you asked.  )  An extract from the Department's webpage states that the "...details of each vehicle approved for road use will be entered on the RAV".  That sounds a bit intimidating, but the page also refers to "concessional RAV entry approval" which offers a glimmer of hope to vintage caravanners:

        (Source:  Extract from www.infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure-transport-vehicles/vehicles/rvs/rav )

Following the link to 'Concessional RAV entry approval' leads us to this webpage which tells us that:

• Concessional RAV entry approval provides a pathway for vehicles that meet the requirements for exemptions from certain national vehicle standards but are otherwise suitable for road use, including
  
• Vehicles that are 25 years or older, providing that the vehicle meets the eligibility criteria for that particular category (in the case of vintage caravans, 25 years or older).
  
• Any individual person can apply for 'Concessional RAV entry approval'.
  
• Applications are submitted through the Department's ROVER online system.
  

(Source:  Extract from www.infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure-transport-vehicles/vehicles/importing-vehicle/concessional-rav-entry-approvals )

The following webpage explains more about the RAV procedure for 'Older Vehicles', ie vehicles that 25 years or older:

• The webpage heading refers to 'importing' vehicles, but the text also mentions vehicles that have "...been lying dusty and forgotten in a garage for years" - that's us!
  
• To be eligible for Concessional RAV entry approval the vehicle must have been orginally built or significantly modified 25 or more years ago.
• RAV applications are submitted under the 'Single Road Vehicles Approvals' RAV form.
  
• There is a list of information required for the RAV application.
• Significant modifications to a vehicle include:
  -  Body modifications;
  -  Chassis modifications; and
  - Braking modifications.
  
• The information required includes your caravan's VIN OR CHASSIS NUMBER - note this reference to a chassis number, or what we often refer to as the serial number.
  
• If your caravan has been 'significantly modified' in the last 25 years this is a bit of a kicker, because it is no longer considered an 'older vehicle'.  However, it may be eligible to be considered as a 'significantly modified' vehicle' which can't be added to the RAV but may still be eligible for 'restricted registration' under state regulations.
• Obtaining a Concessional RAV Entry Approval doesn't guarantee that you can get your vehicle registered - it's up to each state and territory whether they will register it.   
  
• If the vehicle doesn't have a VIN then it will be issued one by the Department as part of the approval process.
• The VIN has to be permanently marked on or affixed to "...an integral part of the vehicle".
  

(Source:  Extract from www.infrastructure.gov.au/department/media/news/how-import-your-older-vehicle-25-years-or-older )

And here's some information on VIN's (Vehicle Identification Numbers).  The highlighted sections particularly relate to 'Concessional RAV Entry Approval' vehicles, including those 25 years or older.  Note that the Department has the option of incorporating a chassis/serial number into the VIN that is issued for the vehicle, providing the original number doesn't include any prohibited characters.

(Source:  Extract from www.infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure-transport-vehicles/vehicles/importing-vehicle/vin )

There are a few take-aways from the above:

1. The procedure for registering a vintage caravan does seem to be more complicated than it was, and may now involve a Commonwealth Department as well as a State or Territory agency or department.
   
2. If your caravan is already registered, don't let the registration lapse under any circumstances.  It may cost you a few dollars to register a van that isn't being currently used, but that's a minor cost compared to going through the hoops to re-register it later.
   
3. Think carefully before making any 'significant modifications' to your caravan, as defined above.  Significant modifications mean that your caravan no longer qualifies as an 'older vehicle' and means that it has to be treated as a 'significantly modified vehicle' to which different rules seem to apply.  Obviously some modifications must be made to some caravans, such as the addition of brakes, but find out what that may mean in terms of the procedure to be followed before going ahead.  Some 'significant modifications' may not be worth the effort or cost.

PLEASE NOTE that I am not an expert on this matter and am not presenting myself as one.  Nor should any of the above post or my comments be taken to be legal advice.  I have only collated information that is publicly available.  Moreover I do not know how each State or Territory has or will interpret or implement the new requirements.

The intention of the post is just to:

• Give people a heads up about what might be required in registering a vintage caravan;
• Help people know what information they may need and the questions they may be asked;
• Help people know what questions they should ask the registration authorities in their State or Territory; and
  
• Enable people to challenge the authorities (politely) if they seem to be less informed about 'older vehicles' than you (it does happen!).

If anyone has additional information or wishes to correct anything above, that will be welcomed.

Don Ricardo

[jdazzle]

Thank you don Ricardo, this is so so useful!

Omg I will be soooo cross after getting a definitive email from NSW technical enquires saying I have to fit brakes to the coronet, to find out now it is considered significantly modified!! 🤯🤯. Not to mention the cost!!!

If I can’t establish the coronet’s original VIN, I will explore this path and report back.

Thank you again in all your time for putting this together.

On a completely random note, as I thought I had the coronet over the line to be registered I bought a sunraysia rim in desperation as the spare. I can’t abide them! It has to go! What will I do with it!
😵‍💫

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Jdazzle,

Having done a bit of investigation, I'm reasonably certain that your Coronet does not have a VIN as yet. The number '669375' shown against 'VIN' for your van on the PPSR website is not a VIN but is actually an 'SN' (serial number) allocated by the Victorian Motor Registration Branch (MRB, the predecessor to the current VicRoads) at some point during the period of years that your van was currently registered in Victoria. The SN/serial number may have been a precursor to the VIN's, but it is not a VIN as we know them now. VIN's have 17 characters which are a mixture of numbers and letters.

The reason I know this is because I've done a check for our caravan, and the number shown against 'VIN' for it on the PPSR website is also the MRB/VicRoads SN/serial number. In our case the number is '256363' which is the same number shown on the last registration sticker we had for the van (before they stopped issuing them). '256363' is the complete number, it's not just part of a number (although on the registration sticker there is a leading '0', ie '0256363'. Our van doesn't have an actual VIN because it hasn't had to be re-registered since when it was first registered in December 1967 (see further explanation below), so the 'SN' isn't a VIN despite what the PPSR website seems to be saying.

The interesting thing is that our van has a serial number which is stamped on two serial number plates on the van, but when the van was registered in 1967, the MRB wouldn't accept that as a valid serial number. I think that would also have been the case for your van, and that's why on the PPSR website the 'Serial' is shown as 'XXXXXX' - because the MRB didn't record that information and therefore it isn't in their records.

What all this means is that I don't think the number '669475' listed on PPSR for your van is going to get you very far, because it isn't actually a VIN, although it might be interesting to hear what VicRoads says. But it also means that, according to the info in my post above about the 2023 regulations, you may be able to get a VIN issued for your van that includes your van's actual serial number of '718'.

Now going back to the point about our van being first registered in December 1967... Compulsory separate registration for caravans was only introduced in Victoria in 1967. Prior to that they just need to show the registration number of the tow vehicle. Our caravan was built in 1949, but obviously didn't need to be registered at that point. When compulsory registration was introduced, my mother (who then owned our van) left getting the van registered until fairly close to the end of the 'grace period', hence the van was registered in December 1967. Our registration plate is G65-579. As the plates now mostly are, general issue registration plates/numbers were issued sequentially. Your van has the number plate G47-827 which is 18,000 or so numbers before ours. That means that it would have been first registered well before our van in December 1967, although I'm not sure how much earlier. However, that is an extra bit of evidence to confirm that your van was built before 1969, and is certainly pre-1989 by a long way.

Hope all this helps, although it does mean that apparently you will need to obtain an actual VIN. I will also be interested to hear what the implications of 'significantly modified' are for getting the van registered. It's a bit a catch 22 isn't it? You need to have brakes fitted to be able to legally tow your van on the road, but fitting brakes then means that the van no longer meets the criteria for an 'older vehicle'. There are plenty of others who must be facing the same issue though, because most caravans now require brakes, so you'd think the rego authorities will have a process worked out for registering the vans.

Don Ricardo

[jdazzle]

don Ricardo, another thoughtful terrifically useful post, thank you so much.

Indeed, the “VIN” I was supplied by previous owners is the serial number on the last rego sticker on the caravan (1995). And how fascinating about the plate! Another fantastic way of dating it as you say.

I’m feeling a bit bad now as has hassled previous owners to supply me with last rego papers on van (?
definitely post 1989) and they struggling to do so. It may well be this serial number was recorded as VIN, though sounds like, not useful to me.

All a bit ironic as I had decided to sell this impulsive purchase from 2022, but now have put so much time (and some money) into trying to register it I’ll have to keep it! Nooo! I only wanted to be left with one! 😊.

I’m thinking the “718” can also help date, hughdeany to assist? I almost bought no 9, so did research the rough time horizon…😊

🙏🏻🙏🏻

[shesgotthelook]

I know this topic is complicated but this is the response I received from VicRoads. Please everyone note this is Victoria, but new registrations (or no record of vin/chassis) for all states have to go through the Australia wide, State Gov't site. I don't know what procedure is for transferring reg'n from state to state or if van previously registered in one state, lapsed & then re registering in another state is. All I can say is 'don't let your registration lapse!

Hi Lindsey,

Thank you for your email about applying for a VIN number for your trailer. We're here to help you with the information that you need.

Trailers manufactured before 1989 that have been previously registered in Australia may be registered with the identifying number (chassis number) stamped on them provided it can be established that it's the same trailer and there are no other trailers currently registered with the same number.

If your trailer doesn't have an identifying number stamped on it, you'll need to apply to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications (DITRDCA) for a concessional Register of Approved Vehicles (RAV) entry. For further information about applying for a concessional RAV, follow this link: www.infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure-transport-vehicles/vehicles/importing-vehicle/concessional-rav-entry-approvals

The trailer will then be issued with a VIN when DITRDCA approve your application.

Thank you again for contacting VicRoads, we trust this information has addressed your enquiry.

Should you need to contact VicRoads again, please do not hesitate to email us back through this link: go.vic.gov.au/DVEpf1. Alternatively, you can call us on 13 11 71 within Australia, or on [phone] from overseas (8.00am - 5.30pm Monday to Friday & 8.30am - 12.30pm Saturday) or visit a VicRoads Customer Service Centre.


Kind regards,

Dustey
VicRoads Customer Services

[jdazzle]

I am yet to get back to the coronet registration dilemma. It was all high profile over Christmas but I gave up once realising I wouldn't meet my brother's planned lending deadline. I see myself going through this new Australia wide system, with now installed brakes, modifying the caravan, as instructed by NSW registration. I will be entering the process calm..  and report back. 

Feb 7, 2024 13:55:01 GMT 10 shesgotthelook said:

I know this topic is complicated but this is the response I received from VicRoads. Please everyone note this is Victoria, but new registrations (or no record of vin/chassis) for all states have to go through the Australia wide, State Gov't site. I don't know what procedure is for transferring reg'n from state to state or if van previously registered in one state, lapsed & then re registering in another state is. All I can say is 'don't let your registration lapse!

Hi Lindsey,

Thank you for your email about applying for a VIN number for your trailer. We're here to help you with the information that you need.

Trailers manufactured before 1989 that have been previously registered in Australia may be registered with the identifying number (chassis number) stamped on them provided it can be established that it's the same trailer and there are no other trailers currently registered with the same number.

If your trailer doesn't have an identifying number stamped on it, you'll need to apply to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications (DITRDCA) for a concessional Register of Approved Vehicles (RAV) entry. For further information about applying for a concessional RAV, follow this link: www.infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure-transport-vehicles/vehicles/importing-vehicle/concessional-rav-entry-approvals

The trailer will then be issued with a VIN when DITRDCA approve your application.

Thank you again for contacting VicRoads, we trust this information has addressed your enquiry.

Should you need to contact VicRoads again, please do not hesitate to email us back through this link: go.vic.gov.au/DVEpf1. Alternatively, you can call us on 13 11 71 within Australia, or on [phone] from overseas (8.00am - 5.30pm Monday to Friday & 8.30am - 12.30pm Saturday) or visit a VicRoads Customer Service Centre.


Kind regards,

Dustey
VicRoads Customer Services

[shesgotthelook]

I hope Monoss doesn't mind me posting his experience here; Again, this is Victoria so cannot speak on behalf of the other countries, I mean states

Howdy all,
Went to Dromana Vicroads branch today, filled out the rego application with chassis number & van details. All easy except the very friendly lady at the counter had to read up the information about non-VIN numbered trailer/caravans, that took an extra 5 minutes. Then she came outside to inspect it, looked & confirmed the chassis number, checked the lights all working. Ticked the boxes, signed the form & handed me papers the plates. Then I had to pay the outrageous fee of.....$88 for the plates and 12 months rego!
As my local bloke Adam said, it's so simple it's laughable. To think that a few weeks back I was worried about all the potential beauracracy, rules, regulations, VINs, ROVER, axel weights etc, etc.
Basically the Vicroads website information tells you nothing to do with older pre-89 vans, and only serves to frighten the crap out of you and maybe toss it in as too hard....it's almost as if they set out to discourage you!
The best thing I did is talk to somebody who has done registering old vans in recent times, and who knows how simple it really is. I was almost disbelieving and expecting problems that never eventuated. Thank you Adam. And thanks to the Vicroads staff. Now there's something I never thought I would say!
Cheers, Vince.