The steps to becoming RVSA ready, from ADR identification to RAV entry
The RVSA commenced in full on 1 July 2021. A 24-month transitional period followed, meaning that all low ATM trailer manufacturers and importers had to be completely operating under the RVSA by 30 June 2023.
There is significant work involved in getting ready to be eligible for RVSA type approvals, so it is critical that this is not left to the last minute.
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What to do. In order to prove full ADR compliance, you should first identify the relevant ADRs applicable to your towable product, remembering that the RVSA only applies to the road vehicle compliance aspects of a caravan, so essentially the trailer that the caravan is then built upon. ADRs relevant to trailers are available on the Department’s website. For guidance on the most common ADRs relevant to towable product, see our ADRs Relevant to Towables page. Further information is on our Low ATM Trailers page under the heading Australian Design Rules. What to do. You will need to have all the required information and relevant supporting documentation to confirm that your towable product complies with the applicable ADRs. This documentation will cover, but is not limited to, ADR-related components such as reflectors under ADR 47 and drawbars under ADR 62, vehicle dimensions under ADR 43, vehicle markings under ADR 61, and installations such as lamps and reflectors under ADR 13, tyres under ADR 95 and general safety requirements under ADR 42. For guidance on the ADRs and the expected detail of evidence, see our ADRs Relevant to Towables page. To know more, refer to the Guide to Vehicle Type Approvals for Low ATM Trailers. What to do. A key element of being eligible to obtain vehicle type approvals will be your ability to prove you have adequate control over all stages of design, componentry and manufacture of the recreational vehicles you are producing or supplying. In other words, you will need some form of Quality Management System in place to demonstrate that you have effective control on conformity of production. So, in terms of the RVSA eligibility criteria, how will you demonstrate effective control? This will need to take the form of either: Record keeping. In order to be eligible to apply for a vehicle type approval, the manufacturer or importer must have the ability to access all versions of this supporting information while their approval is in force and for seven years after it ceases to be in force. This supporting information must be kept up to date at all times and must be amended whenever there is a change to the design, the componentry or the manufacturing process that could affect compliance with the ADRs. The Department has provided detailed guidance on the expected details required of a Quality Management System in Appendix 2, and a summary of measures and actions used to demonstrate control in Appendix 3, of the Guide to Vehicle Type Approvals for Low ATM Trailers. For motorised recreational vehicle guidance, see the Guide to Vehicle Type Approvals. More information is on our Conformity of Production page. What to do. Go to the ROVER portal to set up your account. For further information, see the Department’s ROVER resources. What to do. To apply for a vehicle type approval, you must complete an online application form through ROVER, providing all of the required information, documents and declarations. For more information, see our Low ATM Trailers or Campervan and Motorhome Manufacturers pages. What to do. Once you have transitioned to the RVSA, you need to use the new vehicle plate as per ADR 61/03. Towable products built under the MVSA during the transition period had to continue to use the vehicle plate as per ADR 61/02. For more information on these changes, see the the Department’s guidance on ADR 61/03, Vehicle Marking. What to do. Once you obtain your RVSA type approval you must be able to, or have the authority to, arrange for federal government vehicle inspectors to inspect the premises where the caravans, or relevant components, are manufactured. This is another key criterion of obtaining your approvals, so make sure you have all suitable agreements in place to allow this to take place. What to do. Under the RVSA, the Register of Approved Vehicles is an online, publicly searchable database of vehicles, including trailers approved for use on Australian roads. The details of every vehicle and trailer approved for road use in Australia are entered on the RAV. This means that, as a business, you will need to understand this process in detail to ensure that once you have your RVSA type approvals you know how to enter all of your light trailers onto the RAV. For more information, see our Register of Approved Vehicles pages. What to do. Approval holders must provide VINs to NEVDIS for each vehicle covered by a vehicle type approval. VINs may be submitted at any stage of a vehicle’s manufacture. However, this should happen before any RAV submission, as it is a prerequisite step for a successful submission. More information is on our VIN Submissions to NEVDIS page. What to do. Approval holders with an expired or expiring approval must renew the approval to ensure compliance and continuity of operations. More information is on our Renewal of Expired or Expiring Approvals page.1. Australian Design Rules identification
2. ADR evidence of compliance
3. Conformity of production and your quality management system
4. Set up your account in ROVER
5. Apply for vehicle type approval for all vehicle categories produced
6. Start to use the new vehicle plate, ADR 61/03
7. Federal regulators to have access to facilities within Australia or abroad
8. RAV entry of all product produced
8a. VIN submissions to NEVDIS
9. Renewal of expired or expiring approvals
