Build or modify a street rod or individually constructed vehicle
Information on the eligibility and construction requirements for street rods and individually constructed vehicles.
What is a street rod?
A street rod is a vehicle that has been modified for safe road use and that:
- has a body and frame that were built before 1949 or
- is a replica of a vehicle the body and frame of which were built before 1949
What is a replica?
A light motor vehicle that is an individually constructed vehicle that resembles, as close as practicable to, the appearance and dimensions of the equivalent production vehicle on which its design is based.
Individually constructed vehicle and production vehicle are defined in VSB14.
Standards applicable to street rods
The construction of a new street rod or modification of an existing street rod requires a VASS approval certificate issued by a VASS signatory.
If you're interested in undertaking such a project we strongly recommend you engage with the Australian Street Rod Federation (ASRF) or a VASS signatory before beginning the project to understand what’s required.
Street rods must be built and modified in accordance with the National Guidelines for the Construction and Modification of Street Rods in Australia.
Build or modify an individually constructed vehicle (ICV)
What is an ICV?
An individually constructed vehicle (ICV) is a vehicle that is not a production vehicle or a modified production vehicle.
An ICV must not have been derived or built from structural components such as the floor pan or chassis from a recognised production vehicle which contains or did contain a vehicle identifier. An ICV must be first registered by the individual who built it for their personal use only.
An ICV is considered to be a new vehicle even if some of the components used in its construction may have been derived from one or more recognised production vehicles.
An ICV must be first registered by the individual who built it for their personal use only.
What isn't an ICV?
An ICV is not:
- a production vehicle or a modified production vehicle
- a vehicle built using structural components such as the floor pan, body, or chassis from another vehicle
- an assembled replica or kit-car that has been imported or a replica or kit-car that has been disassembled and imported in pieces for the purposes of reassembly
Standards applicable to ICV
An ICV must comply with the ADRs applicable to its date of manufacture and the relevant sections of VSB14 National Code of Practice Light Vehicle Modifications.
The vehicle date of manufacture cannot be more than three years prior to the date of being issued with a VASS approval certificate.
Applying for a VIN for an ICV
Only a VASS signatory can apply for a VIN for an ICV and will be required to provide Department of Transport and Planning with details of how the vehicle was designed and where major components were obtained.
An individual cannot be issued with more than two VINs for ICVs in a 12-month period.
In all cases, the make of ICVs are recorded as 'INDCON' (for Individually Constructed).
An ICV being registered for the first time does not require a RWC.
The construction of an ICV can be complex and individuals interested in undertaking the construction of an ICV are strongly recommended to engage with a VASS signatory before beginning the project to understand what’s required.