Number plate road rules
Most vehicles must display licence plates in Victoria.
You'll get number plates when you register your vehicle with VicRoads.
Unless excepted, registered vehicles in Victoria must have number plates that are:
- issued from or authorised by VicRoads
- clearly visible from 20 metres away
- displayed at the front and back of the vehicle
- attached to the vehicle the right way up
- no higher than 1.3 metres from the ground
- free from covers, tints or other reflective surfaces that might interfere with plate reading devices
- clean.
If you don’t follow these rules, you may be fined.
Your rear number plate must still be visible if you are using a bicycle rack or carrier
Number plate exceptions
Some vehicles are exempt from certain number plate rules.
| Vehicle | Number plate requirments |
|---|---|
| Agricultural machines (for example, tractors) | You may leave off a front number plate if it’s not possible to attach one to the vehicle. |
| Motorbike | You must show one number plate on the back of the vehicle, at least 30 centimetres off the ground. |
| Trailer and caravan plates | Get a number plate when you register your trailer or caravan. You must show one number plate on the back off the vehicle, at least 30 centimetres off the ground. If your trailer is exempt from registration, you can:
|
National heavy vehicle number plates
You can choose to get a national heavy vehicle number plate for your heavy vehicle. You don’t need to change them if your vehicle’s registered operator moves to another state. You can’t customise these plates.
You can’t get a national heavy vehicle number plate if your vehicle is a:
- bus on Safe Transport Victoria bus accreditation scheme
- tow truck on the accident towing allocation scheme
- club permit scheme vehicle heavier than 4.5 tonnes.
Number plate labels
Electric and hydrogen vehicle number plate labels are available from VicRoads customer service centres. You can attach these labels using the adhesive backing, or with a pop rivet.
The label must not obscure any of the number plate’s characters or numbers.
| Vehicle type | Label requirements |
|---|---|
| Electric powered vehicles | Display ‘EV’ number plate labels on both number plates unless your vehicle is a:
This rule applies to cars registered from 4 October 2020. Cars registered before this date should use the labels they were given at the time. |
| Hydrogen-powered vehicles | Display ‘H’ number plate labels on both number plates. Add a second ‘H’ label to each number plate if your car has two or more hydrogen fuel containers.
|
