Number plate road rules

You will get number plates when you register your vehicle with VicRoads.

Vehicles registered in Victoria must have number plates that are issued by VicRoads.

Displaying number plates

• Motorcycles and trailers only need one number plate, attached to the back which should be at least 30 centimetres (cm) off the ground.
• Agricultural machines are required to display a number plate on the front and back of the vehicle. If it is not practicable to display a number plate on the front, only one number plate is required on the back of the vehicle.
• All other vehicles registered in Victoria are required to display a number plate on the front and back of the vehicle.
• Number plates on vehicles should be affixed:
  • in an upright position parallel to the vehicle's axles,
  • be no more than 1.3 meters off the ground,
  • be clean and clear (i.e. no covers, tints or other reflective surfaces that would interfere with plate reading devices),
  • and clearly visible from a distance of 20 metres.
• If the design of a vehicle makes it difficult to observe the above requirements, the number plates should be affixed in a way where the requirements are met as closely as possible. 

Your rear number plate must still be visible if you are using a bicycle rack or carrier.

If you don’t follow these rules, you may be fined.

Exempt trailers

If your trailer is exempt from registration, you can:

• buy an exempt trailer plate
• paint, or otherwise display the registration number of the towing vehicle on the back of the trailer, as long as it can be easily seen from 20 metres away.

National heavy vehicle number plates

You will get a national heavy vehicle number plate when you register a heavy vehicle. 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 powered (including conventional hybrids and plug-in hybrids) and hydrogen-powered vehicles are required to display a number plate label.

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.