VSI 18 - Left hand drive vehicles and vehicles converted to right hand drive

Published: October 2021.
This page supersedes all previous copies of VSI 18.

VSI 18 - Left hand drive vehicles and vehicles converted to right hand drive (PDF) is the official guideline made under the Road Safety (Vehicles) Regulations 2021. The content on this page is reproduced from the official guideline. While every effort has been made to ensure consistency, the official guideline must be referenced for approved content.

The information on this page applies to vehicles with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of 4.5 tonne or less. For heavy vehicle requirements please refer to the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator website.

Registration requirements

Victoria’s Road Safety (Vehicles) Regulations 2021 require vehicles less than 30 years old to be right hand drive (RHD) in order to be eligible for full registration.

A vehicle is deemed to be RHD if the centre of the steering wheel is located on, or to the right of, the centre line of the vehicle. 

Left hand drive (LHD) vehicles with a date of manufacture 30 years or older are eligible for full registration if they comply with the standards for registration applicable at their date of manufacture and are fitted with headlights which are suitable for a right hand drive vehicle (i.e. dipped beam cut-off to the left). 

The Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) may choose to allow the conditional registration of left hand drive vehicles that are less than 30 years old on the basis of a business need, this may include:

• vehicles approved by VicRoads for registration as engineering evaluation vehicles in accordance with administrator of vehicle standards circular 0-4-8  published by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications and the Arts (DITRDCA).
• vehicles primarily built for a special purpose that have to be left hand drive or dual control to fulfil that purpose. 

Conditions may apply to the use of vehicles registered in this manner. 

LHD vehicles on the club permit scheme

LHD vehicles with a date of manufacture 25 years or older may be issued with a permit authorised by  an approved motoring club, under the club permit scheme (CPS).

This will allow members of vehicle clubs that are recognised by VicRoads and DTP to make limited non-commercial use of eligible vehicles on the road network.

To be eligible to access the CPS and to ensure vehicle safety and compliance items are addressed, these vehicles will require a vehicle assessment  signatory scheme (VASS) approval certificate and a blue modification plate/label issued by a signatory authorised under VASS.For LHD vehicles with a date of manufacture 25 years or older but less than 30 years, the blue modification plate/ label will be clearly marked  “Club Permit Use Only”.

The vehicle must be fitted with headlights which are suitable for a RHD vehicle (i.e. dipped beam cut-off to the left).

Only clubs which are members of an approved motoring association or federation are permitted to authorise applications for permits for left hand drive vehicles.

Permit applications will only be authorised once the vehicle has been inspected and issued with a VASS approval certificate.

Note: Refer to VSI 33 - Guidelines for modifications to vehicles operated under Victoria’s club permit scheme for further information on CPS requirements.

Requirements for LHD used import and personal Import vehicles

The requirements for the issue of a club permit or registration of imported LHD used Import or personal Import vehicles are summarised in the following table:

Note: Refer to VSI 3 - conditions for registration of imported vehicles in Victoria (PDF) for further information on imported vehicles. (Please note VSI 3 is a historical vehicle standard and is for reference only. The vehicle standards information page has notes on what requirements needs to be followed.)

Unregistered vehicle permit 

DTP may issue an unregistered vehicle permit to allow an unregistered vehicle to be used on a highway for a restricted period, subject to conditions.

In the case of a left hand drive vehicle the following conditions apply:

• The vehicle may only be driven  on the road network for the purpose of:
  • moving the vehicle to a place where it will be garaged  or stored
  • obtaining registration e.g. converting the vehicle to right hand drive, obtaining a certificate of roadworthiness etc 
  • driving the vehicle out of the state.

If the vehicle does not have all the required lamps, including dipping headlamps with dipped beam cut-off to the left suitable for right hand drive and/or has a tinted windscreen with less than 75% light transmission,  then it must not be used on the  road at night. 

An adult person capable of observing approaching traffic must be seated in the right hand front seat while the vehicle is being driven.

Vehicles converted to RHD

For vehicles other than those imported by a company operating under the registered automotive workshop scheme (RAWS), that are converted to right hand drive, a VASS approval certificate for the conversion must be provided before registration can be granted.

It's advised that the VASS signatory be contacted before any conversion work is commenced on the vehicle.

Vehicles imported by a company operating under RAWS that are converted to RHD and certified under the RAWS requirements do not require a VASS certificate before registration can be granted.

LHD conversion standards

The standards for LHD conversions can be found on the DITRDCA webite:

•  Vehicle standards bulletin 14 - national code of practice for light vehicle construction and modification
• Vehicle standards bulletin 4 – steering conversions for left hand drive vehicles.