KEY TAKEAWAYS
The main takeaway from this article is, if you follow the two most specific numberplate mounting and lighting requirements detailed below, then your 4WD, caravan or camper trailer’ s numberplates will likely meet registration requirements Australia-wide:
1. Mount your numberplates in an upright position, parallel with the axles, between 1300mm and 300mm above the ground, and visible within an arc of 45 degrees from 20m away; and
2. Fully illuminate the rear numberplate with a colourless numberplate light to maintain the visibility requirements above at night but without projecting light rearward.
Be sure to keep your number plates clean and, if you’ re using numberplate covers, ensure they’ re clear, untinted and flat, with no reflective or other characteristics that affect visibility.
FEDERAL LEGISLATION
At the federal level, the Australian Design Rules sets the standard in terms of numperplate positioning and visibility requirements.
‘ Vehicle Standard( Australian Design Rule 61 / 03 – Vehicle Marking) 2020’ covers mounting requirements for all vehicle types under clause 9, stating that no part of the rear registration plate can be more than 1300mm above the ground. For motor vehicles requiring a front registration plate, the same 1300mm maximum height applies.
For rear number plates on L-Group vehicles( motorcycles) and TA category trailers( single-axle with a GTM not exceeding 750kg) with an overall width that does not exceed 980mm, the centre of each registration plate must also be not less than 300mm from the ground.
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