RV MAIL
COMPLIANCE PLATE
CONCERN
I have a 1985 Viscount Aero Lite pop-top and
have found that it has not got a compliance
plate or ATM rating. As I do a lot of interstate
trips, I would like to have one on it.
How would I go about getting a new one for
it? It is about 700kg and 15ft. Can you help?
Robin
Via email
Hi Robin. As your caravan was manufactured
before 1989, it was not governed by the Motor
Vehicle Standards Act (MVSA). This caravan
was more than likely manufactured under the
Second Edition ADRs, which came into effect
on January 1 1969.
Under this set of ADRs, it’s my understanding
that a plate was not legally required and
therefore an ATM rating also may not have
been provided.
The Second Edition ADRs only applied to
vehicles (and trailers) manufactured from
January 1 1969 onwards and were selectively
applied by each state and territory.
For vehicles manufactured up until July 1989,
the application of the ADRs were the
responsibility of the state and territory
governments. After this time, the application
of the ADRs became the responsibility of the
federal government under the Motor Vehicle
Standards Act 1989 (much like how it
works today).
With this in mind, you probably have a couple
of options:
1. Approach your relevant state or territory
transport authority for what ADRs and
requirements applied at the time in that
jurisdiction and to see if there is a record
of the ATM rating in the registration
data. The relevant state or territory
transport authority would hopefully be
where the caravan was last registered (or
still is); and
2. Get a registered and suitably authorised
engineer to inspect the caravan and
determine whether they are able to issue a
plate with the appropriate ratings.
Finally, it’s worth noting that older vans have
sometimes been through a colourful history of
‘transformation’ and would rarely be ‘as
manufactured’, meaning they may have
elements of new compliance requirements
added over time and will not necessarily fit
exactly within the advice above. – Ed
/ 05