HVIA is working with the Department of Transport and Planning to clarify VIN marking policy in Victoria.
Following previous efforts to clarify the state’s VIN marking policy, HVIA held a productive meeting with Department staff at their offices in Ringwood, Victoria, on Friday, August 7.
Staff explained that while they were still investigating the issue, it appeared that a 2024 policy intended to apply to low-volume light vehicles under the Specialist and Enthusiast Vehicles (SEVS) scheme had been, in a small number of cases, mistakenly applied to heavy trailers.
That policy was communicated to industry stakeholders and VASS engineers via newsletter in 2024, but for reasons still unclear, had been applied to some heavy trailers at the point of registration in 2026.
In response to the confusion, the Department has committed to clarifying its business rules and policies around registration processes, including heavy trailers, and will work with VicRoads and the Department’s vehicle safety operational teams to inform front-line staff of the correct procedures.
HVIA understands that those changes will ensure trailers complying with the requirements of ADR 61/03 (Vehicle Marking) will continue to be able to be registered in Victoria, without any modifications to their identification markings.
While no firm timing on the roll-out of the rectification actions was set, HVIA understands that the Department is aiming for conclusion by the end of August.
The Department has also offered a single point of contact for all matters relating to the issue, which is Sacha Abeysekera,Acting Principal Operational Policy Manager. Sacha can be reached at sacha.abeysekera@transport.vic.gov.au.
HVIA members and their customers experiencing difficulty registering trailers in Victoria are encouraged to advise Sacha, who will assist in the rectification.
Members can also reach out to Adam Ritzinger, HVIA’s Chief Technical Officer, at any time, via a.ritzinger@hvia.asn.au.