{"id":"F2006L02735","name":"Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 18/00 – Instrumentation) 2006","slug":"vehicle-standard-australian-design-rule-18-00-instrumentation-2006","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":59990,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006L02735-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 18/00 – Instrumentation) 2006","content":"![Commonwealth Coat of Arms of Australia](image.001.png)\n\nVehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 18/00 – Instrumentation) 2006\n\nCompilation: 1 (up to and including Amendment 1)\n\nCompilation Date: 13/12/2006\n\nCompiled by: Vehicle Safety Standards, Department of Transport and Regional Services.\n\nCONTENTS\n\n18.0. legislative provisions.............................................3\n\nPurpose and SCOPE.....................................................3\n\nAPPLICABILITY......................................................3\n\n18.1. DEFINITIONS..................................................4\n\n18.2. \\`VISUAL INDICATORS' FOR MA VEHICLES ONLY..................5\n\n18.3. LOCATION OF 'VISUAL INDICATORS' FOR MA VEHICLES ONLY.....5\n\n18.4. VISIBILITY OF 'VISUAL INDICATORS' FOR MA VEHICLES ONLY....6\n\n18.5. SPEEDOMETERS AND ODOMETERS (ALL VEHICLES).............7\n\nNOTES ..............................................................8\n\n  \n\n1.  legislative provisions\n    1.  NAME OF STANDARD\n        1.  This Standard is the Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 18/00 – Instrumentation) 2006.\n        2.  This Standard may also be cited as Australian Design Rule 18/00 — Instrumentation.\n    2.  COMMENCEMENT\n        1.  This Standard commences on the day after it is registered.\n    3.  REPEAL\n        1.  This Standard repeals each vehicle standard with the name Australian Design Rule 18/00 — Instrumentation that is:\n\n(a) made under section 7 of the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989; and\n\n(b) in force at the commencement of this Standard.\n\n1.  This Standard also repeals each instrument made under section 7 of the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 that creates a vehicle standard with the name Australian Design Rule 18/00 — Instrumentation, if there are no other vehicle standards created by that instrument, or amendments to vehicle standards made by that instrument, that are still in force at the commencement of this Standard.\n\nPurpose and SCOPE\n\nThis Australian Design Rule (ADR) is part of the Australian motor vehicle standard system and is a national standard for the purposes of the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989.\n\nThe function of this Australian Design Rule is to specify requirements for the provision and location of certain \\`Visual Indicators'. It also specifies requirements for speedometers and odometers.\n\nAPPLICABILITY\n\nThis ADR applies to the design and construction of vehicles as set out in the table hereunder. The Package 17 issue of /00 updates Clause 18.4.12 to the new ASTM Standard.\n\n  \n\n| Vehicle Category                              | ADR Category Code [*] | UNECE Category Code * | Manufactured on or After | Acceptable Prior Rules |\n| --------------------------------------------- | --------------------- | --------------------- | ------------------------ | ---------------------- |\n| Moped 2 wheels                                | LA                    | L1                    | Not Applicable           |                        |\n| Moped 3 wheels                                | LB                    | L2                    | Not Applicable           |                        |\n| Motor cycle                                   | LC                    | L3                    | 1 July 1988              | Nil                    |\n| Motor cycle and sidecar                       | LD                    | L4                    | 1 July 1988              | Nil                    |\n| Motor tricycle                                | LE                    | L5                    | 1 March 1991             | Nil                    |\n| Passenger car                                 | MA                    | M1                    | 1 July 1988              | Nil                    |\n| Forward-control passenger vehicle             | MB                    | M1                    | 1 July 1988              | Nil                    |\n| Off-road passenger vehicle                    | MC                    | M1                    | 1 July 1988              | Nil                    |\n| Light omnibus                                 | MD                    | M2                    |                          |                        |\n| up to 3.5 tonnes ‘GVM’ and up to 12 seats     | MD1                   |                       | 1 July 1988              | Nil                    |\n| up to 3.5 tonnes ‘GVM’ and more than 12 seats | MD2                   |                       | 1 July 1988              | Nil                    |\n| over 3.5 tonnes and up to 4.5 tonnes ‘GVM’    | MD3                   |                       | 1 July 1988              | Nil                    |\n| over 4.5 tonnes and up to 5 tonnes ‘GVM’      | MD4                   |                       | 1 July 1988              | Nil                    |\n| Heavy omnibus                                 | ME                    | M3                    | 1 July 1988              | Nil                    |\n| Light goods vehicle                           | NA                    | N1                    | 1 July 1988              | Nil                    |\n| Medium goods vehicle                          | NB                    | N2                    |                          |                        |\n| over 3.5 tonnes up to 4.5 tonnes ‘GVM’        | NB1                   |                       | 1 July 1988              | Nil                    |\n| over 4.5 tonnes up to 12 tonnes ‘GVM’         | NB2                   |                       | 1 July 1988              | Nil                    |\n| Heavy goods vehicle                           | NC                    | N3                    | 1 July 1988              | Nil                    |\n| Very light trailer                            | TA                    | O1                    | Not Applicable           |                        |\n| Light trailer                                 | TB                    | O2                    | Not Applicable           |                        |\n| Medium trailer                                | TC                    | O3                    | Not Applicable           |                        |\n| Heavy trailer                                 | TD                    | O4                    | Not Applicable           |                        |\n\n1.  DEFINITIONS\n    1.  Refer to Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule Definitions and Vehicle Categories) 2005.\n    2.  'Visual Indicator' - that part of an instrument or device intended to display information for the driver and includes any specified label\n    3.  'Totally Visible' - means that the sum of the view from each of the 2 eyes includes all the ‘Visual Indicators'.\n\n  \n\n1.  \\`VISUAL INDICATORS' FOR MA VEHICLES ONLY\n    1.  The display of information presented by the following 'Visual Indicators', if fitted. shall be subject to control under this Rule:\n\nGroup I\n\n(a) Speedometer\n\n(b) Direction indicator \"tell-tale\" lamp or lamps\n\n(c) High beam indicator\n\nGroup II\n\n(d) Tachometer\n\n(e) Odometer\n\n(f) Service brake failure indicator lamp\n\n(g) Parking brake indicator lamp\n\n(h) Stop lamp failure indicator\n\n(i) Oil temperature indictor\n\n(j) Pressure indicator\n\n(k) Water temperature indicator\n\n(l) Battery charge failure indicator\n\n(m) Fuel level indicator.\n\n1.  In cases where more than one 'Visual Indicator' are provided for any one of the functions covered by (h) to (m) above, and are not located as specified in Clause 18.3.2 a common indicator which could be either visual or an audible signal may be used to draw attention to the need to refer to a group of indicators located elsewhere.\n    1.  In such cases the common indicator, if visual, shall be totally located within the area specified in Clause 18.3.2.\n\n1.  LOCATION OF 'VISUAL INDICATORS' FOR MA VEHICLES ONLY\n    1.  All 'Visual Indicators' specified as Group I in Clause 18.2 shall be totally located between 2 vertical planes inclined at 20o left and 20o right of the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and passing through the foremost points of the left and right '95th Percentile Eye Ellipses' respectively. Such indicators shall be totally located above a plane inclined downwards at 35o from the horizontal and including a horizontal transverse line through the foremost points of each of the '95th Percentile Eye Ellipses' and below a plane tangential to the bottom of the '95th Percentile Eye Ellipses' which includes a line at ground level transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle 11 m forward of the rearmost eye ellipse point.\n    2.  All 'Visual Indicators' specified as Group II in Chase 18.2 shall be totally located between 2 vertical planes inclined at 40o' left and 25o right of the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and passing through the foremost points of the left and right '95th Percentile Eye Ellipses' respectively. Such indicators shall be totally located above a plane inclined downwards at 35o from the horizontal and including a horizontal transverse line through the foremost points of each of the '95th Percentile Eye Ellipses' and below a plane tangential to the bottom of the '95th Percentile Eye Ellipses' which includes a line at ground level, transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle 11 m forward of the rearmost eye ellipse point'.\n2.  VISIBILITY OF 'VISUAL INDICATORS' FOR MA VEHICLES ONLY\n    1.  The requirements of Clauses 18.4.1.1 and 18.4.1.2 shall be met when:\n\n(a) the steering wheel is in the straight ahead position;\n\n(b) the direction indicator lever is in the “Neutral” Position;\n\n(c) in the case of column change automatic transmission vehicles the gear selector is in the “Drive\" position;\n\n(d) in the case of column change manual transmission vehicles with 2 or 3 forward gear ratios, the gear selector is in \"Top” gear position;\n\n(e) in the case of column change manual transmission vehicles with more than 3 forward gear ratios, the gear selector is in 'Top\" gear position or the next lower gear position whichever is the more critical in terms of obscuration of 'Visual Indicators’'.\n\n1.  All 'Visual Indicators' other than indicator lamps shall be 'Totally visible' when viewed from each pair of eye positions located by the '95th Percentile Eye Ellipses' except that\n    1.  in the case of Group I ‘Visual Indicators', the portion of the steering wheel rim including its supporting arms that is below a plane tangential to the top of the '95th Percentile Eye Ellipses' and the underside of the highest rim cross section cut normal to the rim, shall not constitute an obstruction;\n    2.  in the case of Group II 'Visual Indicators' the steering wheel rim and its supporting arms and attachments thereto shall not constitute obstructions.\n2.  Any object which represents an obstruction to any single eye position within the terms of Clause 18.4.1.1 shall have no surfaces, in the line of sight to the ‘Visual Indicator', which present a metal finish with a 'Specular Gloss' exceeding 40 units when measured by the 20 degree geometry method of ASTM Standard D523 62T \"Specular Gloss\" June 1962 or ASTM Standard D523-85T-\"Specular Gloss\", September 1985.\n3.  All indicator lamp ‘Visual Indicators' shall either be 'Totally Visible', or an area of not less than 18 square millimetres with dimensions such that a 2 mm diameter circle is totally enclosed within the area, shall be 'Totally Visible’ when viewed from each single eye position located by the '95th Percentile Eye Ellipses'. The obstruction exemptions provided for in Clause 18.4.1.1 shall also be applicable to this Clause.\n4.  In the case of a motor vehicle provided with a steering wheel capable of axial and vertical adjustments, it shall be demonstrated that for any eye position located by the '95th Percentile Eye Ellipses', there is at least one steering wheel position where the requirements of Clauses 18.4.1.1 to 18.4.1.3 are complied with.\n\n1.  The vehicle speed indicating element shall be of such colour or contrast as to differentiate it from the viewed background.\n2.  All 'Visual Indicators’ other than indicator lamps shall be provided with variable intensity when illuminated.\n\nNote: A switch which provides a means of varying the illumination to ‘Visual Indicators', but is not integral with the on/off control for the illumination of ‘Visual Indicators' is acceptable as a means of providing variable intensity illumination to 'Visual Indicators'. It shall be acceptable for the intensity control to have not less than 2 levels of adjustment other than an \"off\" position provided that each position results in a substantially different level of illumination to 'Visual Indicators'.\n\n1.  SPEEDOMETERS AND ODOMETERS (ALL VEHICLES)\n    1.  Speedometers\n        1.  Unless otherwise 'Approved', every vehicle shall be fitted with a speedometer which shall:\n            1.  indicate vehicle speed only in kilometres per hour and\n            2.  indicate the actual vehicle speed, for all speeds above 40 km/h, to an accuracy of ± 10 percent\n        2.  The speedometer shall be installed so that its indication is readily visible to the driver when seated in the normal driving position.\n    2.  Odometers\n        1.  Every vehicle other than L-group vehicles shall be fitted with an odometer which shall:\n            1.  indicate distance travelled in one kilometre units (or less) from 1 to 999,999 kilometres; and\n            2.  indicate the actual distance travelled by the vehicle to an accuracy of 4 per cent.\n        2.  Every vehicle of category LC and LD shall be fitted with an odometer which shall:\n            1.  indicate distance travelled in one kilometre units from I to 99,999 kilometres and\n            2.  indicate the actual distance travelled by the vehicle to an accuracy of ± 4 percent\n\nNOTES\n\nThis compilation of Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 18/00 - Instrumentation) 2006 includes all the instruments set out in the Table of Instruments. The Table of Amendments provides a history of clauses that have been amended, inserted or deleted.\n\nTable of Instruments\n\n| Name of Instrument                                                                 | Registration Date | Commencement Date |\n| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------- | ----------------- |\n| Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 18/00 - Instrumentation) 2006             | 18/08/2006        | 19/08/2006        |\n| Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 18/00 - Instrumentation) 2006 Amendment 1 | 13/12/2006        | 14/12/2006        |\n\nTable of Amendments\n\n| Clause affected | How affected | Amending instrument                                                                |\n| --------------- | ------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| 18.2.1(c)       | am           | Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 18/00 - Instrumentation) 2006 Amendment 1 |\n| 18.2.2          | am           | Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 18/00 - Instrumentation) 2006 Amendment 1 |\n| 18.3.2          | am           | Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 18/00 - Instrumentation) 2006 Amendment 1 |\n| 18.4.1.2        | am           | Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 18/00 - Instrumentation) 2006 Amendment 1 |\n| 18.5.2.1.1      | am           | Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 18/00 - Instrumentation) 2006 Amendment 1 |\n\nad = added or inserted\n\nam = amended\n\ndel = deleted or removed\n\nrr = removed and replaced\n\n = clause renumbered. This takes the format of old no.  new no.\n\n---\n\n[\\[\\*\\]](#_ftnref1) The category code may also be in the format L1, LA etc.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains focused on its original purpose of standardising vehicle instrumentation and dashboard visibility. The 2006 compilation and Amendment 1 represent technical updates (updating ASTM standards and minor clause amendments) rather than scope expansion. The core requirements for speedometers, odometers and visual indicator placement have remained consistent since the original 1988 applicability dates."},"complexity_factors":["Extensive use of technical engineering terminology ('95th Percentile Eye Ellipses', 'Specular Gloss', 'longitudinal axis') requiring specialised knowledge to interpret","Precise geometric positioning requirements using multiple angled planes (20°, 35°, 40°) and reference points that require technical diagrams to fully understand","Nested conditional logic for different vehicle categories (MA vehicles get full visual indicator rules; others get speedo/odometer only; L-group vehicles exempt from odometers)","Cross-reference to external standard (ASTM D523 for gloss measurement) and to ADR Definitions and Vehicle Categories 2005 for key terms","Multiple gear position scenarios for testing visibility (column change automatic vs manual with 2-3 gears vs manual with 4+ gears)","Dual measurement systems — metric units for display (km/h, km) but imperial reference points in testing methodology (11m forward, 2mm diameter circle)"],"plain_english_summary":"This law sets minimum instrument and dashboard display standards for vehicles sold in Australia—requiring visible, accurate speedometers/odometers and clearly placed warning and gauge indicators, tested for driver sightlines (using 95th Percentile Eye Ellipses), dimmable lighting, and unobstructed views. \n\nIt applies to manufacturers and importers of cars, trucks, buses and motorcycles (from certain 1988+ build dates) to improve driver awareness and road safety."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This instrument consolidates and repeals prior ADR 18/00 instruments (see Clause 1.3) and maintains the same subject-matter—instrumentation fitment, location/visibility and measurement accuracy—for the listed vehicle categories. Amendments update technical references and clause details (see Table of Amendments) but do not materially expand the categories or introduce new regulatory domains."},"complexity_factors":["Geometric placement requirements using angular limits and sight-lines tied to '95th Percentile Eye Ellipses' (Clauses 18.3.1–18.3.2).","'Totally Visible' concept and multiple eye‑position visibility tests (Definitions 18.1.2–18.1.3; Clause 18.4.1).","Two indicator groups with different location and obstruction exemptions (Clause 18.2; Clause 18.3).","Visibility rules tied to specific vehicle control positions (steering wheel, gear selector, indicator lever) and adjustable steering-wheel demonstrations (Clause 18.4.1.1–18.4.4).","Material/finish constraint referencing ASTM spec for specular gloss (Clause 18.4.2).","Indicator lamp minimum visible area and variable illumination requirements, with permitted external intensity controls (Clauses 18.4.3–18.4.5).","Quantitative performance tolerances for speedometers (±10% above 40 km/h) and odometers (±4%) and mandatory use of kilometres (Clause 18.5).","Cross-references to ADR definitions and vehicle‑category table, creating interplay between this ADR and other instruments (Clause 18.1.1; Applicability table).","Provision for 'Approved' exceptions and documented amendments, requiring regulator discretion and historical tracking (Clause 18.5.1.1; Table of Amendments).","Multiple vehicle categories and manufacture-date cutoffs add administrative complexity for applicability and compliance testing (Applicability table)."],"plain_english_summary":"This Australian Design Rule prescribes which driver instruments must be fitted, where they must be located and visible from the driver’s seated eye positions, and accuracy/units for speedometers and odometers. It applies to the listed ADR vehicle categories and therefore affects vehicle manufacturers and importers, who must design, illuminate and test instrument panels to meet the geometric, visibility and measurement specifications (Clauses 18.2–18.5). Compliance creates design, testing and certification costs and gives regulators a technical basis for approval or rejection of designs."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/vehicle-standard-australian-design-rule-18-00-instrumentation-2006","history":"/api/acts/vehicle-standard-australian-design-rule-18-00-instrumentation-2006/history","analysis":"/api/acts/vehicle-standard-australian-design-rule-18-00-instrumentation-2006/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/vehicle-standard-australian-design-rule-18-00-instrumentation-2006/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/vehicle-standard-australian-design-rule-18-00-instrumentation-2006/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/vehicle-standard-australian-design-rule-18-00-instrumentation-2006/documents"}}