Part 1Preliminary

Part 1—Preliminary 1—Short title These regulations may be cited as the Motor Vehicles Regulations 2025. 3—Interpretation (1) In these regulations— Act means the Motor Vehicles Act 1959; approved hazard perception test has the same meaning as in section 79A of the Act; approved theoretical examination has the same meaning as in section 79 of the Act; articulated bus means a bus consisting of more than 1 rigid section with passenger access between the sections and the sections connected to one another so as to allow rotary movement between the sections; articulated motor vehicle means a motor vehicle consisting of a prime mover and a trailer that is pivoted to and superimposed on the prime mover (a semi‑trailer); B‑double means an articulated motor vehicle that has a further semi‑trailer superimposed on the semi‑trailer that forms part of the articulated motor vehicle; bike rack means a device that— (a) is designed or adapted for attachment to the rear of a motor vehicle (other than a motor bike or motor trike); and (b) is designed or adapted for the carriage of 1 or more pedal cycles, motor bikes, wheelchairs or other similar ride‑on vehicles (whether self‑propelled or propelled by the rider); bus means a motor vehicle— (a) designed for the principal purpose of carrying passengers; and (b) designed to carry more than 12 seated adult persons; Commonwealth Department means the Agency (within the meaning of the Public Service Act 1999 of the Commonwealth) that is responsible for assisting a Minister of the Commonwealth in the administration of the Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018 of the Commonwealth; converter dolly means a trailer with 1 axle group or single axle and a fifth wheel coupling designed to convert a semi‑trailer into a dog trailer; current registration details certificate, in relation to a motor vehicle, means— (a) the most recent registration details certificate issued on the Registrar's own initiative in relation to the motor vehicle; or (b) a registration details certificate issued on application by the owner of the motor vehicle since the registration of the vehicle was last renewed; dog trailer means a trailer (including a trailer consisting of a semi‑trailer and converter dolly) with— (a) 1 axle group or single axle at the front that is steered by connection to the towing vehicle by a drawbar; and (b) 1 axle group or single axle at the rear; electric personal transporter has the same meaning as in the Road Traffic (Miscellaneous) Regulations 2014; fifth wheel coupling means a device, other than the upper rotating element and the kingpin (which are parts of a semi‑trailer), used with a prime‑mover, semi‑trailer or a converter dolly to permit quick coupling and uncoupling and to provide for articulation; golf cart means a motor vehicle designed for the purpose of transporting a person or persons who are playing golf around a golf course; golf course includes— (a) land (including land used for car parking) used for the purposes of, or in conjunction with, a golf course; and (b) 2 golf courses that are adjacent to one another and are managed by the same club or authority; government‑registered motor vehicle means a motor vehicle in respect of which the Registrar has issued number plates of the class established by the Registrar under section 47A of the Act as Class 8—Government Vehicle Number Plates; high powered vehicle exemption means an exemption from section 81A(13) of the Act granted to the holder of a provisional licence under section 81A(14) of the Act; low loader means a gooseneck semi‑trailer with a loading deck no more than 1 metre above the ground; low loader dolly means a mass distributing device that— (a) is usually coupled between a prime mover and a low loader; and (b) consists of a gooseneck rigid frame; and (c) does not carry any load directly on itself; and (d) is equipped with 1 or more axles, a kingpin and a fifth wheel coupling; L plate—see regulation 64; Metropolitan Adelaide means Metropolitan Adelaide as defined by GRO Plan 639/93; moped means a 2 or 3 wheeled motor vehicle that— (a) is propelled by— (i) an internal combustion engine with a capacity not exceeding 50 millilitres; or (ii) a motor other than an internal combustion engine; and (b) is capable of a speed not exceeding 50 kilometres per hour; motor bike rider knowledge test means a test approved by the Registrar relating to basic motor bike knowledge; motor bike specific hazard awareness test means a test approved by the Registrar relating to motor bike specific hazards; motor trike means a motor vehicle with 3 wheels, but does not include— (a) a 2 wheeled motor vehicle with a sidecar attached to it and supported by a third wheel; or (b) a motor vehicle with 3 wheels that has a body type commonly known as, or similar to, a sedan, station wagon, coupe, convertible, roadster, utility, tray top or van; notifiable vehicle—see Part 6; power‑assisted pedal cycle means a power‑assisted pedal cycle within the meaning of vehicle standards determined under the Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018 of the Commonwealth, but does not include such a pedal cycle if it has an auxiliary propulsion motor comprised (in whole or in part) of an internal combustion engine; Note— power‑assisted pedal cycle is defined in the Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule – Definitions and Vehicle Categories) 2005 determined under the Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018 of the Commonwealth. pre‑learner's permit motor bike training course means the course of that name conducted by the Transport Department (which may consist of multiple components); pre‑licence motor bike training course means the course of that name conducted by the Transport Department (which may consist of multiple components); prescribed event means— (a) the annual Royal Adelaide Show; or (b) a country field day event; or (c) a boat or motor show; or (d) any other exhibition, fair or show; P plate—see regulation 65; registered number, in relation to a motor vehicle, means the number allotted to the motor vehicle under section 46 of the Act; registration details certificate means a certificate issued by the Registrar under regulation 41; restricted motor bike learner's permit has the same meaning as in section 75B of the Act; rigid means not articulated, other than in respect of an articulated bus; road train means a combination of vehicles, other than a B‑double, consisting of a motor vehicle towing at least 2 trailers (counting as 1 trailer a converter dolly supporting a semi‑trailer); South Australian Police Department means the administrative unit of the Public Service that is responsible for assisting a Minister in the administration of the Police Act 1998; special purpose vehicle has the same meaning as in the Motor Vehicles (National Heavy Vehicles Registration Fees) Regulations 2008; Transport Department means the administrative unit of the Public Service that is responsible for assisting a Minister in the administration of the Act; ultra high powered vehicle means a motor vehicle— (a) with a GVM not greater than 4.5 tonnes, but not including a bus or a motor bike or motor trike; and (b) with a power to weight ratio equal to or greater than 276 kilowatts per tonne; unladen mass has the same meaning as in the Road Traffic Act 1961; Vehicle on Road Test means a practical driving test consisting of a single test during which the person taking the test drives a motor vehicle on roads in the company of an authorised examiner who assesses the person's ability to drive safely and according to the rules required by law to be observed by drivers of motor vehicles. (2) In these regulations, recognised secondary education or training, recognised tertiary education or training and recognised vocational education and training have the same respective meanings as in Schedule 2 clause 3 of the Act. (3) In these regulations, engine number, vehicle identification number and vehicle identification plate have the same respective meanings as in Part 3A of the Road Traffic Act 1961. (4) For the purposes of these regulations— (a) the power to weight ratio— (i) of a motor bike or motor trike is to be calculated by dividing its engine power (in kilowatts) by the sum of its tare mass (in kilograms) and 90 kilograms, and multiplying the product of that division by 1 000; (ii) of a motor vehicle other than a motor bike or motor trike is to be calculated by dividing the vehicle's engine power (in kilowatts) by its tare mass (in kilograms), and multiplying the product of that division by 1 000; (b) the engine power of a motor vehicle is the engine power stated in the Road Vehicle Descriptor for that vehicle's make and model published by the Commonwealth Department; (c) the tare mass of a motor vehicle is— (i) the tare mass as stated in the Road Vehicle Descriptor for that vehicle's make and model published by the Commonwealth Department; or (ii) if the tare mass is not stated in the Road Vehicle Descriptor—the tare mass for that vehicle's make and model as stated in the manufacturer's specifications; or (iii) if the tare mass is not stated in the Road Vehicle Descriptor or the manufacturer's specifications—the tare mass for that vehicle as determined by the Registrar. 4—Meaning of high powered vehicle (1) The following classes of motor vehicles are prescribed as high powered vehicles for the purposes of the Act (see the definition of high powered vehicle in section 5(1) of the Act): (a) light vehicles manufactured before 1 January 2010 that have been modified to increase engine performance (other than vehicles that have been so modified by the manufacturer in the course of the manufacture of the vehicle); (b) light vehicles manufactured before 1 January 2010 that have engines with 8 or more cylinders; (c) light vehicles manufactured before 1 January 2010 that are turbocharged or supercharged (other than such light vehicles that have engines with less than 8 cylinders and are diesel powered); (d) light vehicles manufactured on or after 1 January 2010 that have been modified to vary engine performance (other than vehicles that have been so modified by the manufacturer in the course of the manufacture of the vehicle); (e) light vehicles (other than motor bikes and motor trikes) manufactured on or after 1 January 2010 that have a power to weight ratio greater than 130 kilowatts per tonne in tare mass. light vehicle means a motor vehicle that is not a heavy vehicle. 5—Meaning of motor vehicle (1) The following kinds of devices and vehicles are excluded from the definition of motor vehicle in section 5(1) of the Act: (a) personal mobility devices; (b) power‑assisted pedal cycles. personal mobility device has the same meaning as in the Road Traffic Act 1961. 6—Meaning of interstate non‑provisional licence, interstate provisional licence and unconditional licence (1) For the purposes of the definition of interstate non‑provisional licence in section 5(1) of the Act, the following types of licences are prescribed: (a) a licence to drive a motor vehicle (other than a permit licence or a provisional licence) issued under the Motor Vehicles Act 1949 of the Northern Territory; (b) a driver licence (other than a learner permit or probationary licence) issued under the Road Safety Act 1986 of Victoria; (c) a driver's licence (other than a learner's permit or provisional licence) issued under the Road Traffic (Authorisation to Drive) Act 2008 of Western Australia; (d) a driver licence (other than a learner licence or a provisional licence) issued under the Road Transport Act 2013 of New South Wales; (e) a driver licence (other than a learner licence or a provisional licence) issued under the Road Transport (Driver Licensing) Act 1999 of the Australian Capital Territory; (f) a driver licence (other than a learner licence or a provisional licence) issued under the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995 of Queensland; (g) a driver licence (other than a learner licence or a provisional licence) issued under the Vehicle and Traffic Act 1999 of Tasmania. (2) For the purposes of the definition of interstate provisional licence in section 5(1) of the Act, the following types of licences are prescribed: (a) a provisional licence issued under the Motor Vehicles Act 1949 of the Northern Territory; (b) a probationary licence issued under the Road Safety Act 1986 of Victoria; (c) a provisional licence issued under the Road Traffic (Authorisation to Drive) Act 2008 of Western Australia; (d) a provisional licence issued under the Road Transport Act 2013 of New South Wales; (e) a provisional licence issued under the Road Transport (Driver Licensing) Act 1999 of the Australian Capital Territory; (f) a provisional licence issued under the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995 of Queensland; (g) a provisional licence issued under the Vehicle and Traffic Act 1999 of Tasmania. (3) For the purposes of paragraph (b) of the definition of unconditional licence in section 5(1) of the Act, an interstate non‑provisional licence that is not subject to 1 or more conditions the same as or similar to prescribed conditions is prescribed. (4) A reference in this regulation to a licence or permit of a particular type issued by a specified State or Territory includes a reference to a licence or permit of a type issued by that State or Territory that is the same in substance as that licence or permit. 7—Modification of Act In accordance with section 5(6a) of the Act, the following modifications are prescribed: (a) section 75 of the Act is modified to provide that subsection (2) does not apply to a licence issued in electronic form; (b) section 75AAA of the Act is modified to provide (in addition to its present contents)— (i) that if any licence issued in the form of a physical document or item is subsequently also issued in electronic form, the fact that the licence has been issued in electronic form will not affect the term of the licence; and (ii) that the reference to the grant of a licence in subsection (2)(a) is a reference to the licence when issued in the form of a physical document or item; (c) section 75AAA(11)(a) of the Act is modified by inserting after "the licence" the following words: (including, if the licence has also been issued in electronic form, cancelling that electronic form of the licence) (d) section 75A of the Act is modified to provide that subsection (9)(a) does not apply in relation to a learner's permit issued in electronic form.