Name
1 Name
This instrument is the Road Vehicle Standards (Classes of Vehicles that are Road Vehicles) Determination 2021.
© 2026 Zoe. All rights reserved.
Zoe is a legal information platform. Always consult the Federal Register of Legislation for authoritative text.
Commonwealth legislation
This instrument declares specific types of motor vehicles to be “road vehicles” for the purposes of the Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018 (it lists vehicle classes such as airport service vehicles, concrete pumpers, dual‑purpose motorcycles, food/catering vans, mobile cranes and campervans). That classification matters for manufacturers, importers, owners and regulators because it determines which vehicles are subject to the Act’s regulatory requirements and processes.
Want the full deep dive?
Zoe can write the in-depth analysis on top of the summary above: how it works, who it affects and what each part actually does.
Direct links to the current provisions in Road Vehicle Standards (Classes of Vehicles that are Road Vehicles) Determination 2021.
This instrument is the Road Vehicle Standards (Classes of Vehicles that are Road Vehicles) Determination 2021.
This instrument is made under paragraph 6(5)(a) of the Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018.
This instrument sets out classes of vehicles that are road vehicles for the purposes of the Act.
Note: A number of expressions used in this instrument are defined in the Act, including:
(a) motor vehicle; and
(b) public road.
(1) In this instrument:
Act means the Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018.
airport service vehicle means a motor vehicle that is:
(a) designed to service an aircraft within an airport; and
(b) built on a truck chassis; and
(c) designed to be capable of operating on a public road.
campervan or motorhome means a motor vehicle that is:
(a) designed for use in transport on a public road; and
(b) intended to provide temporary living accommodation for one or more individuals.
concrete pumper means a motor vehicle, other than a forklift, that:
(a) is designed to pump concrete; and
(b) is designed to travel on rubber tyres; and
(c) is capable of travelling at a reasonable speed by road without obstructing the flow of traffic; and
(d) has a cabin that allows the operator to drive the vehicle between sites; and
(e) has one or more road-going features.
dual-purpose motorcycle means a two-wheeled vehicle or three-wheeled vehicle that:
(a) is designed for use on cross-country or unpaved terrain; and
(b) has one or more road-going features.
food or catering van means a motor vehicle that:
(a) is designed and manufactured for the preparation or vending of food; or
(b) has been modified to be used for that purpose.
Note: Example: Mobile food vans, ice-cream vans and mobile snack trucks are examples of food or catering vans.
mobile crane means a motor vehicle, other than a forklift or rough terrain crane, that:
(a) is designed to lift a load; and
(b) is designed to travel on rubber tyres; and
(c) is capable of travelling at a reasonable speed by road without obstructing the flow of traffic; and
(d) has a cabin that allows the operator to drive the vehicle between sites; and
(e) has one or more road-going features.
rough terrain crane means a motor vehicle that:
(a) is designed to lift a load; and
(b) is designed for off-road use; and
(c) is designed to travel on rubber tyres; and
(d) has a cabin that allows the operator to drive the vehicle on site; and
(e) has a boom projecting more than 5.5 metres in front of a transverse vertical plane through the centre of the steering wheel.
three‑wheeled vehicle means a vehicle in one of the following vehicle categories:
(a) Moped ‑ 3 wheels (LB);
(b) Motor cycle and side‑car (LD);
(c) Motor tricycle (LE).
two‑wheeled vehicle means a vehicle in one of the following vehicle categories:
(a) Moped ‑ 2 wheels (LA);
(b) Motor cycle (LC).
vehicle category has the same meaning as in the Road Vehicle Standards Rules 2019.
(2) Each of the following is a road-going feature: (a) direction indicators; (b) brake lights; (c) rear vision mirrors; (d) provision for mounting a registration plate; (e) seatbelts; (f) a fully enclosed cabin with doors.
The following classes of vehicles are road vehicles: (a) airport service vehicles; (b) concrete pumpers; (c) dual-purpose motorcycles; (d) food or catering vans; (e) mobile cranes; (f) vehicles that are campervans or motorhomes.
Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
This instrument is the Road Vehicle Standards (Classes of Vehicles that are Road Vehicles) Determination 2021.
This instrument is made under paragraph 6(5)(a) of the Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018.
This instrument sets out classes of vehicles that are road vehicles for the purposes of the Act.
Note: A number of expressions used in this instrument are defined in the Act, including:
(a) motor vehicle; and
(b) public road.
(1) In this instrument:
Act means the Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018.
airport service vehicle means a motor vehicle that is:
(a) designed to service an aircraft within an airport; and
(b) built on a truck chassis; and
(c) designed to be capable of operating on a public road.
campervan or motorhome means a motor vehicle that is:
(a) designed for use in transport on a public road; and
(b) intended to provide temporary living accommodation for one or more individuals.
concrete pumper means a motor vehicle, other than a forklift, that:
(a) is designed to pump concrete; and
(b) is designed to travel on rubber tyres; and
(c) is capable of travelling at a reasonable speed by road without obstructing the flow of traffic; and
(d) has a cabin that allows the operator to drive the vehicle between sites; and
(e) has one or more road-going features.
dual-purpose motorcycle means a two-wheeled vehicle or three-wheeled vehicle that:
(a) is designed for use on cross-country or unpaved terrain; and
(b) has one or more road-going features.
food or catering van means a motor vehicle that:
(a) is designed and manufactured for the preparation or vending of food; or
(b) has been modified to be used for that purpose.
Note: Example: Mobile food vans, ice-cream vans and mobile snack trucks are examples of food or catering vans.
mobile crane means a motor vehicle, other than a forklift or rough terrain crane, that:
(a) is designed to lift a load; and
(b) is designed to travel on rubber tyres; and
(c) is capable of travelling at a reasonable speed by road without obstructing the flow of traffic; and
(d) has a cabin that allows the operator to drive the vehicle between sites; and
(e) has one or more road-going features.
rough terrain crane means a motor vehicle that:
(a) is designed to lift a load; and
(b) is designed for off-road use; and
(c) is designed to travel on rubber tyres; and
(d) has a cabin that allows the operator to drive the vehicle on site; and
(e) has a boom projecting more than 5.5 metres in front of a transverse vertical plane through the centre of the steering wheel.
three‑wheeled vehicle means a vehicle in one of the following vehicle categories:
(a) Moped ‑ 3 wheels (LB);
(b) Motor cycle and side‑car (LD);
(c) Motor tricycle (LE).
two‑wheeled vehicle means a vehicle in one of the following vehicle categories:
(a) Moped ‑ 2 wheels (LA);
(b) Motor cycle (LC).
vehicle category has the same meaning as in the Road Vehicle Standards Rules 2019.
(2) Each of the following is a road-going feature: (a) direction indicators; (b) brake lights; (c) rear vision mirrors; (d) provision for mounting a registration plate; (e) seatbelts; (f) a fully enclosed cabin with doors.
The following classes of vehicles are road vehicles: (a) airport service vehicles; (b) concrete pumpers; (c) dual-purpose motorcycles; (d) food or catering vans; (e) mobile cranes; (f) vehicles that are campervans or motorhomes.