Version No. 233
Road Safety Act 1986
No. 127 of 1986
Version incorporating amendments as at
13 August 2025
TABLE OF PROVISIONS
Section Page
Part 1—Preliminary
1Purposes
2Commencement
3Definitions
3AAADefinition of driver base
3AACircumstances in which person is to be taken to be in charge of a motor vehicle
3ABCircumstances in which person is to be taken to be driving a motor vehicle
3ACCircumstances in which person is taken to be driving a trailer
3ADCircumstances in which person is to be taken to be disqualified from obtaining a driver licence or learner permit
3AECircumstances in which person is to be taken to be disqualified from driving a motor vehicle on a road in Victoria
3AFMeaning of display in relation to digital licence or permit
3BTransport Integration Act 2010
3CFilming Approval Act 2014
4Act to bind Crown
Part 2—Registration
Division 1—Secretary as registration authority
5AAFunctions of Secretary
5ABPowers of Secretary
5ACSale of registration number rights
5ACAPeriodical charge for registration number rights
5ACBReservation of registration number rights
5ADWhat are registration number rights?
5AENon-standard number plates and replacement non‑standard number plates
5AEAPeriodical charge for use of non‑standard number plates or replacement non‑standard number plates
Division 2—Registration
5Purposes of registration
6Application of Part
6ASecretary not to register vehicles based outside Victoria
7Offence if vehicle or trailer not registered
9Effecting registration, renewal or transfer
9AASuspension of motor vehicle or trailer registration
9ABCessation of suspension
9ACDirection not to grant or renew registration
9ADRenewal of registration
9AENon-transfer of registration
9AFTransfer of registration
9AGCancellation of registration—deregistered body corporate
9AObligations of registered operator
9BRegister does not provide evidence of title
10Power to require compliance with standards
12Appeal to Magistrates' Court
13Power to inspect motor vehicles and trailers
14Defective vehicles
15ASuspension or cancellation of vehicle tester authorisations
16Seizure of number plates
Division 2A—Cancellation of registration for offensive advertisements
16AADefinitions
16ABAdvertising breach notice
16ACRegistration cancellation notice
16ADWithdrawal of advertising breach notice
16AECancellation of registration
16AFNo transfer of registration
16AGNo refund of registration fees
16AHApplying for registration after cancellation
Division 3—Written-off vehicles
16APurposes of Division
16BDefinitions
16BAStatutory write-offs
16CWhen is a vehicle written off?
16DRegister of written-off vehicles
16EAppeals regarding written-off vehicle registration
16FProhibition on registration of vehicles that have written-off vehicle identifiers
Part 2A—Records of persons driving motor vehicles
16GSecretary may maintain records of persons driving non‑automated motor vehicles
Part 3—Licensing of drivers
17Purposes of licensing
17AObligations of road users
18Offence if driver not licensed
18AADriving in breach of licence condition
18ABRestrictions affecting learner drivers
18AIssue of driver licence or learner permit to holder of licence or permit issued outside Victoria
18BSecretary may retain and check validity of physical licence or permit documents
18BASecretary may copy and check validity of digital licence or permit document
18CSecretary may confiscate and destroy physical licence or permit document believed to be false, etc.
19Driver licences
19ADirection not to grant or renew licence
19BRenewal of licence or permit
20Variation of driver licences
21Probationary driver licences
21AFee for driver licence
22Learner permits
23Driver licence document and learner permit document to remain property of State of Victoria