Road Vehicle Standards (Classes of Vehicles that are not Road Vehicles) Determination 2021

Road Vehicle Standards (Classes of Vehicles that are not Road Vehicles) Determination 2021

made under paragraph 6(5)(b) of the

Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018

Compilation No. 1

Compilation date: 24 December 2025

Includes amendments: F2025L01649

About this compilation

This compilation

This is a compilation of the Road Vehicle Standards (Classes of Vehicles that are not Road Vehicles) Determination 2021 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 24 December 2025 (the compilation date).

The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.

Uncommenced amendments

The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Register (www.legislation.gov.au).

Application, saving and transitional provisions

If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.

Editorial changes

For more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes.

Presentational changes

The Legislation Act 2003 provides for First Parliamentary Counsel to make presentational changes to a compilation. Presentational changes are applied to give a more consistent look and feel to legislation published on the Register, and enable the user to more easily navigate those documents.

Modifications

If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. Any modifications affecting the law are accessible on the Register.

Self‑repealing provisions

If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.

Contents

1 Name

3 Authority

4 Purpose of this instrument

5 Definitions

6 Classes of vehicles that are not road vehicles

Endnotes

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history

1  Name

  This instrument is the Road Vehicle Standards (Classes of Vehicles that are not Road Vehicles) Determination 2021.

3  Authority

  This instrument is made under paragraph 6(5)(b) of the Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018.

4  Purpose of this instrument

  This instrument sets out classes of vehicles that are not road vehicles for the purposes of the Act.

5  Definitions

 (1) In this instrument:

Act means the Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018.

agricultural machine means a vehicle with its own automotive power, built to perform agricultural tasks such as cultivating land, growing and harvesting crops, or rearing livestock.

approach angle means the smallest angle, in a side view, between level ground and a straight line tangent to the front tyre and touching the front of the vehicle (see Figure 1).

breakover angle means the supplement of the largest angle, in a side view, that can be formed by two lines tangent to the front and rear tyres and intersecting at a point on the underside of the vehicle (see Figure 1).

departure angle means the smallest angle, in a side view, between level ground and a straight line tangent to the rear tyre and touching the rear of the vehicle (see Figure 1).

golf cart means a motorised vehicle that:

 (a) is designed to transport people and equipment around a golf course; and

 (b) is designed to travel on at least four high‑flotation tyres; and

 (c) has side‑by‑side seating; and

 (d) is not capable of exceeding 25 km/h on level ground; and

 (e) has an unladen mass of no more than 350 kg; and

 (f) has no road‑going features.

high‑flotation tyre means a tyre with a large sidewall that is designed to be operated at low inflation pressure in order to maximise the contact patch and prevent the vehicle from sinking into soft terrain such as soil or mud.

light utility vehicle means a motorised off‑road vehicle that:

 (a) is designed to travel on at least four high‑flotation tyres; and

 (b) has side‑by‑side seating; and

 (c) is propelled solely by:

 (i) one or more electric motors; or

 (ii) an internal combustion engine that has a cylinder capacity not exceeding 1,500 cm3; and

 (d) has a steering wheel; and

 (e) has a tray back designed for carrying loads; and

 (f) has an unladen mass of no more than 800 kg; and

 (g) has no road‑going features.

miniature motorbike (also known as a mini bike or pocket bike) means a vehicle that resembles a motorcycle but is scaled down to approximately half the size, and that:

 (a) is designed to carry one person only; and

 (b) has a seat height no greater than 600 mm; and

 (c) has major dimensions that are scaled down in proportion to the seat height.

motorised mobility device means a wheeled chair that:

 (a) is designed to be used by one person only; and

 (b) is designed to assist a person who is unable to walk, or has difficulty walking; and

 (c) is propelled by an electric motor; and

 (d) has a steering control; and

 (e) has a maximum governed speed of 10 km/h; and

 (f) has a minimum of three wheels.

motorised recreational device means a wheeled device that:

 (a) is built to transport a person; and

 (b) is ordinarily used for recreation or play; and

 (c) is assisted by a motor or motors with a combined maximum power output not exceeding 200 watts.

Example: Motor‑assisted rollerblades, roller skates, skateboards and unicycles, and other similar motor‑assisted wheeled devices, are examples of motorised recreational devices.

off‑road vehicle means a vehicle that has at least four of the following five characteristics when the vehicle is at unladen mass on level ground, with the front wheels in the straight ahead position and the tyres inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended pressure:

 (a) approach angle of 28 degrees or more;

 (b) breakover angle of 14 degrees or more;

 (c) departure angle of 20 degrees or more;

 (d) running clearance of 200 mm or more;

 (e) distance from the ground to the lowest point of any suspension or drivetrain component of 175 mm or more.

Figure 1: Approach, breakover and departure angles

personal mobility device means a device that:

 (a) is designed to carry one person only; and

 (b) has one or more wheels; and

 (c) is propelled by an electric motor; and

 (d) has an effective stopping system, including one or more of the following:

 (i) brakes;

 (ii) gears;

 (iii) motor control; and

 (e) is not capable of exceeding 25 km/h on level ground when propelled by motor; and

 (f) has a footprint of no more than 1250 mm by 700 mm; and

 (g) is not more than 1350 mm in height; and

 (h) has an unladen mass of 60 kg or less; and

 (i) is not equipped with:

 (i) any object or fitting not technically essential to the device that protrudes from any part of the device in a manner that likely increases the risk of bodily injury to any person; or

 (ii) any object or fitting that, because it is pointed or has a sharp edge, likely increases the risk of bodily injury to any person.

power‑assisted pedal cycle means a vehicle that meets the definition of Cycles – Electrically power assisted cycles – EPAC Bicycles in the European Committee for Standardization EN 15194:2017, or other later version.

Note: The Standard can be found at: EN 15194:2017

quad bike means a motorised off‑road vehicle that:

 (a) is designed to travel on at least four high‑flotation tyres; and

 (b) has a saddle‑type seat designed to be straddled by the user; and

 (c) is steered by handlebars.

running clearance means the distance from the ground to the lowest point on the vehicle excluding unsprung mass.

seat height means the vertical distance between the undeformed upper surface of the driver’s seat and the ground on which the vehicle rests, when the vehicle is at unladen mass on level ground.

tare mass has the meaning given by Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule – Definitions and Vehicle Categories) 2005¸ as in force from time to time.

tracked vehicle means a vehicle that travels on continuous tracks rather than tyres.

Example: A bulldozer or excavator may be a tracked vehicle.

unladen mass means the mass of the vehicle in running order, unoccupied and unladen, with all fluid reservoirs filled to nominal capacity including fuel, and with all standard equipment.

 (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.

6  Classes of vehicles that are not road vehicles

  The following classes of vehicles are not road vehicles:

 (a) agricultural machines;

 (b) golf carts;

 (c) light utility vehicles;

 (d) miniature motorbikes;

 (e) motorised mobility devices;

 (f) motorised recreational devices;

 (g) personal mobility devices;

 (h) power‑assisted pedal cycles;

 (i) quad bikes;

 (j) tracked vehicles.

Endnotes

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

The endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.

The following endnotes are included in every compilation:

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history

Abbreviation key—Endnote 2

The abbreviation key sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.

Legislation history and amendment history—Endnotes 3 and 4

Amending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history.

The legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.

The amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.

Editorial changes

The Legislation Act 2003 authorises First Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial and presentational changes to a compiled law in preparing a compilation of the law for registration. The changes must not change the effect of the law. Editorial changes take effect from the compilation registration date.

If the compilation includes editorial changes, the endnotes include a brief outline of the changes in general terms. Full details of any changes can be obtained from the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.

Misdescribed amendments

A misdescribed amendment is an amendment that does not accurately describe how an amendment is to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, then the misdescribed amendment can be incorporated through an editorial change made under section 15V of the Legislation Act 2003.

If a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the amendment is not incorporated and “(md not incorp)” is added to the amendment history.

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history