RVS legislation glossary of terms

The following glossary consolidates the acronyms and terms used in endorsed RVS policies, procedures and guidance material.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z #

A
Account	A person or user manages all their information in the one secure online place in ROVER where they can view/save/change/amend their contact details, account or registration details, as well as their applications and approvals.
Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT)	Conducts independent merits review of a wide range of administrative decisions made by the Australian Government.
Advisory notice	An advisory notice is issued to a person who has submitted an application for advice that a specified ‘thing’ is not a road vehicle under the RVS legislation. The advisory notice confirms the advice and may be used to support the clearance of the ‘thing’ by the Australian Border Force at the time of importation.
Aggregate trailer mass (ATM)	The total mass of a laden trailer when carrying the maximum load recommended by the manufacturer, and includes any mass imposed on the towing vehicle when the towing vehicle and trailer are connected and resting on a horizontal surface.
Alternative standard	The legislation for each of the National road vehicle standards may identify equivalent alternative standards. These may include UN regulations, Australian or international standards and may be an alternative to a part, parts or the entire national road vehicle standard.
Applicant	Individual or organisation applying for an approval under the RVS legislation.
Application name	A user in ROVER can select from the available different applications under the RVS legislation, such as ‘Application for approval of a testing facility’.
Approval holder	When an approval of an application has been granted, the named applicant becomes the approval holder.
Approved form	The form approved by the Secretary for the purposes of meeting the provisions under the Rules to ensure that each RVS application collects the information required for deciding the application.
Assessor	An individual delegated under the RVS legislation to perform the role of assessing applications submitted under the RVS Rules.
Australia	Does not include any Australian external territory.
Australian Design Rules (ADRs)	National road vehicle standards under the RVSA. They are determined under section 12 of the RVSA, and include ADRs that were determined under the MVSA.
Authorised user	An external user in ROVER with a verified authority to act for a specific entity to submit and so on, on their behalf.
Authorised vehicle verifier (AVV)	A corporation approved to provide an independent vehicle inspection and verification service. They will provide vehicle owners, and the public more broadly, with greater assurance of integrity and compliance for vehicles that have been modified by a RAW, as well as in other circumstances that may be required by conditions on approvals. Vehicle inspections conducted by the holder of an AVV approval must take place in Australia. An AVV cannot also be the holder of a RAW approval.
Authority to act	An authority to act establishes the relationship between an individual user to another individual user or organisation, or between organisations, to allow representation for an applicant seeking an RVS approval in ROVER. An authority to act is recorded in ROVER.

B
Build date	Build date is the Month and Year (MM/YYYY) that the vehicle was substantially completed. Guidance for substantial completion is: Motorcycles and passenger cars: the calendar month and the year in which the body shell and power train sub-assemblies are conjoined and the vehicle is driven or moved from the production line. Commercial vehicles and buses: The calendar month and the year that the cabin and chassis, or body shell, and power train sub-assemblies are conjoined and the vehicle is driven or moved from the production line. Alternatively, for a cab/chassis vehicle that is manufactured in stages at more than one location and that remains under the control of the original equipment manufacturer, the calendar month and the year that the body is fitted to the cab/chassis and the vehicle is driven or moved from the production line. Where a vehicle leaves a manufacturing location for significant further manufacture that is covered by the approval, such as the installation of seats, the calendar month and the year that the further manufacture was completed. Trailers: The calendar month and the year that the trailer is towed or moved from the production line. Alternatively, for a trailer that is manufactured in stages at more than one location and that remains under the control of the original equipment manufacturer, the calendar month and the year that the body is fitted to the chassis and the vehicle is towed or moved from the production line.
Business day	A day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or a public holiday in the Australian Capital Territory.

C
Carnet (CPD and ATA)	CPD and ATA carnets provide for the temporary admission of eligible goods, including a road vehicle, without payment of import duties and import taxes, and free of import prohibitions and restrictions.
Civil penalty	A civil penalty is enforceable under section 54 of the RVSA and under Part 4 of the Regulatory Powers (Standard Provisions) Act 2014 (RPA). An authorised applicant (including the Minister, Secretary or delegate) may apply to a relevant court for an order that a person, or body corporate, who is alleged to have contravened a civil penalty provision under the RVSA, to pay a pecuniary penalty. The court may order the person to pay the penalty amount.
Compliance monitoring	A broad term referring to any form of information collection, or contact with a regulated entity by the department to identify any issues relating to that entity’s compliance with the legislation and/or conditions of an approval the entity holds.
Component type approval	Approval of a road vehicle component, or system of components of a particular type to be: used in the manufacture of a road vehicle that has a vehicle type approval used in the Manufacture or Modification of a road vehicle in accordance with an approved Model Report.
Concessional RAV entry approval	Means the entry pathway that meets the requirements as set out under section 31 of the Rules.
Concessional RAV entry pathway	An entry pathway onto the RAV that applies to an individual road vehicle.
Condition/s of approval	Each RVS approval is subject to standard conditions that an approval holder must comply with. An RVS approval may also be subject to specific conditions. Conditions of approval ensure ongoing compliance with the RVS legislation and detail RVS approval holders’ obligations to maintain their approval. Any non-compliance with conditions of approval may expose an approval holder to RVSA offence provisions and/or cancellation of the relevant approval.
Conflicts of interest	Under the RVS legislation, it is a criterion and condition of an authorised vehicle verifier (AVV) approval that an AVV meets specific obligations to manage conflicts of interest when conducting inspections and verifications under their approval.
Conformity of production system	It is a condition of a vehicle type approval that the approval holder implement a system that: governs the manufacturing process detailed in supporting information for the approval, and ensures that a vehicle satisfies the requirements of the type approval pathway at the time the vehicle is entered on the RAV. It is a condition of a component type approval that the holder of an approval implement a system that: governs the manufacturing process detailed in supporting information for the approval, and ensures that a component satisfies the applicable national road vehicle standards in force at the time the component is manufactured.
Create a ROVER account	The process where a person creates an online account in ROVER, by adding their required details.

D
Damage or corrosion limits (of vehicle)	The Road Vehicle Standards (Limit of Acceptable Damage or Corrosion) Determination 2021 outlines the damage or corrosion and repair of damage or corrosion limits that apply when a RAW approval holder is modifying a vehicle or an AVV is verifying a vehicle, or modifications of a vehicle.
Decision maker	An individual delegated under RVS legislation to perform the role of making decisions, whether to refuse to consider an application submitted for approval, or whether to refuse to grant or grant approvals.
Decision notice	For each submitted RVS application, applicants are notified of the delegate’s decision to: grant the approval, or refuse to consider the application, with reasons, or refuse to grant the approval, with reasons.
Declarations	When applying for an RVS approval, the applicant is required to make certain declarations about the information they are providing, and that they understand the obligations they need to comply with to be granted an approval. Making a false or misleading declaration may expose an applicant to RVSA offence provisions that may result in penalties and/or cancellation of the relevant approval.
Design characteristics	When determining if a road vehicle is a variant of a model of that road vehicle for entry on the SEVs Register, a vehicle’s design characteristics must be significantly different when compared to other vehicles of that model. However, if no vehicles of the model have design characteristics that are significantly different from those of other vehicles of that model, that model is taken to be a variant of a model of road vehicle. See Appendix 1 in the Guide to SEVs vehicles.
Design facility	Means the premises used for road vehicle or road vehicle component design activity.
Determinations (RVS)	The RVS legislation allows the Minister or Secretary of the department to determine, by legislative instrument, certain matters e.g. certain requirements, types of vehicles or information that must be applied.

E
Eligibility criteria	Each application made under the RVS legislation has certain criteria that the delegated decision maker must be satisfied are met before granting an approval, issuing an advisory notice, or making an entry on the SEVs Register.
Enforceable undertaking	A written, court-enforceable undertaking given to a regulated entity to comply with provisions of the RVSA, accepted by an authorised person. Breaches of an accepted undertaking may result in a court making a compliance, financial and/or any other order that it considers appropriate.
Entry pathway	Means by which a vehicle may be entered on the RAV if the vehicle satisfies the requirements of an entry pathway under the Rules. See: Type approval pathway Concessional RAV entry pathway
Expired approval	The status of an RVS approval indicating that it is no longer in force.
External user	A person with a ROVER account with permissions for creating user profiles, completing and submitting applications etc.

G
Genuinely available	For a vehicle to be entered on the SEVs Register, where it has been made available to consumers in Australia, the decision-maker may need to be satisfied that the eligibility criterion under subsection 129A(2) of the Rules applies. That criterion operates by reference to whether a variant of a model, or make and model, of a road vehicle is no longer, or was not, genuinely available. There are dependencies relating to whether the variant of a model, or make and model, of a road vehicle with the build date range specified in an application for entry on the SEVs Register is no longer, or was not, genuinely available to consumers in Australia during the period mentioned in paragraph 129A(2)(c) of the Rules. It will depend on the specific circumstances and broad context of the vehicle’s Australian availability in that period. Genuine availability is described in further detail in the Guide to SEVs.
Gross trailer mass (GTM)	The mass transmitted to the ground by the axle(s) of the trailer when coupled to a drawing vehicle and carrying its maximum load approximately uniformly distributed over the load bearing area.
Gross vehicle mass (GVM)	The maximum laden mass of a motor vehicle, as specified by the manufacturer.

H
Heavy vehicle	Power driven vehicles (for example trucks, buses etc) which are more than 4.5 tonnes gross vehicle mass (GVM) or more than 4.5 tonnes aggregate trailer mass (ATM) for heavy trailers.
High ATM trailer	A trailer with an aggregate trailer mass (ATM) of more than 4.5 tonnes.

I
Identification plate	As defined in the MVSA, a plate declaring the status of a road vehicle in relation to the national road vehicle standards and approved to be placed on vehicles of that type or description under procedures and arrangements provided for the placement of plates.
Import	In relation to a road vehicle, means do an act which constitutes importation of the vehicle for the purposes of the Customs Act 1901.
Import approval	An approval under RVS legislation to permit a road vehicle to be imported to Australia. The Rules set out circumstances where a concessional RAV entry approval, or a vehicle type approval are taken to be an import approval.
In force approval	The status of an RVS approval indicating that it is valid.
Incomplete vehicle	A vehicle that is assembled but which does not include all the necessary components is a partly completed vehicle. See also partly completed vehicle.
Infringement notice (fine)	A pecuniary penalty notice given to a regulated entity by an infringement officer who believes, on reasonable grounds, that the person has contravened a provision of the RVSA.
Inspection	The department may conduct an inspection to assess whether or not a regulated entity complies with the RVS legislation and any conditions of the approval they hold.
Inspector	A person appointed by the Secretary under section 49 of the RVSA to exercise the functions and powers conferred on them, subject to conditions and restrictions specified in the person’s instrument of appointment.
International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC)	International organisation for accreditation bodies relating to testing facilities.
Investigation powers	Section 52 of the RVSA delineates investigation from monitoring by stating that an offence against the RVSA, or a civil penalty provision of the RVSA, or an offence against the Crimes Act 1914, or the Criminal Code that relates to the RVSA is subject to investigation under Part 3 of the Regulatory Powers (Standard Provisions) Act 2014. Investigations are similar to the monitoring powers (see Monitoring powers). An investigation activity is significant and is conducted with a view to referring a completed Brief of Evidence to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutors for consideration of prosecution action.

J
Jurisdiction	In relation to the RVS legislation, a jurisdiction is the state, territory or national body in Australia responsible for vehicle registration and the ongoing regulation of road vehicles provided to consumers and operated in those states, territories or nationally.

K
Key management personnel	Of a body corporate, means the persons who have authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the body corporate (whether directly or indirectly) and includes any director (whether executive or otherwise) of the body corporate.

L
List of approvals	For certain approvals that are in force, the Secretary must publish certain approval details on the department's website. This may include publishing notices where the Minister or Secretary has decided to vary, suspend or revoke an approval.
Low ATM trailer	A trailer with an aggregate trailer mass (ATM) of 4.5 tonnes or less.

M
Make	The marque or brand name applied to each vehicle within the same range of vehicles, or the name of the ‘Manufacturer’, noting changes can be made for SSM vehicles. Make should be a trading name or business name associated with the manufacturer.
Manufacture	In relation to a road vehicle, includes modify the vehicle and assemble the vehicle.
Manufacturing facility	Means the premises where a road vehicle or road vehicle component may be fully or partially constructed, assembled or modified.
Minor and inconsequential (M&I)	Some approvals may be granted even if the road vehicle or road vehicle component does not fully comply with the national road vehicle standards if the non-compliance is in minor and inconsequential respects.
Mobility features	Are features on a road vehicle specifically designed to assist people with a disability described in Subsection 89(2): Road Vehicle Standards (Model Reports–Compliance with Standards Determination 2021).
Model	For a motor vehicle it is the name given to the class or family of motor vehicles that is of the same make, the same general type and appearance, noting changes can be made for certain circumstances such as SSM or road vehicle components. For trailers, it is the name given to the different trailer type (pig, dog and so on), or the different ADR vehicle category (for example, TC or TD), or nonstandard identification.
Model Report	This is a tool to enable vehicles to meet the requirements of the type approval or concessional RAV entry pathway. An approved Model Report includes 3 major elements, a Vehicle Scope to identify the road vehicles to which the Model Report applies, a series of Work Instructions that a RAW or holder of a road vehicle type approval uses to modify or manufacture vehicles to comply with the applicable national road vehicle standards, or standards identified in the determination made under section 89(2) of the Rules, and may include a Verification Checklist that must be used by an AVV to verify a vehicle has been manufactured or modified in accordance with the Model Report.
Modify/modification	Means any alteration to a road vehicle including its components.
Monitoring powers	Section 50 of the RVSA states that provisions of the RVSA, and offences against the Crimes Act 1914 or the Criminal Code that relate to the RVSA, are subject to monitoring under Part 2 of the Regulatory Powers (Standard Provisions) Act 2014. To conduct monitoring activities, an inspector may enter a premises either with the consent of the occupier, or under a monitoring warrant. Monitoring powers that can be exercised include, but are not limited to: searching a premises and any thing on a premises examining or observing an activity conducted on a premises make any still or moving images or recording of a premises or any thing on a premises inspecting any document on a premises.
Motor vehicle	Means a vehicle that uses, or is designed to use: Volatile spirit, gas, oil, electricity or any other power (other than human or animal power) as the principal means of propulsion, or More than one of the powers mentioned in (a) (other than human or animal power) as a means of propulsion, but does not include a vehicle used exclusively on a railway or tramway.
Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 (MVSA)	An Act to provide for national motor vehicle standards and for related purposes. The MVSA will be replaced by the RVS legislation—full implementation of the RVS legislation occurred on 1 July 2021.

N
National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA)	Accreditation body for laboratories, inspection bodies, calibration services, producers of certified reference materials and proficiency testing scheme providers.
National Exchange of Vehicle and Driver Information System (NEVDIS)	The organisation forming part of Austroads which owns and operates a data system allowing road authorities to interact across state borders. It contains data for registered operators in Australia, including registration numbers, Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs), and address details. This data is collated from data held by states and territories.
National road vehicle standards	National road vehicle standards under the RVSA. They are determined under section 12 of the RVSA, and include ADRs that were determined under the MVSA.
Non-RAV entry import approval	An approval granted to a person in respect of a road vehicle that is not, generally, to be used on a public road
Non-road use (of vehicle)	The RVS legislation provides certain approvals for vehicles that are not, generally, to be used on a public road. See also non-RAV entry import approvals.
Not a road vehicle	Regulation under the RVS legislation only applies to road vehicles. The Road Vehicle Standards (Classes of vehicles that are not Road Vehicles) Determination 2021 determines classes of vehicles that are not road vehicles. Where there is uncertainty, an application for an advisory notice that a specified thing is not a road vehicle can be submitted for assessment.

O
Older vehicle	Under section 36 of the Rules, to meet the eligibility criterion to be granted a concessional RAV entry approval, the decision maker must be satisfied the vehicle’s relevant build date is at least 25 years old before the time of application. The relevant build date is the date the vehicle’s assembly was first completed, or the date that the last of any significant modifications were completed (if significant modifications were made to the vehicle after assembly was first completed).
Opt-in arrangements	Until 31 December 2021, eligible holders of certain approvals under the MVSA could transition to a vehicle type approval via the opt-in process.
Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)	A company or organisation that manufactures goods, components, machinery or equipment for use by another company or organisation for the manufacture of vehicles first supplied to market that do not negate vehicle compliance.

P
Partly completed vehicle	A partly completed vehicle one that: is sufficiently formed, by which we mean it will normally have an assembled power source, drivetrain and structure, but has not been fully completed is not in a state to be compliant with all applicable ADRs and will require additional components to be fitted before completion could be a component type since it can be tested against one or more ADRs but is not a completed vehicle. A partly completed trailer will normally have an assembled coupling, axle and suspension. Examples of a partly completed vehicle include a: type-approved vehicle that is fully assembled for an overseas market but which will have an ADR 34 child restraint anchorage (CRA) fitted locally before provision to the market. Until the anchorage is installed, that vehicle is a partly completed vehicle vehicle that consists only of an engine and a drivetrain bolted to a chassis and with no other components.
Personal effects vehicle	To assess whether a vehicle is eligible for a concessional RAV entry approval under the personal effects criterion, the applicant must, among other things, be the owner of the vehicle at the time the application is made have become the owner of the vehicle while living outside of Australia permanently, and owned the vehicle for a continuous period of at least 12-months immediately before the ‘relevant date’ (as defined in section 39 of the Rules).
Provide	In relation to a person providing a road vehicle includes a reference to: the provision of the vehicle due to a sale, exchange, gift, lease, loan, hire or hire-purchase, or the provision of access to the vehicle.
Public road	Means a road open to the public for the passage of vehicles, excluding a: footpath or bicycle path, and bikeway, also known as a bike or cycle lane.

Q
Quality management system (QMS)	A system that is employed by the manufacturer of a road vehicle or road vehicle component to ensure conformity of production and design change control.

R
Rare vehicle	A vehicle will satisfy the rarity criterion for entry on the SEVs Register if any of the following apply: less than 3,000 vehicles of the make and vehicle category are produced per year less than 1,000 vehicles of the model of the road vehicle are produced per year less than 100 vehicles of the variant of the model of the road vehicle are produced per year.
RAV entry import approval	An approval that is taken to be granted to a person who holds a concessional RAV entry approval that is in force for that vehicle.
Recalls	A voluntary recall is usually undertaken by the entity, whether an individual in business or a company, responsible for the supply of a vehicle or component for the first time to the Australian market through trade or commerce. However, it may also be appropriate for another entity in the supply chain to undertake the recall action. Voluntary recalls are generally initiated proactively by the supplier because the particular road vehicle or approved road vehicle component are either unsafe or non-compliant. A compulsory recall occurs (rarely) when the Minister exercises the power to issue a compulsory notice for road vehicles or approved road vehicle components of a particular kind where it appears such vehicles or components: will, or may, cause injury to any person through use (or misuse), or do not (or it is likely that they do not) comply with relevant standards, and one or more suppliers of such vehicles, or such components, have not taken satisfactory action to prevent injury or resolve non-compliance.
Registered automotive workshop (RAW)	The holder of a RAW approval can modify vehicles in accordance with Model Reports. They can modify specialist and enthusiast vehicles and used motorcycles to comply with the RVS legislation. They can also complete second stage of manufacture in accordance with a Model Report. This is a tool to enable vehicles to meet the requirements of the concessional RAV entry pathway.
Register of Approved Vehicles (RAV)	A publicly accessible online database of vehicles that have met the requirements of the RVS legislation and been approved for provision to the Australian market.
Reimportation import approval	An approval granted to a person for a vehicle that is outside of Australia and on the RAV (or fitted with a MVSA plate) being reimported while remaining consistent and in all relevant respects with the information entered on the RAV (or the MVSA plate).
Request for further information (RFI)	When an application is under assessment, the department may contact the applicant in writing with a Request for further information (RFI).
Request for Information in Writing (RIW)—in relation to Recalls only	During a recall, the department may contact the supplier in writing with a Request for Information in Writing (RIW).
Request for inspection	A request for inspection may be requested in writing of the applicant during the assessment process or the department may request the approval holder to allow or arrange for an inspection at any time while the approval is in force.
Revoke an RVS approval	The Minister or the Secretary of the department may revoke an approval (including on application of the approval holder). A revoked approval is no longer in force.
Road trailer	Means a trailer or other vehicle (including equipment or machinery equipped with wheels) designed to be towed on a public road by a motor vehicle or other trailer.
Road vehicle	A vehicle designed solely or principally for use in transport on public roads (including trailers and unassembled motor vehicles) or a vehicle determined in an instrument under section 6(6)(a) of the Act. However, a vehicle is not a road vehicle if it is covered by a determination under section 6(4)(a) of the Act.
Road Vehicle Certification System (RVCS)	The departmental database for managing approvals for road vehicles and road vehicle components under the MVSA.
Road vehicle descriptor (RVD)	Means the vehicle descriptor that provides additional technical information for a range of variants and an image of the vehicle. Specific requirements for RVD information (including an image) depend on the vehicle category.
Road Vehicle Regulator (ROVER)	ROVER is the IT system that supports applications under the Road Vehicle Standards (RVS) legislation
Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018 (RVSA)	An Act to provide for the regulation of road vehicles and road vehicle components, to set national road vehicle standards, and for other purposes. For more information, refer to the Federal Register of Legislation
Road Vehicle Standards (RVS) legislation	The legislation of road vehicles and road vehicle components, to set national road vehicle standards, and for other purposes. The RVS legislation includes the RVSA, related Acts (Consequential and Transition, Charges) and subordinate legislation.
Road Vehicle Standards Rules 2019 (Rules)	The Road Vehicle Standards Rules 2019 are available on the Federal Register of Legislation

S
Second stage of manufacture (SSM)	Manufacture or modification of a road vehicle by another approval holder prior to the vehicle's first provision to a consumer.
Significantly modified	To assess whether a road vehicle has a relevant build date that is at least 25 years old before submitting an application for concessional RAV entry, the completion date of any significant modifications made to the vehicle after it was first assembled must be at least 25 years before the date of the application. For example, if an engine modification has significantly changed the original specification and/or performance of the vehicle, the date that modification was completed must be at least 25 years before the date of the application.
Single road vehicle application	Under the RVS legislation a concessional RAV entry approval, non-RAV entry import approval and reimportation import approval are all approvals granted to a single road vehicle. A single road vehicle application in ROVER identifies the type of approval applied for by the information and supporting documentation the applicant provides.
Special purpose vehicle (SPV)	A special purpose vehicle (SPV) may be granted concessional RAV entry approval. An approval may be granted even though the vehicle does not comply with all ADRs and would be unable to complete the operation it was designed for if it was modified to comply with those ADRs – or its original design complied with those ADRs – but the vehicle, complies to an extent that makes it is suitable for use on a public road in Australia.
Specialist and Enthusiast Vehicles Register (SEVs Register)	A publicly accessible online database of specialist and enthusiast road vehicles that are assessed as meeting the criteria for classification as a specialist and enthusiast road vehicle. It will provide potential importers and modifiers (RAWs) with sufficient details of vehicles that may be eligible for concessional RAV entry approval.
Supplier (recall action)	People who manufacture, import, distribute, retail, supply or re-supply road vehicles or approved road vehicle components by way of sale, exchange, lease, hire or hire purchase, are responsible for undertaking recall action in the event of a safety or non-compliance issue with a vehicle or component. People are taken to be a supplier of: a particular kind of road vehicles if they hold a road vehicle type approval under which these vehicles are entered on the RAV a particular kind of approved road vehicle components if they hold a road vehicle component type approval for these components.
Supporting information	See definition of ‘Supporting information’ in Section 5 Definitions section of the Road Vehicle Standards Rules 2019.
Suspend an RVS approval	The Minister or the Secretary of the department may suspend an approval for a specified period, or until a specified event occurs. The approval is not in force while suspended.

T
Testing facility	The holder of a testing facility approval may test road vehicles or road vehicle components (or both) for compliance with certain ADRs or other standards.
Timeframe for decision	The RVS legislation and/or the department’s service standards specify the number of business days that each application type must be decided, taking into account the time to seek further information or an inspection to assist in the decision.
Trailer types	There are three broad trailer categories: Semi-trailer Pig trailer Dog trailer For definitions of the trailer categories, please see Vehicle Standards Bulletin 1 (VSB1—Building Small Trailers).
Transitional import approval	An RVS import approval available temporarily during the transitional period of 1 July 2021 to 30 April 2022, following the repeal of the MVSA. The kinds of transitional import approvals are tabled in subsection 146B(1) of the Rules.
Type approval pathway	Means the entry pathway that meets the requirements as set out under section 15 of the Rules.

U
UN approval	Applicants seeking a vehicle type approval, component type approval or a testing facility approval may use a UN approval to demonstrate that they meet certain eligibility criteria.
Unassembled vehicle	All parts that are necessary to make the vehicle are present but the vehicle is not assembled. A container holding a compatible power source, drivetrain and vehicle structure would be considered to be holding an unassembled vehicle. Unassembled vehicles would include kit cars and motorcycles that are disassembled for shipping. Under the RVS legislation, motorcycles may require a condition that allows them to be unassembled for the purposes of shipping, and reassembled only in accordance with procedures that maintain conformity of production and quality. A fully-compliant vehicle (or one that fully complies with a type approval) in any state of disassembly, or pre-assembly, would be an unassembled vehicle. That is, all the necessary components/elements must be present. A motorcycle with the front wheel and forks unattached but located together in a crate would be an example. At the extreme end of the spectrum, a collection of all the necessary components to make a vehicle but with no two components fitted together would still be considered a vehicle.

V
Variant (of a vehicle model)	A variant in relation to a model of a road vehicle that is, or is to be, entered on the SEVs Register. Section 128 of the Rules, the Guide to SEVs vehicles and the Road Vehicle Standards (Additional Matters Relating to Eligibility for a Road Vehicle to be Entered on the SEVs Register) Determination 2021 provide further details.
Variant (non SEVs)	For a vehicle type approval, component type approval and Model Report, the ordinary meaning is: a sub-set of a model which may be covered by the evidence for that model or may require supplementation through additional evidence.
Variation of RVS approval	The Minister or the Secretary of the department may vary an approval (including on application by an approval holder) to, amongst other things, vary, remove or add conditions, or update certain information or supporting material to maintain accuracy of the approval.
Vehicle category code (VCC)	A two character vehicle category code used to differentiate requirements for different vehicles (for example, motorcycles, passenger cars, buses, goods vehicles, trailers and so on). The vehicle category codes are defined in the Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule—Definitions and Vehicle Categories) 2005. Sub categories of vehicle categories are sometimes also used to further differentiate requirements. For example, the Vehicle Category LE has sub-categories of LEM, LEP and LEG to differentiate these vehicles.
Vehicle identification number (VIN)	A unique identifier that is allocated to a road vehicle and permanently recorded on the vehicle, in accordance with Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 61/03—Vehicle Marking) 2020
Vehicle type approval	An entry pathway onto the RAV which applies to all vehicles of a particular type.
Verification (of a vehicle)	Under the RVS legislation certain conditions require that a vehicle must be verified by an AVV approval holder. TheRoad Vehicle Standards (Verification of Road Vehicles) Determination 2021 details the requirements that an AVV must undertake to verify different types of vehicles.
Verified external user	An external user whose identity has been verified (relevant identity documents check).

W
Withdraw an RVS application	A person who applies for an approval may request to withdraw the application. The decision process will cease. The application fee paid is not refundable where the application was already under consideration.

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1958 Agreement	Latest revision (3) to the 1958 Agreement is: The Agreement concerning the Adoption of Harmonized Technical United Nations Regulations for Wheeled Vehicles, Equipment and Parts which can be Fitted and/or Used on Wheeled Vehicles and the Conditions for Reciprocal Recognition of Approvals Granted on the Basis of United Nations Regulations. Entered into force (including for Australia) on 14 September 2017.