Conditional Reg

Conditional Registration Scheme

The Conditional Registration Scheme for Historic Vehicles and Prescribed Left Hand Drive Vehicles

On the 14th of April 2003 I attended a Seminar run by the Federation of Historic Motoring Clubs to discuss the “Code of Practice” issued by Transport SA to govern the above scheme. A lively discussion with the Deputy Registrar of Motor Vehicles resulted and as a result of these discussions I believe there will be some minor changes made to the “Code of Practice” within the next twelve months. In particular the Federation members objected to the wording “OEM” rather than period accessories. As the document now stands we are only permitted to fit accessories that were supplied by the Car Dealers of the day and we all know there was a thriving trade in After-market accessories during the fifties up to the late seventies. Items like Magnesium wheels, heaters, sun visors and radios were often not supplied as OEM equipment.

Here are some excerpts from the document of interest to Club members:

3.4 Owners of historic vehicles and prescribed left hand drive vehicles are responsible for:

Maintaining financial membership of a club

Canceling the conditional registration of the vehicle when a change of ownership of historic vehicles and prescribed left hand drive vehicles occurs or when the owner of the vehicle is no longer a financial member of a club. The log book issued for the vehicle must be returned to the issuing club for cancellation

Presenting vehicle/s for inspection when required and have the club's authorised person validate their log book/s and current registration papers

Ensuring their conditionally registered vehicle is not driven on a road or road-related area unless the club's authorised person has completed the necessary details in the log book

Ensuring their conditionally registered vehicle is not driven on a road or road related area more than 90 days each period of 12 months in the period of registration

Ensuring their conditionally registered vehicle is not driven on a road or road related area if it does not comply with this Code of Practice

Ensuring their conditionally registered vehicle is not driven on a road or road related area unless an entry is made in the log book (the log book entry must be completed before the commencement of a journey). A journey may consist of one or more separate trips i.e. A journey that commences at 10.00am on a particular day and finishes at 9.00am the next day constitutes two calendar days. Consequently, two separate days use must be recorded in the log book

Maintaining the vehicle to the same standard, specification and configuration as it was presented for initial inspection to the club's authorised person (fair wear and tear is accepted).

6.1 Eligibility for conditional registration:

To be eligible for conditional registration the owner of the vehicle must be a financial member of a club and the vehicle must meet the criteria defined in the definitions and in Part 7 of this code.

The eligibility of a vehicle for conditional registration is based on the maintenance of the 'historic integrity' of the subject vehicle. Variations that detract from the vehicle's historic integrity may make the vehicle ineligible for conditional registration as a historic vehicle or prescribed left hand drive vehicle

For a vehicle to possess 'historic integrity', it must be the genuine vehicle, either in its original condition or has been restored to an acceptable level. Replicas and reproductions of historic vehicles or prescribed left hand drive vehicles are not eligible.

where a vehicle is a 'special' manufactured by the OEM, it is the responsibility of the owner to provide evidence of the OEM specification and verification that the specification applies to the subject vehicle.

6.2 Authorised person vehicle inspection:

Authorised person vehicle inspection Prior to historic vehicles and prescribed left hand drive vehicles being considered for conditional registration the vehicle must undergo an inspection by an authorised person. This inspection is not to check the mechanical safety or roadworthiness of a vehicle, but is only to verify its historic integrity and to confirm that the vehicle has no variations other than allowed in Part 7 of this code.

Having inspected the vehicle and confirmed it complies with the Code of Practice, the authorised person must complete an application for 'Approval for Conditional Registration of a Historic or Prescribed Left Hand Drive Vehicle' (Form MR334)

If an authorised person cannot determine the authenticity historic vehicle or prescribed left hand drive vehicle inconsistency must initially be referred to the club's committee of a any

If the committee cannot determine a satisfactory outcome, the matter must then be referred to the Federation for determination

6.3 Approval process:

The authorised person must personally inspect and approve a historic or prescribed left hand drive vehicle and complete the MR334 form.

If an MR334 form is refused due to incorrect information being recorded, only the authorised person can alter any information. The authorised person must sign any alteration/s made.

The vehicle owner must sign the declaration on the MR334 form declaring any variations and that they will abide by the Code of Practice and hand book 'Conditional registration of historic vehicles and prescribed left hand drive vehicles'.

If it cannot be established that a vehicle has been previously registered in South Australia, the vehicle must undergo an identity inspection by Transport SA if the vehicle is garaged in the metropolitan area or by a member of the police force if the vehicle is garaged in a country region. A vehicle identity inspection report (Form MR9) will be issued

If the vehicle is a prescribed left hand drive vehicle, or has been converted to right hand drive, or was manufactured after 1970 (1976 for motor bikes) and not fitted with an Australian compliance plate, it must pass a roadworthiness inspection performed by Transport SA inspectors.

Contact Transport SA - Vehicle Standards (1300 882 248) to ascertain the requirements for the vehicle prior to booking the roadworthiness inspection, as an application may need to be submitted and approval given prior to the inspection. This should be done as soon as possible to avoid unnecessary delays.

The vehicle must also undergo an identity inspection by Transport SA if the vehicle is garaged in the metropolitan area or by a member of the police force if the vehicle is garaged in a country region. A MR29 form will be issued. Note! A fee is payable for the inspections. Once all documents are complete, the vehicle owner can attend any Customer Service Centre for the application to be processed.

7. Eligibility Criteria.
All aspects of the vehicle must conform to the spirit of the period of when the vehicle was manufactured. The vehicle's bodywork, paint, interior etc, must be in good condition (allowing for fair wear and tear). Original replacement vehicle components cannot be varied in any way from OEM specifications.

Body: The shape of a vehicle's body, doors, mudguards, bonnet, boot etc, must remain the same as originally manufactured. Any replacement part must be identical to the original component but may be manufactured of an alternative material. Air scoops etc cannot be added.
The bodywork of vehicles, which were sold in chassis form, must be of a type and style current at the time of manufacture for that period.
Modern equivalent paint and fabrics may be used provided that paint schemes and colours, as well as interior trim fabrics, are of a type and style current at the time of manufacture for that period.

Suspension: Suspension must be of the configuration and type as originally manufactured for that vehicle. Suspension location points must remain as originally manufactured. Springs may be replaced with a newer part provided that they are similar in size and rating as the original part. The lowering of the vehicle's suspension is not permitted and stub axles are to be an original part.

Rear Axle: The rear axle may be upgraded to an alternative, provided that it was an option or available rear axle assembly from the vehicle manufacturer for that make and model at the time of production. Different final drive ratios are acceptable provided they were originally available and the housing remains unaltered.

Steering: The steering box or rack, column and steering wheel are to remain positioned as originally manufactured. However, a vehicle may be converted to right hand drive provided that: the conversion is a 'mirror image' of the original steering configuration, and the components used in the conversion are from the same era and manufacturer or would replicate a OEM right hand drive derivative of that make and model OR the conversion is performed using a 'chain or angle drive' type system where the original steering components, apart from the lower steering column and shaft remain unmodified.
In all cases, the left to right hand drive conversion must be certified by a Charted Professional Engineer in accordance with Vehicle Standards Bulletin Number 4.

Brakes: Disc brakes may be fitted provided they were an option at the time of manufacture of the vehicle. If fitted, they must be the same size and type as provided by the OEM, with the same type calliper.

Transmission: The transmission must be as fitted by the OEM, or an option available from the original vehicle manufacturer at the time of manufacture. Column change can only be altered to a floor change or visa versa if it was an option on that particular model of vehicle. The selector, either manual or automatic, is to be of an original type for that model of vehicle. Variations to a gear selector can be made to cater for a person's disability if supported by medical recommendations.

Engine: The engine must be of the size, make and configuration as provided by the OEM or an engine that was available to that make, model and year of manufacture. Inlet and exhaust manifolds, carburation, air cleaner, camshaft and heads to be as originally supplied by the OEM or available as an option. Variations are limited to OEM reconditioning tolerances. Crankshaft stroke must remain standard for the model and year of the vehicle.
Air cleaners are permitted to be fitted where the OEM did not provide them as original equipment. The fitting of LP Gas as a single or alternative fuel is not acceptable unless originally supplied by the vehicle manufacturer. If already fitted it must be removed within 2 years of the date of this code.

Wheels and tyres: Standard or OEM optional wheels can only be fitted provided they were available on that make, model and year of vehicle. Tyres must be suitable to the size of rim fitted, but may be of modern design. Beaded edge rims and tyres may be replaced with well-based or straight-sided components, provided the external diameter, offset, style, material and width of the rim and the overall diameter of the tyre/rim combination are not altered by more than 10%.

7.1 Variations:

The electrical system may be upgraded from 6 to 12 volts.

If an original part is no longer available or deemed to have been manufactured to an inferior (unsafe) standard, then the club is to liaise with the Federation, who can provide a determination if the part is considered acceptable.

The part will only be considered if the original cannot be sourced, is deemed unsuitable due to its quality of manufacture, is identical or as close as possible to the original in all aspects and does not affect the performance of the vehicle.

Vehicles manufactured prior to 1949 may be fitted with replacement components from the same make of vehicle manufactured within 5 years from when the original vehicle was manufactured if they do not detract from the spirit of the original vehicle.

Acceptable accessories are restricted to those offered by the OEM or the OEM's authorised dealer at the time of delivery as a new vehicle. The vehicle owner may be required to submit evidence of the availability of an accessory at the time of delivery.

Any alterations should be restricted to those required to ensure the safe use of the vehicle on the road, or because relevant parts are no longer available or possible to make at reasonable cost. Vehicle alterations should be in a way that the vehicle is able to be converted back to original condition with the least possible effort, damage and cost.

8. Penalties for failing to comply with a condition of registration Pursuant to section 41(2a) of the Act:
A person must not contravene or fall to comply wfth a condition of registration of a motor vehicle under section 25.' A maximum penalty of $750 applies for this offence.

However, pursuant to section 41(3) of the Act:

Where a person has been convicted of an offence under this section, the court may order, in addition to any penalty it may have imposed, that the convicted person pay to the Registrar within a period specified in the order.

If the motor vehicle was registered at a reduced registration fee the balance between the fee paid and the prescribed registration fee that would have been payable in respect of the period of registration during which the offence was committed had the vehicle not qualified for restricted registration, together with the stamp duty (if any) that would have been payable by the convicted person upon the application for that period for registration had the motor vehicle not qualified for restricted registration.

This site was last updated 29-Aug-2004