HVA roadworthiness requirements

This page outlines the vehicle inspection requirements for operators seeking to add vehicles to their Heavy Vehicle Accreditation (HVA) scheme accreditation.

Under the HVA scheme, operators accredited in General Safety Accreditation – Maintenance Assurance Program (GSA-MAP) and Alternative Compliance Accreditation – Mass (ACA-Mass) are required to nominate all vehicles covered by their accreditation.

The HVA scheme requires both trucks and trailers to be nominated at entry and they must have current registration and meet applicable roadworthiness requirements before being added to an accreditation.

The Ministerial Guidelines do not distinguish between vehicle types when referring to nominated vehicles.

The NHVR has implemented alternative roadworthiness options for operators meeting the requirements when adding a vehicle to the new HVA scheme, including those operators transitioning from NHVAS. Alternate options are available for a suitably qualified mechanic using the HVA Roadworthiness Inspection Checklist (PDF, 246KB) to inspect a vehicle. This inspection will meet the roadworthiness requirements for adding a vehicle to the GSA-MAP and ACA-Mass accreditations.

The tables below outline:

roadworthiness requirements for adding a vehicle to HVA
transitional arrangements available to operators moving from NHVAS to HVA.

HVA new vehicle nomination requirements

Vehicle type	Required evidence
Newly manufactured vehicle	Evidence of first registration as a new vehicle within the previous 12 months.
Adding a new vehicle	The evidence must be no more than 12 months old. A Heavy Vehicle Inspection Report (HVIR) issued by a road transport authority¹. or An inspection completed by an Approved Inspection Station by an Approved Examiner¹. or An inspection completed by a suitably qualified mechanic² experienced in the inspection of heavy vehicles in accordance with the National Heavy Vehicle Inspection Manual (NHVIM).
Adding a vehicle from another accredited operator within 14 days	The vehicle must be added to the new operator’s accreditation within 14 days of being removed from the previous operator’s accreditation³. No additional roadworthiness evidence required.

Vehicle type

Required evidence

Newly manufactured vehicle

Evidence of first registration as a new vehicle within the previous 12 months.

Adding a new vehicle

The evidence must be no more than 12 months old.

A Heavy Vehicle Inspection Report (HVIR) issued by a road transport authority¹.
or
An inspection completed by an Approved Inspection Station by an Approved Examiner¹.
or
An inspection completed by a suitably qualified mechanic² experienced in the inspection of heavy vehicles in accordance with the National Heavy Vehicle Inspection Manual (NHVIM).

Adding a vehicle from another accredited operator within 14 days

The vehicle must be added to the new operator’s accreditation within 14 days of being removed from the previous operator’s accreditation³. No additional roadworthiness evidence required.

HVA transitional vehicle nomination requirements

This only applies to operators with current NHVAS accreditation (Mass and Maintenance).

If your vehicles are currently nominated under NHVAS Maintenance Management, you do not need to provide additional roadworthiness evidence when transitioning to the HVA scheme.

If your vehicles are currently nominated under NHVAS Mass Management, current roadworthiness evidence may be required when transitioning to HVA.

Roadworthiness evidence is required for:

vehicles not currently nominated under your NHVAS accreditation; and
vehicles being added to HVA under ACA-Mass, including trucks, prime movers and trailers.

Vehicle type	REQUIRED EVIDENCE (The evidence must be no more than 12 months old)
NHVAS Maintenance to HVA GSA-MAP	No additional roadworthiness evidence required.
ACA-Mass trucks or trailers that are currently nominated in NHVAS Maintenance	No additional roadworthiness evidence required.
ACA-Mass trucks and trailers not previously subject to NHVAS roadworthiness requirements	A Heavy Vehicle Inspection Report (HVIR) issued by a road transport authority¹. or An inspection completed by an Approved Inspection Station by an Approved Examiner¹. or An inspection completed by a suitably qualified mechanic² experienced in the inspection of heavy vehicles in accordance with the National Heavy Vehicle Inspection Manual (NHVIM). or A declaration from the registered owner using the HVA Nominated Initial Transitional Vehicle Roadworthiness Declaration (PDF 39KB), that all vehicles are in a safe and roadworthy condition when adding the vehicle/s. A condition will be imposed allowing you up to 6 months from the date HVA is granted to obtain and provide roadworthiness evidence. This will be applied as a condition of accreditation and failure to comply with the condition may result in your accreditation being suspended or cancelled.

Definitions

1. Recognised inspection providers

Where a Heavy Vehicle Inspection Report (HVIR) issued by a road transport authority is not provided, an inspection may be completed by:

Approved Inspection Stations (AIS) and Approved Examiners accredited by the relevant state or territory road transport authority.
Heavy Vehicle Authorised Inspection Scheme (HVAIS) stations in New South Wales.
NHVR Authorised Officers conducting:
- Heavy Vehicle Inspection Scheme (HVIS) inspections in New South Wales; or
- Programmed Vehicle Inspections (PVI) in Queensland.
Government-operated inspection facilities and authorised government inspectors, where applicable.
Licensed Vehicle Testers (LVTs) in Victoria.
Authorised Vehicle Examiners (AVEs) in Western Australia.
A suitably qualified mechanic².

2. Suitably qualified mechanics

A suitably qualified mechanic must:

Be experienced in the inspection of heavy vehicles
Be competent in applying the National Heavy Vehicle Inspection Manual (NHVIM)
Understand the relevant Australian Design Rules (ADRs)
Complete the HVA Roadworthiness Inspection Checklist (PDF, 246KB).
Have minimum qualifications:
- Heavy vehicles - Certificate III in Automotive Mechanical Technology (Heavy Vehicle Road Transport), or equivalent qualification, or LV/HV qualification plus 12 months verifiable Australian heavy vehicle experience.
- Heavy trailers - Certificate III in Heavy Vehicle Commercial Trailer Technology (or equivalent), or LV/HV qualification plus 12 months verifiable Australian heavy trailer experience.

3. Vehicle transfers between accredited operators

A currently nominated vehicle may be added to a new accredited operator without a new HVIR if:

The vehicle was previously included in another accredited operator's accreditation; and
The vehicle is added to the new operator's accreditation within 14 days of being removed from the previous accreditation.

Operators should retain records demonstrating the date the vehicle was removed from the previous accreditation and added to the new accreditation.

If the 14-day period is exceeded, current roadworthiness evidence will be required before the vehicle can be added.

Further information

For more information about adding new vehicles or transferring vehicles between accredited operators or HVA accreditation requirements, please contact us.