A Dealer Identification Plate (Trade Plate) can be issued to a dealer or manufacturer of vessels to display on unregistered vessels while demonstrating the vessel to a prospective buyer, carrying out repairs, testing the vessel or delivering the vessel to a purchaser.

Eligibility
To apply for a Dealer Identification Plate, you must be a dealer or manufacturer of vessels. The plate can only be assigned to a person or to a company incorporated under the Companies Act. It cannot be issued to a business or trade name.

How to apply for a dealer identification plate
To apply for a Dealer Identification Plate you will need to complete the Boat Trade Plate application form and send it to VicRoads along with the appropriate fees.

• You can download the Boat Trade Plate (PDF 18kb) form online. It is also available from any VicRoads Customer Service Centre (Mon-Thu 8.30am - 4.30pm; Fri 8.30am - 5.00pm) or by calling VicRoads on 13 11 71 (Mon-Sat 8.30am - 5.00pm)
• Send the completed form to:

VicRoads
GPO Box 1644
Melbourne 3001

The plates and dealer number will then be mailed out. You can apply for up to three plates on the original application form.

Fees
Annual fees are:

• $66.70 for the assignment of a general identification number; and
• $14.10 for each dealer plate.

For example:

Fees for the issue of a dealer number and three plates would be as follows:

• make sure the plate is fixed to the unregistered boat where it can be clearly seen and is distinguishable from a distance of 20 metres from the boat
• keep a record of the name and address of each person who operates a boat on which the dealer plate was displayed

Conditions of issue of the dealer identification plate
A dealer or manufacturer that has been issued with a dealer identification plate must abide by the following conditions:

• must make sure the plate is displayed on the vessel at all times
• must not use, or allow the vessel to be used, for any purpose other than to:
  1. operate the vessel from place to place while it is in the process of being manufactured
  2. operate the vessel from place of manufacture to the place where it will be sold
  3. test the vessel
  4. demonstrate the vessel to a prospective buyer
  5. delivering the vessel for sale or after sale
  6. carry out repairs to the vessel
  7. return the vessel to the owner after it has been repaired
• must not allow the vessel to be operated by a person other than the manufacturer or dealer or a person employed by the manufacturer or dealer.