All motor vehicles regardless of whether they are imported or manufactured in Australia must be registered to be allowed on public roads in Victoria.
There are four broad categories for registration in Victoria. Any vehicle that fits within these categories must be registered so it can be operated on a public road. These categories are:
Self propelled cars, 4WD's, vans, trucks, motorcycles, prime movers & buses used on public roads.
Any vehicle/trailer used for commercial use or designed or converted to be towed by a motor vehicle on public roads, e.g caravans, semi-trailers, boat trailers, horse floats and box trailers (small private trailers may be exempt).
Maximum dimensions for trailer registrations are:
- height 4.0 metres (4.3 metres on specified highways - 4.6 metres for livestock, car carriers and some low profile semi trailers)
- length 12.5 metres (13.7 metres for semi trailers)
- width 2.5 metres
Any trailer that exceeds these measurements cannot be registered.
Motorcycles intended for use on local and forest roads outside built up areas (built up areas are defined by speed limits less than 100kph), but not permitted on freeways, state highways, main and tourist roads.
Self propelled vehicles, constructed for specific tasks which may use public roads for access and transportation, and work on public roads e.g. tractor, backhoe, mobile plant, crane, street sweeper, road grader etc.
If a vehicle has a power output of more than 200 watts, it is considered to be a motor vehicle so it must be registered to be driven on public roads.