Get a club permit

To get a club permit you first need to join an approved VicRoads vehicle club or association.

Eligible vehicles include the following:

• Veteran vehicles manufactured before 1 January 1919. Includes trailers, heavy vehicles and modified vehicles such as street rods.
• Vintage vehicles manufactured after 31 December 1918 and before 1 January 1931. Includes trailers, heavy vehicles and modified vehicles such as street rods.
• Classic and historic vehicles manufactured after 31 December 1930. Includes trailers, heavy vehicles and modified vehicles such as street rods. This category can also include replica vehicles. A replica is an individually constructed light motor vehicle that closely resembles the appearance and dimensions of the original production vehicle. 
  
  All vehicles in this category must be more than 25 years older than the date on your club permit application.

Finding the date of manufacture

If you don’t know your vehicle’s date of manufacture, use one of the methods below: 

1. Register of Approved Vehicles (RAV) – the RAV build date. If there is no RAV entry, then
2. The Australian compliance plate – the date on the plate is its date of manufacture.
3. If the vehicle has neither a RAV entry or an Australian compliance plate, then the date of manufacture can be identified from the vehicle build plate.

Vehicle standards

You need to ensure that your vehicle complies with vehicle standards for the date of its manufacture. 

If your vehicle is imported and has been issued with a vehicle identification number (VIN), the VIN must be stamped on the vehicle. More information about importing a road vehicle is available on the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (DITRDCA) website.

If your vehicle has been modified, you’ll also need to ensure it meets the relevant standards. Read the standards for club permit vehicles information on the Transport Victoria website.

Vehicle safety

Use the vehicle safety inspection checklist to check your vehicle is safe to use on the road. The checklist is for guidance only, you’ll still need to complete a vehicle eligibility and standards declaration for club permit vehicles and a certificate of roadworthiness (if required) when you register the vehicle.

Registration rules

You can’t get a club permit for vehicles which: 

• are currently registered
• are recorded as a statutory write-off on the Victorian or an interstate written-off vehicles register.
• have a Fines Victoria or hoon sanction
• are recorded as stolen
• aren't safe to use on a road or road-related area
• already have a club permit recorded for it.

Check whether you need to have any of these documents before you submit your application.

Certificate of roadworthiness

You'll need to get a certificate of roadworthiness if your club permit vehicle was manufactured on or after 1 January 1949, unless it's a:

• street rod
• light trailer
• plant-based special purpose vehicle such as a tractor.

You can get a certificate of roadworthiness from a licensed vehicle tester (External link).

For vehicles manufactured on or before 31 December 1948, it’s optional to get a certificate of roadworthiness. The club scrutineer or official may inspect and declare the vehicle to be safe to use on the road.

Vehicle Assessment Signatory Scheme (VASS) approval certificate

You’ll need to get a Vehicles Assessment Signatory Scheme (VASS) approval certificate if the vehicle: 

• Has been modified outside what’s permitted in the vehicle standards or the guidelines.
• Is a replica that hasn’t previously been registered or issued with a club permit.
• Is a street rod that hasn’t previously been registered in Australia or permitted as a street rod in Victoria.
• Wasn’t originally produced for the Australian market and has no compliance plate or previous Australian registration history. And was manufactured after 31 December 1968 and for motorcycles, manufactured after 30 June 1975.

If you already have a VASS club permit approval for any previous modifications to your vehicle and you haven’t made any more, you don’t need a new VASS club permit approval.

Learn more about the VASS scheme (External link) on the Transport Victoria website.

Street rod permit

If you have a street rod, you may need an inspection permit from the Australian Street Rod Federation (External link). Learn more about Modified and non-standard vehicles (External link) on the Transport Victoria website.

 

When you have your certificates and permits get the below forms signed by your vehicle club.

Vehicle eligibility and standards declaration for club permit vehicles form

An approved office bearer from your club should sign the Vehicle eligibility and standards declaration for club permit vehicles form, declaring that the vehicle is safe to use on the road and meets relevant vehicle standards requirements. For vehicles manufactured after 31 December 1948, the approved office bearer can only sign the form if the Certificate of Roadworthiness is current and within 30 days of the application. If it’s older than that, you’ll need to get a new one.

Club permit application form

Complete and sign the Club permit application. If you’re registering as a company, ensure you address the form to the name of the company or incorporated association that is listed as the permit holder, not to an individual representative or company director.

Have your application signed by an approved office bearer of the vehicle club or association. 

If you want to apply for ‘SR’ plates, you’ll need to have your club permit application endorsed by an authorised representative of the Australian Street Rod Federation.

We need to receive your signed and dated application within 30 days of the declaration date on the Vehicle eligibility and standards declaration for club permit vehicles form. If we don’t receive it in that timeframe, you’ll need to apply again.

Documents that you need to submit with your application

• your evidence of identity for the Club Permit holder and if applicable, for your authorised agent 
• If the Club Permit holder will be a company or incorporated association a completed authority to act as an agent form. Visit register on behalf of someone else for more information.
• original completed Club Permit application form
• original completed Vehicle Eligibility and Standards Declaration for Club Permit Vehicles form
• an original certificate of roadworthiness (for vehicles manufactured after 1948, it is optional for pre-1949 manufactured vehicles)
• evidence the vehicle was manufactured for the Australian market (e.g. photo of the Australian compliance plate or build plate fitted to the vehicle) or previous Australian registration history (e.g. Australian registration number). 
• payment of fees including TAC, registration, number plate and log book fees
• an original VASS approval certificate (if applicable, refer to the above section Step 3: Check what certificates you need for more details).

Note: All documents must be original as certified copies or fax are not accepted.

Submitting Club Permit applications

To submit your application visit a VicRoads Customer Service Centre (pay by VISA, Mastercard*, cheque, EFTPOS or cash)

Note: If the vehicle is still registered interstate the plates must be returned to VicRoads. If the plates cannot be returned, contact the interstate authority to update their system.

* A card payment fee (External link) applies

Classic and historic vehicles and modified vehicle applicants

At the Customer Service Centre you'll be issued a Club Permit on the spot and get the number plates, log book, Club Permit certificate and labels.

Street rod, veteran and vintage vehicles applicants

You can submit your street rod, veteran or vintage Club Permit by either:

• visiting a VicRoads Customer Service Centre (your Club Permit will not be issued on the spot)
• mailing it, along with your payment (cheque only) to: VicRoads GPO BOX 1644 MELBOURNE VIC 3001 (for Victorian licence or learner permit holders only).

At the Customer Service Centre, your documents and evidence of identity will be checked and your payment taken.

When your application has been accepted and approved, we will send you paperwork. You will need to:

• attach the Club Permit certificate to the inside cover of your logbook
• attach the windscreen label to the vehicle to assist in identifying vehicles operating with a current permit
• affix the allocated Club Permit number plates to your vehicle
• follow the conditions of use for Club Permit vehicles.