Accredited bus plates
Accredited Bus Service number plates are issued to identify buses that are operated by an accredited bus service.
Get Accredited Bus Service number plates
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To apply for accredited bus service plates, you will need:
- Evidence that you are an accredited bus operator, for example the original letter granting accreditation, signed by the Director Bus Safety, Transport Safety Victoria.
- Written confirmation that Transport Safety Victoria has agreed that the accredited person is the person operating the bus service, if the bus is registered in another person’s name
- To visit a VicRoads Customer Service Centre that provides accredited bus number plate and registration transactions.
Fees apply for the issue and replacement of accredited bus number plates.
Buses registered through dealerships or VicRoads Customer Service Centre’s not holding the accredited bus plates will be issued with general issue number plates. You will need to apply for a change of number at a VicRoads Customer Service Centre that provides accredited bus number plate and registration transactions.
Changes to Accredited Bus Service number plates
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Once issued, accredited bus service number plates must remain on the vehicle to which they are assigned until they are cancelled, a change of number occurs, or the plates are transferred to another vehicle.
The bus is no longer operated by an accredited bus service
You must remove the accredited bus service number plates from the bus.
Return them to us and you’ll be issued with general issue number plates that you can affix to the bus.
Transferring the registration of a bus with accredited bus service number plates
The transfer of registration for a bus with accredited bus service number plates between operators is permitted provided each operator is accredited. Contact VicRoads to arrange the transfer.
Disposing of a bus with accredited bus service number plates
If you are disposing of a bus that has accredited bus service plates, you may retain these plates for reissuing to the replacement bus. Contact VicRoads to assign the plates to the replacement bus.
Accredited Bus Service plate style
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The accredited bus service plate series display the words:
- “Accredited bus” and have four numerals followed with a suffix of AO, or
- “Accredited bus service” and have a prefix of two letters followed by the numerals and a suffix of two letters.
The Bus Safety Act 2009 requires that all buses fitted with 10 or more seats, including the driver’s seat and operating commercially within, or partially within, the State of Victoria must be operated by accredited bus operators.
A Bus is defined in the Bus Safety Act 2009 as:
- a motor vehicle that has been built with seating positions for 10 or more adults (including the driver) and to comply with the requirements specified in the Australian Design Rules for a passenger omnibus (within the meaning of those Rules);
Limousines are specifically excluded from this definition.
Accredited Bus Service number plates will only be issued to buses operated by persons, who have been granted bus operator accreditation by the Director Bus Safety, Transport Safety Victoria (External link) to operate bus services.