Vehicles fitted with gas fuel systems

Who can do conversions?

In Victoria, only service providers with an Alternative Fuel Systems Assessment and Certification Scheme (AFSACS) Agreement with VicRoads in place are approved to undertake gas fuel system conversions.  Conversion work undertaken by a provider without a current AFSACS Agreement in place will not considered an acceptable modification by VicRoads. It may also be unacceptable to vehicle insurance providers. 

Compliance requirements

All Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG), Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) installations to vehicles must comply with the relevant technical requirements of the Australian Standard current at the time of conversion.

The structural integrity of the vehicle and its continued compliance with standards of registration must not be adversely affected by the installation.

LPG conversions

If the vehicle was converted on or after 1 February 1993, an approved AS 1425 LPG compliance plate must be fitted to the vehicle at the time of the conversion. Vehicles fitted with LPG systems are required to have an 'LP Gas' plate attached to the vehicle number plates, including bike rack number plates. 

CNG conversions

All Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) installations must comply with the technical requirements of the Australian Standards AS 2739 current at the time of conversion. If the vehicle was converted to CNG after 1 August 2000, an approved AS 2739 CNG compliance plate must be fitted to the vehicle at the time of the conversion.

LNG conversions

All LNG installations must comply with the technical requirements of the version of Australian Standard AS/NZS 2739 current at the time of conversion and be fitted with an acceptable NG compliance plate if converted to operate on LNG on or after 16 March 2009.

If you are the owner of a vehicle that is being fitted with a gas fuel system, you must notify VicRoads of your vehicle’s modification by providing an LPG/CNG conversion report. You'll find this form on the back of the VicRoads' Vehicle Standard Information 27 [PDF 509 Kb]. This report needs to be signed by an approved AFSACS (Alternative Fuel Systems Assessment and Certification Scheme) provider. VicRoads may consider accepting certification issued by other recognised state and territory authorities.

No inspection of the vehicle by VicRoads is required.

Note: If significant alterations are made to the vehicle to accommodate the gas system, an engineering assessment of the modification may be required. Please consult with your installer to establish whether your modification has changed the structural integrity of your vehicle, in which case a Vehicle Assessment Signatory Scheme (VASS) approval certificate will be required. 

Submit your form(s) to VicRoads by:

• posting to VicRoads, GPO Box 1644, MELBOURNE VIC 3001 or
• visiting a VicRoads Customer Service Centre.

Decommissioning a gas fuel system

VicRoads must be notified of any changes made to the vehicle, including the change in fuel type using the LPG/LNG/CNG Conversion Report. You'll find this form on the back of VicRoads' Vehicle Standard Information 27 [PDF 509 Kb]. This report needs to be signed by an approved AFSACS provider.

In Victoria, only service providers that have a current Alternative Fuel Systems Assessment and Certification Scheme (AFSACS) Agreement with VicRoads are approved to undertake any of the the below conversions.

LPG

A vehicle that has undergone approved conversion to LPG, requires to be re-certified every 10 years. The 10-year re-inspection is determined from the date of the last container test. The LPG fuel system requires periodic safety inspections, routine servicing and general maintenance. 

CNG

A vehicle that has undergone an approved conversion to CNG requires the CNG Container to be recertified periodically. There are two types of CNG containers that can be fitted to vehicles and the recertification requirements differ:

• In the case of all-steel containers, the recertification must be conducted every five (5) years and,
• In the case of fibreglass reinforced plastic (FRP) wrapped steel cylinders three (3) years.

The CNG system requires periodic safety inspections, routine servicing and general maintenance.  

LNG

A vehicle that has undergone approved conversion to LNG requires the LNG container to have a visual external inspection every 5 years and the pressure relief devices replaced at a period not exceeding 10 years. The LNG system requires periodic safety inspections, routine servicing and general maintenance. 

You can search online for a provider that is approved by VicRoads to work on vehicles fitted with gas fuel systems here: 

• Find an AFSACS provider