VanAssist travel rules & safety

Know the rules before the next road takes you across a border.

Official caravan, motorhome, camper trailer, towing, loading, roadworthy and modification resources — organised by jurisdiction for Australian travellers.

Build a guided check Search all rules How updates work

AUS 3 sources ACT 2 sources NSW 4 sources VIC 3 sources QLD 3 sources SA 4 sources WA 3 sources TAS 2 sources NT 3 sources

Official regulatory sources

Find the official rule that applies.

Choose a jurisdiction first. National technical codes do not replace state and territory approval, inspection or registration requirements.

3 official resources

Downloads open on the issuing authority’s website.

AUS Current

Load restraint

Load Restraint Guide 2025

Official best-practice load restraint guidance covering loading performance standards, systems and worked examples for road vehicles.

Utes & light trucks Heavy Vehicle Trailers 4wd

Issued by: National Heavy Vehicle Regulator
Version: 2025 edition
Source check: 28 Jul 2026

View official rules

AUS Current

Trailer construction

Vehicle Standards Bulletin 1 — Trailers with an ATM of 4.5 tonnes or less

Official national guidance helping low-ATM trailer manufacturers understand applicable Australian Design Rule requirements under the Road Vehicle Standards legislation.

Trailers

Issued by: Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts
Version: Revision 6 — July 2025
Effective: 29 Jul 2025
Source check: 28 Jul 2026

View official rules

AUS Current

Codes of practice

Vehicle Standards Bulletin 14 — National Code of Practice for Light Vehicle Construction and Modification

National technical code for construction and modification of light vehicles up to 4.5 tonnes. State and territory approval and registration processes still apply.

Cars Utes & light trucks Motorcycle Trailers Individually Constructed 4wd

Issued by: Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts
Version: Live document collection
Source check: 28 Jul 2026

View official rules

Current means checked

A living source register, not a forgotten links page.

VanAssist fingerprints each official page or document on a schedule. When its bytes change, the affected record leaves the public library until the new version, effective date and plain-language description have been reviewed.

01
Monitor
Check official authority pages and downloads daily.
02
Detect
Compare source fingerprints, versions and effective dates.
03
Review
Hold changed material back until a person verifies it.
04
Publish
Restore the verified official link with a clear current status.

Important:

VanAssist provides access to official sources and general navigation help. It does not provide legal advice, engineering certification, a roadworthy certificate or approval to modify a vehicle. Requirements depend on the vehicle, manufacture date, intended modification and jurisdiction. The issuing authority’s current material always governs.