Seat belts for used imported vehicles - Department of Transport and ...

Vehicle Standards Instruction 

SEAT BELTS FOR USED IMPORTED VEHICLES 

Light Vehicles 

Standards 

Intended audience 

Applies to 

Objective 

Background 

Transport Inspectors: Provides clarification about seat belt standards 

for used imported vehicles. 

Approved Persons: Provides clarification about seat belt standards for 

used imported vehicles before registration. 

Vehicle owner: Provides clarification about seat belt standards for used 

imported vehicles before registration. 

Vehicles that are: 

Number L 3.1 

Issue Date 7 August 2003 

Revision Date 15 December 2005 

• Commercially imported used vehicles, less than 15 years of age 

when imported into Australia; 

• Commercially imported used vehicles built prior to 1/1/89; or 

• Personally imported used vehicles less than 15 years of age. 

NOTE: There is no category for a personally imported vehicle that is 

more than 15 years of age. 

To ensure imported used vehicles comply with Queensland legislated 

vehicle and registration standards. 

At present, different standards apply to the certification of seat belts in 

commercially and personally imported used vehicles. Standards currently 

vary from one import category to another. 

The Department of Transport and Regional Services (DoTaRS) currently 

determines seat belt requirements for imported used vehicles less than 

15 years of age. In their respective jurisdictions, each state and territory 

regulates seat belt requirements for imported used vehicles more than 15 

years of age and all personally imported vehicles. Several Approved 

Persons have been found to be of the incorrect understanding that the 

DoTaRS standard, as detailed in the RAWS Guideline, is applicable to all 

imported used vehicles. 

The purpose of this instruction is to confirm the current seat belt 

standards applicable to commercially imported vehicles and advise of 

changes to those standards relating to personally imported vehicles.

Legislation 

Supporting documents 

Imported vehicles less 

than 15 years old 

Imported vehicles 

manufactured prior to 

1/1/89 

Transport Operations (Road Use Management - Vehicle Standards and 

Safety) Regulation 1999 - s 5. Vehicles must comply with vehicle 

standards. 

Lists when a vehicle is not in a condition for use on a road. 


Safety) Regulation 1999 - s 6 Modifying vehicle. 

Lists when a vehicle is correctly modified for use on a road. 


Safety) Regulation 1999, Schedule 1, Division 2 - Compliance with ADRs. 

Specifies partial exemption to compliance with ADRs and 

compliance/identification plate requirements. 

Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 (Cwlth). 

Code of Practice - Light Motor Vehicles (COPLMV), RAWS Inspection 

Guidelines. 

Commercially imported used vehicles under 15 years of age must comply 

with the requirements under the DoTaRS Registered Automotive 

Workshop Scheme (RAWS). DoTaRS have issued determinations that 

allow importers under the RAWS scheme to retain the existing seat belts 

in the vehicle provided certain requirements are satisfied. 

Should these requirements be satisfied, it is possible and appropriate for 

seat belts that have not been labelled compliant with Australian or 

European standards to be considered at least equivalent to such 

standards and acceptable for use in Australia. 

Please note: Information relating to RAWS acceptable seat belts is 

available at: 

http://raws.dotars.gov.au/raws_online_guide.htm 

and click on "Vehicle Inspection Guide". 

Used vehicles manufactured prior to 1/1/89 and commercially imported 

into Australia must comply with State and Territory registration 

requirements. This is clearly stated as a condition of the import approval 

issued by DoTaRS. 

In Queensland, this requires certification to the COPLMV LO1 code that 

the vehicle complies with specific ADRs. The LO1 code clearly states the 

requirements in Queensland for seat belts to comply with all of the 

requirements of ADR 4/… applicable to the date of manufacture. 

It has been common practice for used vehicle importers to simply replace 

the seat belts with ADR 4/… compliant ones rather than go through the 

time and expense to prove compliance with ADR 4/... 

Those seat belts that are clearly labelled with the statement that they 

comply with ADR 4/… are satisfactory. Otherwise, to retain the original 

seat belts, the Approved Person must obtain proof from the vehicle 

manufacturer or seat belt manufacturer that the belts comply with ADR 

4/…. Proof must be in writing and must list the corresponding 

identification numbers on the seat belt components. 

Page 2 of 4

Personally Imported 

Vehicles 

Approved Person's 

action 

Enquiries 

Seat belts accepted under the RAWS scheme that do not fully comply 

with ADR 4/… are not acceptable. A vehicle fitted with such seat belts is 

defective under the Transport Operations (Road Use Management - 

Vehicle Standards and Safety) Regulation 1999, and cannot be used on a 

road. 

In addition, seat belts in a vehicle manufactured prior to 1/1/89 may be 

worn, damaged or deteriorated. An Approved Person must not pass a 

used belt unless satisfied that it is still roadworthy. 


available at: 



Currently, Queensland Transport (QT) requires personally imported used 

vehicles to be fitted with seat belts that comply with Australian, European 

or British standards. 

QT has recently reviewed this particular requirement and has decided to 

permit RAWS acceptable seat belts as also being suitable for installation 

in personally imported vehicles. As such, it will be acceptable to consider 

RAWS acceptable seat belts as complying with Schedule 1, Part 2, 

Division 2, Section 11 (1)(a) of the Transport Operations (Road Use 

Management – Vehicle Standards and Safety) Regulation 1999 (the 

regulation), effective 11 November 2005. 

A condition of acceptance of the imported seat belts will be that they will 

only be considered suitable for personally imported vehicles if they meet 

all of the applicable guideline requirements set out in the RAWS 

inspection guideline. If the seat belts do not comply with all applicable 

requirements, Australian, European or British Standard seat belts must 

be fitted to the vehicle prior to certification under Code LO3 of the 

COPLMV. Details of seat belts fitted to individual vehicles must be 

recorded by the certifying officer in the Code LO3 checklist. 


available at: 



Approved Person's certifying imported vehicles to codes LO1 and LO3 

must ensure all ADRs or RAWS requirements are fulfilled. Details of seat 

belt labels indicating they comply with ADR 4/… or written proof from the 

vehicle manufacturer/seat belt manufacturer that the belts comply must 

be retained with the LO1 and LO3 Checklists for audit purposes. 

Until such time as LO1 and LO3 Checklists are amended, please ensure 

all required ADRs are certified and where necessary, supplementary 

notes on compliance with ADRs not detailed on the existing checklists are 

attached. 

Regional Senior Transport Inspectors or Land Transport and Safety 

Division - Policy Advice Team on (07) 3253 4851. 


Authorisation 

Issued by Business Manager (Policy Advice).

Seat belts for used imported vehicles - Department of Transport and ...

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