ROVER and RVSA

BTT Engineering have significant experience with assisting clients in achieving vehicle compliance, having been involved in completing compliance approvals for clients as an agent under the previous Motor Vehicle Standards Act (MVSA) 1989 since 2000. The approval pathway has changed in recent years to now incorporate the Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018 (RVSA), where the ROVER portal can be used to complete

  • Vehicle Type Approvals (VTAs) for motor vehicles and trailers being manufactured

  • Component Type Approvals (CTAs) for vehicle/trailer components

  • Concessional RAV Entries (CREs) for one-off applications for a particular trailer construction amongst other specialty entries

Vehicle Type Approvals (VTA)

Vehicle Type Approvals (VTAs) encompass both vehicles and trailers and are required from July 1, 2023 regardless of what Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) or Australian Design Rule (ADR) category a manufacturer is seeking to build their vehicle to. A VTA is required for any manufacturer seeking to build motor vehicles and also for those looking to build four (4) or more heavy or light trailers in a year. VTAs also cover Second Stage of Manufacture (SSM) for manufacturers looking to build onto an already approved vehicle base.

Some of the VTA applications (and previously IPA applications) we have driven on behalf of our clients include:

  • Tipping dog trailers

  • Semi trailers, including flat deck, tautliner and A-trailer configurations

  • SSM for emergency vehicles such as fire trucks and ambulances

  • Custom bus configurations onto cab/chassis trucks, commercial vans and compliant bus chassis'

  • Pig trailers with a rigid drawbar

  • Light trailers, including TA, TB and TC ADR category approvals

  • Non-Standard trailers being exempted from one or more ADRs, such as overall width, unique axle configurations and drawbar lengths


Competing a VTA requires generation of evidence to show that the vehicle complies with all the required ADRs. As BTT Engineering have significant experience in this space, we are able to assist with the generation of these documents, including ADR62 evidence for a towbar, drawbar or kingpin mounting. This evidence is also required to be submitted for the majority of Concessional RAV Entry (CRE) approval submissions. For light trailers we have a number of pre-approved drawbar designs available for purchase, each design complete with drawings and a report, saving clients time and money getting their design individually assessed. More information on this can be found here

All VTA (and CTA) holders are required to have a Quality Management System (QMS) in place if they do not already hold ISO9001 accreditation in their area of approval. BTT Engineering through our own ISO9001 process have been able to develop a QMS template available to purchase for clients requiring help starting and documenting their own QMS. The QMS will still require some input from the client, as procedures around sales and product design will be unique to each business. We can offer consultancy regarding implementing this with your business, with our full day Conformity of Production audits providing clients with a great understanding of their responsibilities while highlighting areas which can be improved on.

For clients looking to submit a VTA, a VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) structure will need to be obtained from NEVDIS. More information on this can be found here


Concessional RAV Entry (CRE) Approvals

Concessional RAV Entry (CRE) approvals utilise the same evidence as VTAs, with the exception of not requiring a QMS. This pathway enables clients to build a home made trailer or a particular custom design trailer not required to be mass produced. CRE approval submissions we have completed on behalf of our clients include

  • Heavy (greater than 4500kg) boat trailers

  • Custom heavy special use trailers

  • Single build dog trailers, pig trailers and semi trailers

  • Armoured vehicles

Component Type Approvals (CTAs)

Component Type Approvals (CTAs) cover any road vehicle component looking to hold approval to a particular ADR. The benefit to a part manufacturer in holding a CTA is that they can supply clients with the relevant CTA number(s) for the part instead of needing to provide the complete test report, potentially containing confidential or sensitive intellectual property. Having parts approved under a CTA also makes it easier for a client looking to put together evidence for their VTA or CRE submissions. CTA submissions we have made on behalf of our clients include

  • Towbars

  • Tow Couplings

  • Lighting

  • Tyres

  • Brakes

  • Trailer chassis’

How we can help

BTT Engineering will tailor an offering to suit the needs of each client. We can complete full designs for a new concept, collate evidence for a submission or just offer consultancy on certain areas of an approval. If you are a client looking for assistance or further information on any of the above items, please click here. We would love to hear from you.