Frequently Asked Questions
VASS (Vehicle Assessment Signatory Scheme) certification is required for modified, imported, or individually constructed vehicles to ensure they meet Victorian road safety and registration standards. If your vehicle has been significantly altered or comes from overseas, you likely need VASS certification before registration.
VASS certification is generally required for:
- Heavy vehicles and trucks with custom modifications
- Modified production vehicles (e.g. engine swaps, suspension changes, body alterations)
- Individually constructed vehicles (ICVs)
- Personal or grey imports (including Left-hand drive vehicles)
The timeframe depends on the complexity of the modifications and the completeness of the documentation. A straightforward inspection might take a full day, while more complex cases can be longer.
Depending on your circumstances, you’ll need:
- Any supporting photos or reports related to the vehicle’s build or modifications
- Proof of vehicle ownership / or prior registration
- Engineering drawings or modification details
- Import approval documents with supporting prior registration history
It’s best to consult a VASS engineer early in your project to ensure compliance, but final certification requires a completed and roadworthy vehicle. Pre-inspection advice can save time and money later and is highly recommended. If you’re embarking on a new project, please get in touch asap so that one of our experts can guide you in the process.
If your vehicle doesn’t pass, your engineer will issue an assessment summary report outlining the issues. You’ll need to correct these and book a follow-up inspection to gain certification. This can incur a minor additional cost, but is likely to be more time off the road, so it’s always best to have the vehicle ready and in good shape prior to the first inspection.
Costs vary depending on the type of vehicle and the extent of the modifications. Prices typically start around a few hundred dollars for basic certifications and increase for complex or custom builds.
