australian car import laws changing 2022 Page 4

Short version: there wasn’t a dramatic new law in 2022—Australia was bedding in the Road Vehicle Standards Act (RVSA) that replaced the old MVSA.

The big practical shift was the Register of Approved Vehicles (RAV) taking over from compliance/import plates, so if a car isn’t on the RAV, it’s basically a very shiny paperweight.

Specialist and Enthusiast Vehicle Scheme (SEVS) rules continued under the RVSA, meaning only approved models can come in via workshops, and the long-loved 25-year concessional import pathway remained for the DIY nostalgics.

Personal imports of brand-new mainstream cars still weren’t a thing, and state rego requirements still apply once the federal hoops are cleared.

Bottom line: in 2022 it was evolution, not revolution—check the RAV and SEVS lists first, then budget for compliance like an adult.