Australian Compliance Plate

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

1983 BJ42 LX

1983 BJ42 LX

10 Year
Joined
Oct 10, 2012
Threads
22
Messages
68
Location
AUSTRALIND, Western Australia
Hi

I have a discussion topic regarding compliance plate on an Australian BJ42. I have owned this vehicle for over 7 years and can never recall seeing the plate stating which Australian Design Rules the vehicle complies with. I have owned another BJ42 (1982) which had this plate fitted but my 1983 model has no obvious holes in the firewall where the plate should have been. My vehicle has the identification plate which identifies engine, transmission colour and trim specs.

Can anyone shed some light on the following
1. Were the compliance plates in a different location on the 1983 models.

2. Is there any chance my vehicle was never fitted with such plate.

I have attached a picture of what the plate looks like.

Any help appreciated.
ID Plate.webp
 
Have a look on the inside of the front guard, that's where it's located on some '81-'82 models. My '81 FJ 45 has it on the passenger side inside front guard. Of course, if someone has changed front guards and not noticed, you're outta luck.
 
Bugger

That is the reply I was hoping not to hear, the guy who had it before me laid it over on its side, I bought the car with the replacement guard fitted. Gonna have to search for some one dodgy who makes new plates!!!!
 
Being one of those Yanks from over the pond ... I have never even seen one of these plates... Maybe somebody can start a thread with the different styles as found on cruisers
 
Last edited:
In answer to No. 2, no. It's not possible that the rig was sold without it anymore than it's possible that a car today would be sold without GST and stamp duty. The regulations require that all vehicles on Aussie roads be fitted with them. In SA they check them as part of their random safety checks.
 
compliance plates

Hi LX, Mines an "83, hope the attached help, didnt think the plates were placed on the fender as this could be replaced , whereas the firewall more permanent. Having said that I also have compliance plate as fitted bench seats , so had to go from 3 seater to 6 seater, the plate was fitted to the passenger side wheel arch??
:beer:
IMG_0270.webp
IMG_0278.webp
IMG_0279.webp
 
Thanks

Hey, thank you for input, I also would have thought firewall would be the ideal place, my firewall has the plate with trim and trans details, with pre drilled holes in firewall but no holes anywhere else on the firewall.
 
Not a bj42, but my '77 Australian import fj40 has the Australian compliance plate on the bulkhead above the heater blower. The VIN plate is on the inner fender [mudguard] below the battery which is on the drivers side [RHD] and all original. The compliance plate is riveted with 2 rivets and the VIN plate is screwed in place with 2 screws with one hole in the plate being slotted.
 
You didn't have trouble getting it through Regency with no plate when you brought it down from NT? If you get caught in a random safety inspection you may need to do some quick taking.

One of my mates in Adelaide had an ex-RAAF 47 and had a hard time getting a compliance plate for it. He took it back and forth to Regency about half a dozen times before he decided to part it out. He bought a rooted 47 with a plate and 'put everything on it'..... You can guess what parts went on which, but suffice to say that most of the RAAF rig can be seen on the Port Expressway most rush hours.

My 84 has the plate on the bulkhead as well, as has every other Aussie Cruiser I've had. I believe the Act specifies where the plate must be so that the Coppers don't have to search for it when doing safety stops.
 
In typical Australian Polly double-speak, here is the requirement that they be fitted:

http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/mvsa1989245/s10.html

it is up to Anthony Albanese (remember that unlike the US where some states require some things and other states require other things, vehicle compliance and requirements are Federal in Australia and thus uniform throughout. It is then up to the states to enforce it.) to decide the exact location (nothing in Aussie politics is ever easy to determine - it is what keeps us lawyers in business), but I suspect one would find it in the road rules, RAWS and SEVS (likely different for each class of vehicle, just to keep the electorate on their toes). As you can see, it is a requirement that all vehicles be fitted with the plate.

Just to add to the fun, if Mr Albanese decides to change the location, he will Gazette the changes and the onus will be on the motorist to know-of and comply with the changes.
 
Last edited:
I have had the vehicle registered in the Northern Territory where the inspection station did not even mention the plate was missing ( and nor was I aware of it being missing) It was not until I posted to Brisbane that I was made aware of the problem when I hade a roadworthy done, well transport there just required a stat dec and rego was done, then I relocated to Perth where again no questions were asked. It was only in South Australia that I have received the most grief!

I am due to return to WA and I have planned ahead and phoned dept of transport over there to be told they have no requirement for compliance plate to be fitted.
 
As I said, Canberra requires it, but it is up to the states to enforce it. SA is a VERY strict state for compliance issues and derives much of their income from issuing expiation notices for vehicular safety infractions (which is why random safety stops are so popular). This is ironic really, since there is no inspection there once a rig is registered in SA.

SA also has the highest per capita issuance of expiation notices for bicycle infractions like riding without a little bike helmet, not having proper lighting and not wearing visible clothing.

Technically speaking, I believe it is arguable that taking a car which is not fitted with a compliance plate interstate is a federal crime, but I cannot imagine anyone ever enforcing it.

God, am I happy to be back in the States....
 
82HJ47 said:
Not a bj42, but my '77 Australian import fj40 has the Australian compliance plate on the bulkhead above the heater blower. The VIN plate is on the inner fender [mudguard] below the battery which is on the drivers side [RHD] and all original. The compliance plate is riveted with 2 rivets and the VIN plate is screwed in place with 2 screws with one hole in the plate being slotted.
Click to expand...

I meant to reply to this thread earlier but didn't get aroudn to taking a picture. I can confirm that my VIN plate (75 HJ45) is located on the drivers side fender (RHD) directly besides the battery. No holes on the firewall, so I will have to check the bulkhead inside the cab for the compliance plate.


IMG_20130713_135031_434.jpg
 
Ex Army HJ 47

I can confirm that my ex army HJ47 has does not have a compliance plate. I recently had this bought into question when I registered it in NSW, I was told by the maratime and roads technical department that it could be registered without one provided it had been registered in another state for 2 or more years or if it had been registered in NSW previously, (it had been registered in VIC since 1998). I have also been told by a mate who works in Vehicle imports in Canberra, that a compliance plate is only mandatory on vehicles imported post 1989. It could be argued that as this is a federal requirement that it should apply to the states as well. In any case this is not a mandatory requirement in NSW.
 
Here's mine:

CompliancePlate.webp

It was on my LH inner mudguard facing vertical near my battery. (On the flat surface above where the plate is in twoH's photo.)

I removed it and welded over the holes when I repainted that guard.

The way the Aussi authorities had fitted it was extreeeeemly rough with the pop-rivet holes clearly having been hammered through the sheetmetal (rather than drilled) because there were deep indentations around them.

:cheers:

PS. Bought my 1979 BJ40 in Perth and flew it to Auckland, New Zealand (after driving it to Sydney and a helluva lot of other places first).
CompliancePlate.webp
 
I know this is an old thread but...
My father in law bought his hj47 troopy from BHP in 1985 and struggled to find one of the compliance plates. While giving the troopy a vacuum today, I pulled up the floor matting on the drivers side and found it under the seat. It's stamped "L/Cruiser Bus" with no seating capacity marked.

20170212_140047.webp
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom