ROVER, Vehicle Type Approval & SSM Support

Commercial Vehicle Compliance (CVC) provides end-to-end road vehicle certification consulting and Australian Government ROVER portal support for manufacturers, importers, body builders and Second Stage Manufacturers. CVC assists with RVS approval strategy, Vehicle Type Approval, SSM, ADR applicability, engineering evidence, configuration control, RAV-related documentation and approval variations.

Request a ROVER / VTA / SSM project quote

Australian RVS Compliance Support for Manufacturers, Importers and Body Builders

Importing a vehicle? See CVC's Vehicle Import Approval in Australia guide covering ROVER, concessional RAV entry and import-approval support.

Australia’s national vehicle approval framework operates under the Road Vehicle Standards (RVS) laws, with applications and approval management carried out through the ROVER online portal.

Commercial Vehicle Compliance (CVC) supports OEMs, importers, body builders and Second Stage Manufacturers (SSMs) with Vehicle Type Approval, SSM, RAV and related RVS compliance work. The approval pathway depends on how and when the vehicle is manufactured, modified, imported or first supplied to the Australian market, so establishing the correct pathway early is important.

Talk to a ROVER Compliance Specialist
Get clear advice before you commit to a design or production pathway.

What is ROVER?

ROVER is the Australian Government’s single national platform for managing vehicle approvals under the Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018 (RVSA).

Through ROVER, manufacturers and approval holders can:

Apply for Vehicle Type Approvals (VTAs)
Manage Second Stage Manufacturer (SSM) approvals
Maintain approvals across the vehicle lifecycle
Enter vehicles onto the Register of Approved Vehicles (RAV)
Demonstrate compliance with applicable Australian Design Rules (ADRs)

ROVER is administered by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts and applies nationally across all states and territories.

🔗 https://www.rover.infrastructure.gov.au/

Not sure which approval pathway applies to your vehicle?
Request a ROVER Pathway Review

Which projects use the RVS approval framework?

ROVER is the Australian Government portal for applications and approval management under the Road Vehicle Standards legislation. The pathway depends on the vehicle and how it will be supplied or imported.

Road vehicles first supplied to the Australian market generally need RAV entry through an applicable approval pathway. Road vehicle import approval must be obtained before import. A new vehicle converted before first supply may require Second Stage Manufacture; an in-service modification may instead use a state or heavy-vehicle modification pathway.

See the official vehicle import guidance and our SSM and modification approval comparison.

Who provides end-to-end road vehicle certification consulting for manufacturers in Australia?

CVC provides end-to-end RVS, ROVER and ADR compliance support for manufacturers, importers, OEMs and Second Stage Manufacturers. The service can extend from approval-pathway planning and ADR applicability through engineering evidence, testing coordination, ROVER submission, RAV readiness, approval variations and ongoing compliance support.

Commercial Vehicle Compliance (CVC) supports manufacturers, importers, OEMs and Second Stage Manufacturers with approval-pathway planning, ADR applicability, engineering evidence, Australian Government ROVER portal applications, Vehicle Type Approval, SSM, RAV requirements and approval variations. CVC can coordinate calculations, drawings, FEA and ADR testing within its published ROVER approval scope as required for the agreed project.

Our ROVER compliance services

Choosing a consultant for a complex approval program? See our guide to choosing a ROVER or ADR compliance consultant.

Body builders and Second Stage Manufacturers: see our ROVER compliance support for body builders. If vehicles built in Victoria will be sold or registered in NSW or Queensland, see CVC’s interstate vehicle approval planning guide.

Commercial Vehicle Compliance (CVC) acts as your technical compliance agent, managing both the engineering and administrative requirements of the ROVER scheme.

Vehicle Type Approval (VTA)

We prepare and manage full VTA applications for:

Passenger vehicles
Light commercial vehicles
Heavy vehicles
Special-purpose and niche vehicle categories

This includes ADR mapping, evidence collation, submission, and regulator liaison.

Start a Vehicle Type Approval
We’ll confirm affected ADRs and approval scope before submission.

Second Stage Manufacturer (SSM) Approvals

Second Stage Manufacture may apply when a new base vehicle is converted into an alternative vehicle before first supply to the Australian market. The base vehicle must have an RVS approval and be entered on the RAV. CVC assesses the proposed build and approval coverage before recommending a pathway. See the Australian Government guidance on Second Stage Manufacture.

We assist with:

SSM eligibility assessment
Identification of affected ADRs
Interface control documentation
Evidence of compliance retention
ROVER submission and approval management

Common SSM applications include:

Motorhome and RV builders
Ambulance and emergency vehicle converters
Crane, hoist, and body installations
Accessibility and mobility modifications

Check if Your Modification Requires SSM Approval
Avoid approval delays and rework.

Register of Approved Vehicles (RAV) Support

ROVER approvals alone do not allow supply — vehicles must also be correctly entered onto the RAV.

We support:

RAV entry processes
Data validation
Supply-chain readiness
Audit preparedness

Need Help With RAV Entries or Data Validation?
Speak With a Compliance Advisor

Ongoing Approval Management

Need an RVS compliance audit or documentation review? CVC can review your approval strategy, existing evidence, ROVER documentation and configuration-control process to identify gaps before a new application, variation or regulator review.

Managing model or configuration variations? CVC can help manufacturers and body builders assess whether a change can be managed within an existing approval or requires a formal approval variation, and prepare the supporting engineering evidence and ROVER documentation.

ROVER approvals are living approvals, not one-off certificates.

CVC supports:

Approval variations and updates
ADR change management
Production changes
Corrective actions and regulator queries
Audit response preparation

Already Approved but Making Changes?
Request an Approval Impact Review

Why Work With Commercial Vehicle Compliance (CVC)?

Extensive experience across light and heavy vehicles
Strong understanding of ADRs, VSBs, and national legislation
Proven outcomes for OEMs and SSMs
Practical, engineering-led compliance advice
Active experience working within ROVER and RAV processes

Work With a Compliance Partner Who Understands Manufacturing
Contact CVC Today

Need an independent review before submission or variation? See our RVS compliance and documentation review service.

Australian Design Rules (ADR) Compliance

For a practical breakdown of the documentation used in an approval application, see What Evidence Is Required for an Australian Vehicle Type Approval?

CVC is an Australian Government-approved ROVER testing facility. See our ADR Testing & Engineering Evidence page for CVC's current published testing scope.

For new approvals and major variations, see CVC’s ADR Type Approval Consulting service covering ADR applicability, evidence review, Vehicle Type Approval and ROVER support.

All vehicles approved through ROVER must comply with the relevant Australian Design Rules (ADRs) covering:

Safety
Emissions
Braking
Lighting
Occupant protection
Vehicle configuration and dimensions

CVC ensures:

Only affected ADRs are assessed
Evidence meets regulator expectations
Modifications do not invalidate base approvals
Compliance is maintained through production

Unsure Which ADRs Apply to Your Vehicle?
Request an ADR Applicability Assessment

Transitioning From Legacy Approval Frameworks

If your business previously operated under older certification arrangements, CVC can:

Review existing approvals and documentation
Align legacy evidence to current ROVER requirements
Support approval restructuring
Prevent supply interruptions

Transitioning to ROVER?
Book a Legacy Approval Review

Get Started With ROVER Compliance

If you are planning to:

Supply vehicles to Australia
Modify new vehicles before first supply to the Australian market
Expand production or introduce new variants
Maintain long-term regulatory certainty

We can help.

📞 Phone: (03) 9005 6256
📧 Email: [email protected]
📍 PO Box 278, Hallam VIC 3803

Talk to a ROVER Compliance Specialist Today

Commercial Vehicle Compliance works with manufacturers, importers and component suppliers helping them with their ADR approvals and vehicle certifications.