When you’re in the heavy vehicle industry, there are many reasons why you need to get RVSA certification. While it is mandatory, you might wonder if it’s completely necessary or whether it’s just another legislation enforced to make more money. While it might seem like another hoop you need to jump through, it’s helpful to understand how getting your RVSA certification will benefit you.
In this article, we’re going to go through these benefits to motivate you to get everything you need done.
What is RVSA?
The Road Vehicle Standard ACT of 2018 (RVSA) was implemented by the Australian government to regulate all vehicles on the road. It ensures that vehicles meet strict safety and environmental standards before they’re legally allowed into the Australian market and onto the roads.
What does it mean to be RVSA certified?
When your vehicle receives RVSA certification, it means that it has met the strict safety, compliance, and environmental standards set by the RVSA Act. To receive your RVSA certification, your vehicle would need to be registered on the Register of Approved Vehicles, and you’d need to obtain relevant approvals, such as vehicle type approval (required) or component type approval(optional but beneficial).
In a nutshell, this certification largely focuses on the manufacturing quality of imported vehicles and components, ensuring that Australia only receives these items at certain quality standards.
Six benefits of being RVSA certified
Understanding the reasons for having to be RSVA certified can give you some insight into the quality expected for your business. This will allow you to prioritise compliance and safety, as well as optimise your business operation. Here are some of the top benefits of being RVSA certified:
1. Easier access to the Australian Market
For vehicle and parts manufacturers, RVSA is the way that they can enter the Australian automotive market. The Australian government only allows certified manufacturers to supply vehicle parts to the market, ensuring that businesses who want to sell items in the automotive industry need to remain compliant with regulations. When you’re certified, it demonstrates that your vehicle meets the Australian Design Rules for safety, security, and emissions. Without this, your vehicle or parts won’t be allowed into the market.
2. Improves your credibility
With an RVSA certification, businesses demonstrate their compliance with Australia’s strict safety, environmental, and quality standards. As a result, this provides these businesses with credibility and trust as they take their products to market. When customers see that their products are certified for sale and use, it fosters a sense of trust in the product, knowing that it’s met the standards to be considered safe for Australian consumers to use. Over time, this builds a good business reputation, giving your business a good name in Australia.
3. Compliance is made easy with the ROVER system
While Australia’s laws might seem strict, they’ve made it easy for you to apply for your RVSA certification through the ROVER system, an online portable that centralises all applications, submissions, management, and tracking, making it easier for companies to stay organised and compliant. On the ROVER system, you can submit applications for Vehicle Type Approval, Component Type Approval, and Concessional RAV Entry approval.
4. Makes component approval easier
Now, while vehicle-type approval is necessary for imported cars, component-type approval is optional, but it is beneficial and recommended. By getting component-type approval, businesses demonstrate that they’ve gone the extra mile to prove that their parts are acceptable and in accordance with RVSA standards.
In addition to this, vehicle manufacturers also benefit. By having vehicle components approved, they can shorten the time it takes to manufacture the car and put it on the market.
5. Enhanced safety
The RVSA is all about safety and quality. As you’d imagine, putting in the effort to meet these requirements would ensure that your vehicle or components are made well from high-quality materials and designed to ensure safety and reliability.
6. Access to register approved vehicles
Finally, through the RAV system (register of approved vehicles), there's access to a digital record of all approved vehicles in Australia. For manufacturers, having a vehicle listed on the RAV system is a clear indication of its certification. Likewise, these online records are also great for addressing issues with compliance and streamlining the WHO approval process altogether.
Final Thoughts
RVSA certification covers you by ensuring that your vehicles and components introduced into the Australian market are of a high standard and safe for the general public or a particular industry to use. This offers you a sense of security, too, knowing that your products have passed inspection and are considered viable for release into the market. So, don’t hesitate—get RVSA certified now.