Special Interest Vehicle Concession Scheme guide
Conditions of use for special interest vehicles
The following conditions of use are imposed by the Department of Transport and Main Roads when we grant any application to pay a concessional registration fee for a special interest vehicle under the Transport Operations (Road Use Management-Vehicle Registration) Regulation 2021.
Using a special interest vehicle is restricted. The vehicle must not be used for:
- General purposes – for example, to commute to and from the registered operator's place of employment, running down to the shops, and other forms of everyday vehicle use.
- Hire or reward – a fee cannot be charged for use of the vehicle, and the owner cannot receive any consideration or reward for supplying the vehicle.
- Providing a booked hire service – to use your vehicle to provide a booked hire service you need to meet the requirements of a booked hire service licences.
You and anyone driving your special interest vehicle must only use the vehicle for:
- participating in incorporated vehicle club rallies or events (of your own car club, another car club or the Australian Street Rod Federation), including impromptu events as long as the event has been sanctioned by your own car club.
- a rally is a social event where a parade of special interest vehicles travel together for competition or to meet at an agreed location. Rallies and events must be listed before the event in the incorporated club newsletter or on the incorporated club's website or social media page (or in another manner approved by the club or Australian Street Rod Federation, such as the club calendar of events). Information such as location (start and end), meeting time and date of the event should be included.
- an impromptu event that has been initiated by a club member involving one or more vehicles. To attend an impromptu event, each club must comply with the following:
- send an invitation to the wider club members to attend the event
- either
- the car club or Australian Street Rod Federation committee must endorse the event in advance
- comply with published club guidelines as to what is a valid event, where they exist
- before the event, list it in the newsletter, on the website, or social media page (or in another manner approved by the club or Australian Street Rod Federation, such as the club calendar of events).
Note: Incorporated vehicle clubs should maintain a register of endorsed impromptu events. This register should contain information on the impromptu event, such as location (start and end), meeting time and date.
- participating in processions for which a Special Events Permit has been issued under the Transport Operations (Road Use Management – Accreditation and Other Provisions) Regulation 2015.
- exhibiting the vehicle in displays, fetes or similar functions conducted for religious, charitable or educational purposes.
- ceremonial purposes (such as weddings, formals, funerals) involving immediate and de facto family members, or as part of a sanctioned incorporated club event, provided this is not done for fee or reward. Immediate and de facto family means parents, grandparents, sons, daughters, grandchildren, adopted children and adopted grandchildren, but not extended family members such as aunts, uncles, nephews and nieces.
- preparing for, proceeding to, and returning from any of the above activities, including events in other states and territories in which the club is directly involved with.
- direct travel to and from an approved inspection station to get a safety certificate or certificate of inspection before offering the vehicle for sale.
- travel in order to have the vehicle repaired is allowed. There is no distance restriction, however, such travel must be reasonable and justifiable by the vehicle operator.
- road testing within a 30km radius from the place where the vehicle is garaged or is being repaired. The purpose of the travel must be to road test the vehicle following repair or restoration, or for general vehicle maintenance and not for any other purpose. This does not include use as an everyday means of transport. A passenger may travel in your vehicle to assist with road testing—only if your vehicle can legally carry passengers.
Find out about what to carry in your vehicle to support your reason for travel.
Carrying passengers
Vehicles with a special interest vehicle concession are permitted to carry passengers when travelling to and from an event permitted for special interest vehicle use (for example a rally, fete or procession). The vehicle must be able to legally carry passengers and all safety requirements must be met.
Buses are permitted to carry non-fare paying passengers for journeys (joy-rides) from an event (for example, a fete) and return provided the length of the journey does not exceed 5km. Payment of any kind cannot be received for these journeys.
Carrying a load and/or towing a trailer
Heavy motor vehicles over 4.5t GVM are permitted to carry a load provided the loaded GVM or gross combination mass (GCM) does not exceed 50% of the maximum permitted mass for the vehicle configuration. This mass is based on the lesser of:
- Individual axle ratings
- Tyre manufacturer's limits
- Manufacturer's GVM or GCM
- Regulation mass limits.
Motor vehicles (light and heavy) are permitted to tow a trailer with a load as long as you comply with the above usage for special interest vehicles and adhere to the vehicle's towing capacity.
Any load carried must be in relation to or part of the reason for the vehicle's use under the special interest vehicle scheme or required as part of the vehicle's display, for example, promotional items, signage, shade gazebo, chairs. You cannot carry a load for hire or reward.
Lighting
If your special interest vehicle does not have permanent lighting, you must carry a removable lighting system with the vehicle at all times and use that system whenever lighting would normally be required. Carbide lights are acceptable where that type of light was originally fitted.
Seatbelt exemptions for historic vehicles
In Queensland, an exemption from seatbelt requirements for historic vehicles manufactured with no seatbelts only applies for children 7 years and over. Children under 7 years of age are not permitted to travel in a vehicle unless they are restrained in a properly fastened and adjusted Australian Standard approved child restraint.
Your historic vehicle will need to have approved restraint/s and anchorage point/s installed for children under 7 years of age to be able to travel in the vehicle. This modification must be performed by an Approved Person and must have certification and a modification plate attached to the vehicle.
For more information about the rules for child restraints by age and how to get seatbelts and anchor points installed.
In this guide:
- Eligible vehicles
- Eligibility and how to apply
- Conditions of use for special interest vehicles
- What to carry in your vehicle
- Penalties and compulsory third party insurance
- Change of address
- Interstate recognition
- Number plates
- Removing a special interest vehicle concession