Special Interest Vehicle Concession Scheme guide

Eligibility and how to apply

Eligible applicants

  • Individuals
  • Organisations
  • Incorporated fire brigades or ambulance services
  • Incorporated historical societies that have recognised interest in vehicle heritage and have been approved by the Licensing, Automated Vehicles and Registration unit of Transport and Main Roads

How to apply

Complete the special interest vehicle registration concession application (F5392) and take it to your nearest transport and motoring customer service centre or, if you live in a rural area, a QGAP office, Magistrates Court or local police station that provides vehicle registration services—please call to confirm before visiting. You will also need to bring standard evidence of identity and proof of eligibility—refer to the relevant vehicle type below for proof of eligibility requirements.

The special interest vehicle concession can be applied to multiple eligible vehicles—there is no limit. Please complete a special interest vehicle registration concession application (F5392) for each eligible vehicle.

Historic vehicles—proof of eligibility

Club membership—You are required to provide evidence of current membership with an incorporated vehicle club or association to be eligible for this concession. This membership must be maintained while the vehicle is registered under the scheme.

Transport and Main Roads officers may verify compliance with membership requirements at any time.

Your club can provide evidence of your current membership, which needs to:

  • be on club letterhead or official documentation containing club details and signed by a club official – we don't accept club membership cards
  • include details of your vehicle such as make, model, year and chassis number.

For vehicles registered to individual joint names, only one registered operator is required to hold current membership with an incorporated car club or association.  If only the second registered operator has current membership, we will need to swap the registered operator names in the Queensland Vehicle Register for the concession to be applied.

Club membership for organisations must be in the name of the person responsible for the organisation, for example, the proprietor/business holder or director.

Dating certificate (if applicable)—A dating certificate is only required if the Department of Transport and Main Roads cannot verify the date of manufacture for your vehicle (from an existing or previous vehicle record, import papers, or from the identification or manufacturer’s plate). If a dating certificate is required, a dating officer (or club official) from an incorporated vehicle club or association will need to certify the vehicle’s authenticity and year of manufacture. This must be on club letterhead or other official club documentation and include details of the vehicle (make, model, year and chassis number).

Street rods and hot rods—proof of eligibility

Club membership—You are required to provide evidence of current membership with the Australian Street Rod Federation (ASRF) at the time of application. This membership must be maintained while the vehicle is registered under the scheme.

Transport and Main Roads officers may verify compliance with membership requirement at any time.

Supporting documentation—The Queensland State Director of the ASRF must supply documentation certifying that the applicant is a current member of the ASRF and the vehicle was manufactured before 1949 or is a replica of a vehicle manufactured before 1949. This needs to:

  • be on ASFR letterhead or official documentation and signed by a ASFR official – we don’t accept ASRF membership cards
  • certify the above and include details of your vehicle such as make, model, year and chassis number.

For vehicles registered to individual joint names, only one registered operator is required to hold current membership with the ASFR.  If only the second registered operator has current membership, we will need to swap the registered operator names in the Queensland Vehicle Register for the concession to be applied.

Compliance—Street rods must comply with all the specifications contained in the ASRF Queensland Street Rod Guidelines.

Modifications—If a street rod that is registered under the Special Interest Vehicle Registration Concession Scheme is modified in any way, it must be certified and replated under the LH9 or LH10 section of the Queensland Code of Practice – Vehicle Modifications.

Historic ambulances and fire-fighting equipment vehicles (no age limit)—proof of eligibility

There is no age restriction for historic ambulances and fire-fighting equipment vehicles.

To be eligible for registration under the Special Interest Vehicle Concession Scheme, historic ambulances and fire-fighting equipment vehicles must be registered in the name of one of the following:

  • an incorporated fire brigade
  • an incorporated ambulance service
  • a current member of an incorporated ambulance historical society or fire brigade historical society (proof of this membership is required on letterhead or other official documentation).
  • a current member of an incorporated vehicle club if vehicle is 30 years of age or more (proof of this membership is required on letterhead or other official documentation).

Club membership exemptions

If you are unable to access an appropriate club within a reasonable distance of your vehicle's garaged address, you may be eligible for an exemption from the club membership requirement. All exemptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Contact your nearest transport and motoring customer service centre or QGAP office, Magistrates Court or local police station that provides vehicle registration services for more information.

In this guide:

  1. Eligible vehicles
  2. Eligibility and how to apply
  3. Conditions of use for special interest vehicles
  4. What to carry in your vehicle
  5. Penalties and compulsory third party insurance
  6. Change of address
  7. Interstate recognition
  8. Number plates
  9. Removing a special interest vehicle concession

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