Intro to Road Vehicle Compliance (CTA)

Road vehicle compliance applies to all Australian trailer and caravan manufacturers. Until the 30th of June, 2023, certification numbers like a CRN or SARN could be used to demonstrate this compliance to relevant bodies. After the official implementation of CTAs (and obsolescence of the CRN therein), our team has found that many manufacturers are struggling with this new system.

Latest update: 11 September 2024

Road Vehicle Standards (RVS)

Administered by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport & Vehicles, the RVS is the current legal entity in which Australian road vehicles adhere to.

The Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018 (RVSA), and the Road Vehicle Standards Rules 2019 (i.e. the Rules), are the two main legal elements of the RVS. It was fully implemented as of 1 July of 2021, with the goal of setting more consistent and modern standards for vehicles on a national level.

Caravans, campers, horsefloats, and other types of light trailers fall within the RVS framework.

Road Vehicle Regulator (ROVER)

In broad terms, you can think of ROVER as the go-to website for RVS-related tasks. The site offers an abundance of resources and functionalities for the general public, businesses, and manufacturers.

Some practical uses for ROVER include:

• Search for public RVS-related information (e.g. RAV base).
• Apply for and monitor RVS applications (e.g. CTA number, VTA number).

Register of Approved Vehicles (RAV)

In a nutshell, the RAV is the “Yellow Pages” equivalent of registered road vehicles.

Australians can search for road vehicles through Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) or Vehicle Type Approvals (VTA). For trailers and caravans, this number is on the VIN Plate (usually found on the left-hand side of the drawbar).

Component Type Approvals (CTA)

Put simply, a CTA is a certification given to automotive parts that meet applicable ADR standards and RVS requirements. Each approval is unique to the component, hence why approval is issued as a unique CTA number.

As mentioned previously, CTA numbers supersede the:

• Component Registration Number (CRN)
• Sub-Assembly Registration Number (SARN)

CTA Numbers & Road Vehicle Compliance

CTA numbers, CRNs, and SARNs all support applications for other RVS legislated approvals (such as a VTA). However, CTA numbers mark a greater level of responsibility and obligation on the component manufacturer.

From 30 June 2023, all manufacturers within the automotive industry must now demonstrate increased control over the design and manufacture of a vehicle component to receive approval (i.e. a CTA number). CTAs require extended quality assurance measures across the different systems and frameworks involved in producing a component, such as areas in engineering, manufacturing, logistics, legislation, and more.

This new compliance system should give Australians the confidence that products with a CTA number are always safe and service-ready. This sentiment was reinforced in a recent statement from Couplemate™ general manager, Chris:

In a sense, a CTA assigns pedigree to a component, providing a testament of quality. Buying a product with a CTA number assures customers that the product has been developed, tested, and released to the market with no corners cut. 

Rielly, one of our mechanical engineers, further noted:

Components supplied with a CTA number guarantee that it has been tested to the relevant standards. Moreover, it ensures that a consistently safe product will be supplied. A CTA also removes the trailer manufacturers’ need to test the components when applying for a VTA.

It’s difficult to explain CTA certifications in full, hence why Couplemate™ has a second technical article for advanced learning (read here). However, as a summary for its role in road vehicle compliance, the important takeaway is this:

CTA numbers are one way to show a component’s compliance.

The component approval process was rigorously designed by our industry regulator and policymakers, the RVS, to ensure approved components better comply with, and satisfy, applicable standards and application criteria.