No matter who you choose to manage your motorcycle's shipment, completing the Tasks below is RECOMMENDED because it ensures that you are ready to return ship your motorcycle back home to Australia with any agent anywhere in the world.

• Complete Tasks 1 & 2 before shipping your motorcycle from Australia in the first place.

• Complete Task 3 after your motorcycle clears Customs for export from Australia.

• Complete Task 4 three months before you deliver your motorcycle to your overseas agent for return ship to Australia. This will ensure that you have your Reimportation Approval Notice BEFORE your motorcycle is shipped.

Please download the following:

• Guide to reimportation import approvals

• ROVER guide to create an account and profile

TASKS:

1) Check that your motorcycle has a RAV entry OR is fitted with an MVSA plate

To understand this Task here is a quick timeline summary of Australia's regulatory framework:

• pre 1989 : fragmented regulatory framework where Australian Design Rules (ADRs) were applied selectively and inconsistently

• 1989 : Motor Vehicle Standards Act (MVSA) established to provide single, national, legal framework for vehicle safety

• 01 Jul 2021 : Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018 (RVSA) fully replaced the MVSA

• 30 Jun 2023 : End of transitional period for provision of vehicles to market with existing MVSA compliance plates

• post 30 Jun 2023 : All vehicles must be on the RVSA's Register of Approved Vehicles (RAV)  

Therefore your motorcycle:

• 1990 to Jul 2021 : should have MVSA plate

• Jul 2021 to Jun 2023 : either has MVSA plate or is on the RAV

• post Jun 2023 : should be on the RAV

Motorcycles on the RAV

• To check the Register of Approved Vehicles (RAV) - plug in your VIN here:
  https://www.rover.infrastructure.gov.au/RAVPublicSearch/

• If Approval Number comes up take a screen grab and SAVE

• Also click on Approval Number to download current Approval Notice and SAVE

Motorcycles fitted with MVSA plate

• You need to take a LEGIBLE photo of you bike's MVSA plate and SAVE

• See pages 6-7 of Guide to reimportation import approvals for a diagram of what this plate looks like

• MVSA plates can be prone to rubbing from cables, tank bag straps, etc and become illegible over time. The plate can also be a nuisance to access so get a good photo while you're setting up your bike in the first place.
  

MVSA used import plate

MVSA used import plate. Source: Australian Government Guide to reimportation import approvals, August 2025.

MVSA Australian identification plate

MVSA Australian identification plate. Source: Australian Government Guide to reimportation import approvals, August 2025.

2) Create a ROVER account and complete your profile - this can be done anytime for FREE

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

• Follow the instructions in downloaded ROVER guide to create an account and profile

• After creating your account, multi-factor authentication is required
  You will need a phone number that they can send a code to via SMS to authenticate you

• Sign in to your new ROVER account

• Complete your profile as per instructions

• You must provide a minimum of 100 points of identification to be checked by the department 

  Passport (70) + Driver License (40) = 110 points
  
  Wait for your identity documents to be checked by the department before you start an application as the information you enter may be lost. This may take up to one week - will show as VERIFIED when ID check complete. Do not attempt Task 4 before VERIFIED.

3) Save EDN & BoL after motorcycle clears Customs for export from Australia

• International Freight Forwarding (IFF) Agent should provide you with Bill of Lading (BoL) for your motorcycle's export shipment from Australia.

• Your Customs Agent should provide you with an Export Declaration Number (EDN) after your motorcycle clears Customs.

4) Lodge application for Single Road Vehicle Approval

Lodge this application three months before you deliver your motorcycle to your overseas agent for return ship to Australia. This will ensure that you have your Reimportation Approval Notice BEFORE your motorcycle is shipped.

Click here for EXAMPLE of Application for Reimportation

• Click NEW APPLICATION from your ROVER Portal

  • Apply for Single Road Vehicle Approval
    Yes. This vehicle has a RAV entry or is fitted with an MVSA plate.
    No. This vehicle is being reimported and has not substantially changed while outside Australia.

  • Before you begin 
    Read, Understand and tick box

  • Applicant details as per your profile

  • Vehicle use
    Moped or motorcycle (two or three wheeled vehicle)
    Tick 'I am ready to proceed'  

• Complete application.

• For Section: Required supporting material - Reimportation:

  • At the bottom: TICK Provide additional information about this section:

  • Upload copy of your Export Bill of Lading (BoL) from when your motorcycle exported from Australia and write:
    Export Declaration Number (EDN): *********
    Attached copy of BoL from when motorcycle exported from Australia

• Pay the AU$40 application fee

• Processing takes 15 to 30 business days i.e. up to six weeks.
  An Approval Notice will be issued
  Click here for EXAMPLE of Approval Notice

This Approval Notice will enable the reimportation and use of a personal motorcycle you own, provided the motorcycle details remain consistent with the information that was originally entered on the RAV or set out on the identification/used import plate placed in accordance with the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 (MVSA).

… and your done :)

Carnet de Passages en Douane (CPD) holders

If your CPD will still be valid at time of reimport then it's easier to use that instead of the reimport process outlined here. However, if timings will be close you should still follow this process in case your CPD expires by time of reimport. Also keep in mind that our return shipping timings generally see the CPD expired before reimport. For example, our annual shipment home from Malaysia (packs December) is specifically timed for riders who launched from Europe with CPDs valid from January, which is when the bikes originally packed for export from Australia. We need those CPDs valid for export from Malaysia but then they may expire before reimport to Australia … so we demand a Reimport Approval to be safe :)