- Cook Government acts on calls for GCM and GVM re-ratings for light vehicles
- Safety of people towing caravans or trailers and other road users a priority
- Only authorised agents permitted to re-rate a vehicle's GCM and GVM
The Cook Government has responded to calls from Western Australia's motoring industry amid the rising popularity of four-wheel-driving and caravanning, and introduced standards to safely increase maximum weights, known as Gross Combination Mass (GCM) and Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) for light vehicles in WA.
The Department of Transport (DoT) worked in conjunction with the Motor Trade Association of WA and the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA) to develop and release to the public Vehicle Technical Bulletins VTB-180A and VTB-181A.
VTB-180A and VTB-181A define the DoT standards for safely increasing the GCM or GVM rating of an eligible light vehicle that does not exceed 4,500 kilograms and are based on Queensland's modification code of practice and DoT's current internal practices.
Only DoT approved modifiers and their preferred agents will be authorised to undertake and certify the re-rating of a vehicle's GVM or GCM.
Further information is available from DoT Vehicle Safety and Standards.
As stated by Minister Assisting the Transport Minister David Michael:
"The Cook Government has responded to calls from industry in WA to provide the required standards to safely increase GCM and GVM ratings for light vehicles in WA.
"The release of VTB-180A and VTB-181A by DoT follows the release of Queensland's code of practice for GCM re-rating in 2023 and formally defines WA's procedures to re-rate and certify the GVM and GCM of a light vehicle.
"The increased uptake of four-wheel drive vehicles, caravans and trailers in recent years has linked directly to the interest in re-rating vehicle GCM and GVM, and I believe these standards will be welcomed by industry and the wider community."
As stated by Motor Trade Association of WA Group CEO Stephen Moir:
"The new guidelines provide a clear pathway for industry to safely increase the Gross Combined Mass (GCM) of a registered light vehicle in WA.
"Safely increasing the GCM is important to 4WD owners and caravanners that carry extra weight in their vehicles and still want to tow the maximum tow capacity.
"I would like to thank the Minister for his commitment to working with the MTA WA to find a practical solution that benefits motorists."
