Updated for 2026. Everything you need to know about Registered Automotive Workshops and why they matter for importing a vehicle to Australia.
Introduction
If you have been researching importing a car from Japan to Australia, you will have come across the term Registered Automotive Workshop, or RAW. It appears in government documentation, on import agent websites, and throughout the compliance process. Yet many buyers do not fully understand what a RAW is, why it is required, or how to verify that a workshop holds genuine RAW approval.
This guide explains exactly what a Registered Automotive Workshop is, why RAW approval is mandatory for most imported vehicles, what the compliance process involves, and what to look for when choosing a RAW-approved workshop for your import. If you are still confirming your vehicle’s eligibility, start with our import eligibility guide.
What Is a Registered Automotive Workshop?
A Registered Automotive Workshop (RAW) is a facility that has been approved by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts (DITRDCSA) to carry out Australian Design Rules (ADR) compliance work on imported road vehicles.
RAW approval is issued under the Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018 (RVSA) and the Road Vehicle Standards Rules 2019. It authorises the workshop to manufacture or modify imported vehicles in accordance with an approved Model Report for that vehicle. Once modifications are complete, the vehicle must be independently verified by an Authorised Vehicle Verifier (AVV) before it can be entered on the Register of Approved Vehicles (RAV) and subsequently registered for road use in Australia. Importantly, a RAW approval holder cannot simultaneously hold an AVV approval, the two roles are kept separate to ensure independent oversight.
Without a valid RAW certificate from an approved workshop, an imported vehicle cannot legally be registered in any Australian state or territory. RAW approval is not optional for SEVS imports and most other import pathways.
Why Is RAW Approval Required?
Australia has some of the strictest vehicle safety and emissions standards in the world, governed by the Australian Design Rules (ADRs). Vehicles manufactured for the Japanese domestic market (JDM) are built to Japanese safety and emissions standards, which differ in a number of important areas from Australian requirements.
A RAW-approved workshop acts as the authorised intermediary between the imported vehicle and the Australian regulatory system. Working from an approved Model Report for the vehicle, the workshop carries out the modifications required to bring the vehicle into compliance with national road vehicle standards. An independent Authorised Vehicle Verifier (AVV) then confirms the vehicle meets those standards before it can be registered.
This process protects buyers, other road users, and the integrity of Australia’s vehicle standards framework by ensuring that every imported vehicle on Australian roads has been independently assessed and certified as compliant.
What Does the RAW Compliance Process Involve?
The compliance process varies depending on the vehicle’s age, import pathway, and the extent of modifications required. For a typical SEVS import from Japan, the process generally involves the following stages:
1. Initial Vehicle Assessment
When the vehicle arrives at the RAW workshop after clearing biosecurity and customs, the workshop conducts a full inspection to identify all areas where the vehicle does not currently meet Australian Design Rules. This assessment determines the scope and cost of compliance work required.
2. ADR Compliance Modifications
The workshop then carries out the modifications required to bring the vehicle into compliance. Common modifications for Japanese import vehicles include:
- Headlight and tail light replacement or modification to meet Australian photometric standards.
- Speedometer recalibration to display km/h for Australian roads.
- Seatbelt and restraint system assessment and replacement where required.
- Child restraint anchor point installation to meet Australian standards.
- Emissions system assessment and modification where required.
- Suspension and ride height assessment where aftermarket modifications are present.
- Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) documentation for vehicles manufactured from 2018 onward.
- Structural integrity assessment.
3. ADR Testing
Some RAW workshops also hold ADR Testing Facility approval from the Department of Infrastructure. This authorises the facility to conduct specific ADR compliance tests in-house, rather than outsourcing them to third-party testing laboratories. Workshops with in-house testing capability typically offer faster compliance turnaround and more competitive pricing.
4. Authorised Vehicle Verifier (AVV) Inspection
Once the RAW has completed modifications in accordance with the approved Model Report, the vehicle must be presented to a separate Authorised Vehicle Verifier (AVV) for independent inspection. The AVV is a government-approved corporation that provides independent vehicle inspection and verification services under the RVSA. The AVV assesses the vehicle for compliance with applicable national road vehicle standards and, if satisfied, enters the vehicle on the Register of Approved Vehicles (RAV). A RAW cannot also hold AVV approval, the roles are deliberately kept separate to ensure the integrity of the process.
5. RAV Entry and State Registration
Following successful AVV verification, the vehicle is entered on the Register of Approved Vehicles (RAV) through the ROVER online portal. RAV entry is a prerequisite for registration in any Australian state or territory. Once on the RAV, the importer can proceed with their state’s registration process, which typically requires a roadworthiness inspection in addition to the federal RAV entry. See our state registration requirements guide for a full state-by-state breakdown.
How to Verify a Workshop’s RAW Approval
RAW approvals are issued and maintained by the Department of Infrastructure. Before engaging any workshop to comply an imported vehicle, buyers should verify the workshop’s RAW approval status directly rather than relying solely on the workshop’s own claims.
- Ask the workshop for their RAW approval number.
- Verify the approval directly via the ROVER portal (rover.infrastructure.gov.au), where the department publishes the business names and contact details of all current RAW approval holders, or by contacting the Department directly.
- Confirm the approval is current and has not lapsed or been suspended.
- Confirm the approval covers the vehicle type and import pathway relevant to your vehicle.
A workshop that is unable or unwilling to provide its RAW approval number for verification should be treated with caution. Operating as a compliance workshop without current RAW approval is a serious breach of the Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018. For a full checklist on choosing the right professional, see our guide on how to find a car import agent in Australia.
RAW vs ADR Testing Facility Approval: What Is the Difference?
These are two separate but related approvals issued by the Department of Infrastructure:
| Approval Type | What It Authorises |
|---|---|
| Registered Automotive Workshop (RAW) | Authorises the workshop to manufacture or modify imported vehicles in accordance with an approved Model Report for that vehicle. The RAW works to bring the vehicle into compliance with applicable national road vehicle standards before presenting it to an Authorised Vehicle Verifier (AVV) for independent verification and RAV entry. |
| ADR Testing Facility Approval | Authorises the facility to conduct specific in-house ADR compliance tests, rather than outsourcing them to third-party laboratories. Not all RAW-approved workshops hold Testing Facility approval. |
A workshop that holds both RAW approval and ADR Testing Facility approval can manage the full compliance process in-house, which typically results in faster turnaround times and lower costs for the importer.
What Is the Licensed Motor Car Trader (LMCT) Licence?
In addition to RAW approval, any workshop or agent that buys and sells vehicles as part of its commercial activity must hold a Licensed Motor Car Trader (LMCT) licence in its state. In Victoria, this licence is issued by Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV).
An LMCT licence is separate from RAW approval. A workshop can hold RAW approval without an LMCT licence if it only performs compliance work and does not buy or sell vehicles. However, if the workshop or agent also sources, purchases, or sells imported vehicles on behalf of clients, the LMCT licence is legally required.
Buyers should verify both RAW approval and LMCT licence status before engaging a compliance workshop or import agent that will be handling vehicle transactions.
How Much Does RAW Compliance Cost?
The cost of RAW compliance varies significantly depending on the vehicle model, its age and condition, the import pathway used, and the extent of modifications required to meet Australian Design Rules. The following table provides a general reference framework. For a complete breakdown of every cost involved in importing, see our total landed cost guide.
| Factor | Impact on Cost |
|---|---|
| Vehicle age and origin | Newer vehicles with modern safety systems (ADAS, advanced emissions) typically require more documentation and testing. Older vehicles may require more physical modifications. |
| Import pathway | SEVS imports require full ADR compliance. 25-Year Rule imports have simplified compliance requirements. Personal imports vary by vehicle. |
| Extent of non-compliance | A vehicle that already closely meets Australian standards will cost less to comply than one requiring significant modifications to lighting, safety systems, or emissions controls. |
| Aftermarket modifications | Vehicles with aftermarket suspension, lighting, or engine modifications may require additional engineering certification or reversal of modifications before compliance can be certified. |
| In-house vs outsourced testing | Workshops with ADR Testing Facility approval can conduct tests in-house, which is typically faster and less expensive than outsourcing to third-party laboratories. |
| Typical compliance cost range | AUD $2,000 to $8,000 or more depending on the above factors. Always obtain a written itemised compliance estimate before committing to an import. |
Common Questions About RAW Compliance
Can I do my own compliance without a RAW?
No. Modifications must be performed by a workshop holding current RAW approval, in accordance with an approved Model Report for the vehicle. Independent verification must then be carried out by a government-approved Authorised Vehicle Verifier (AVV) before the vehicle can be entered on the RAV. Neither the RAW modification process nor the AVV verification can be performed by the vehicle owner or by an unapproved workshop.
How long does RAW compliance take?
Compliance timelines vary depending on the workshop’s current booking load, the scope of modifications required, and whether any parts need to be sourced. Typical compliance timelines range from 2 to 4 weeks for standard SEVS vehicles in good condition. Vehicles requiring significant modifications or parts sourcing may take longer. For a full breakdown of every stage of the import timeline, see our guide on how long it takes to import a car from Japan to Australia.
What happens if a vehicle fails compliance assessment?
If the initial assessment identifies issues that cannot be economically resolved, the workshop will advise the importer. In some cases, a vehicle may require re-export if it cannot be made compliant at a reasonable cost. This is why it is strongly recommended to have any vehicle assessed for compliance viability before committing to the purchase and import.
Do 25-Year Rule vehicles need RAW compliance?
Vehicles imported under the 25-Year Rule (Concessional RAV Entry) do not need to meet modern ADRs and the compliance process is significantly simplified compared to SEVS imports. However, the vehicle must still pass a roadworthiness inspection before it can be registered in your state, and it is strongly recommended to have it assessed by an experienced workshop familiar with older imported vehicles.
What Is the Used Import Plate? (Historical Note)
The Used Import Plate was a physical compliance plate issued under the old Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 (MVSA) framework, which was repealed on 1 July 2021. Under the current Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018 (RVSA) framework, compliance plates have been replaced by the Register of Approved Vehicles (RAV). Once a vehicle has been modified by a RAW in accordance with an approved Model Report and independently verified by an Authorised Vehicle Verifier (AVV), the vehicle is entered on the RAV. RAV entry, not a physical plate, is the prerequisite for state registration under the current legislation. Vehicles that carry a Used Import Plate were processed under the old MVSA scheme and may still be registered if they met the relevant transitional requirements under the RVSA.
How Glam Groups Can Help
Glam Groups has been importing and complying Japanese vehicles in Melbourne since 2002. We hold both Registered Automotive Workshop (RAW) approval and ADR Testing Facility approval from the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts, which means we can manage the full compliance process in-house from initial assessment and ADR modifications through to AVV presentation and RAV entry.
Our accreditations include:
- Approved Registered Automotive Workshop (RAW), authorised to perform ADR compliance on all imported vehicles.
- Authorised ADR Testing Facility, approved by the Department of Infrastructure to conduct ADR compliance testing in-house.
- Licensed Motor Car Trader (LMCT 10210), fully licensed to buy and sell motor vehicles in Victoria.
- Second-Hand Dealer registration, providing full consumer protection compliance.
- 1,000 vehicles successfully imported and complied for clients across Australia.
- 24 years of experience in the Japanese vehicle import industry.
Approved RAW | ADR Testing Facility | LMCT 10210 | Campbellfield, Melbourne
Contact our team today to discuss your compliance requirements and receive a fully itemised compliance estimate.
