Trailer Mod Plates: Imported Trailers and Trailer Modifications
Autocert certifies imported trailers and modified light trailers (up to 4,500 kg ATM) across Greater Brisbane. Imported trailers get an LO1 plate. ATM upgrades and conversions get an LS12 plate.
Imported trailers (LO1)
Trailers imported on a concessional trailer approval from the Road Vehicle Register (RVR) are certified under LO1 before they can be registered in Queensland.
- The approval comes with a declaration that the trailer complies with the ADRs.
- Trailers over 4,500 kg ATM also need test evidence from an approved testing facility.
- We inspect the trailer against the ADRs and fit the LO1 plate.
Not sure which approval you have? Try our LO1 checker.
Trailer modifications (LS12)
LS12 covers modifications to trailers with an ATM of 4,500 kg or less. The trailer must still comply with the ADRs, directly or through VSB-1 (the national guide to building small trailers).
What we certify under LS12
- ATM upgrades, up to a maximum of 4,500 kg.
- Conversions, such as a box trailer to a boat trailer or a caravan to a car trailer.
- Changes to the suspension, brakes, coupling, drawbar, wheels and chassis.
- A new coupling with different mounting points or a different design (and any coupling change over 3,500 kg ATM).
- Moving the safety chain mounting points.
What LS12 can’t cover
- Any trailer over 4,500 kg ATM, or an upgrade that takes it over 4,500 kg. These are heavy trailers, see heavy vehicles.
- A change of trailer type, for example a dog trailer becoming a pig trailer.
Changes that don’t need a plate
- A spare wheel carrier, a bolted-on storage box or a cage on a box trailer, as long as the trailer’s size doesn’t change and lights and number plate stay clear.
- Replacement tyres and rims within the LS12 limits (load rating at least the placard’s, speed rating at least 120 km/h, no wheel spacers).
- Longer or shorter safety chains, using marked chain and joiners rated for the ATM.
Upgrading the ATM
A higher ATM means every part that carries or stops the load has to suit the new rating: chassis and drawbar, axles and suspension, tyres and rims, brakes, coupling and safety chains. The brake requirement steps up with the trailer’s gross trailer mass (GTM):
| GTM | Brakes required (VSB-1) |
|---|---|
| Up to 750 kg | None required |
| 750 to 2,000 kg | Service brakes, can be on one axle. Override (over-run) brakes allowed |
| Over 2,000 kg | Brakes on every wheel, controlled from the tow vehicle, plus a breakaway system |
Use our trailer ATM checker to see what your trailer needs before you buy parts.
Before you book
What to send
- Rego, or the import approval for an imported trailer
- A photo of the trailer plate (VIN, ATM, GTM and tare)
- What you want to change, and the new ATM if you’re upgrading
- Photos of the coupling, safety chains, axles, brakes and tyres
Can I just change the ATM on the plate?
No. The trailer has to be built for the new rating. Axles, tyres, brakes, coupling and chains often need upgrading first, and the chassis and drawbar are checked for strength at the new ATM.
Need a mod plate?
Send your rego, VIN, photos and a list of changes. We’ll confirm the codes and give you a fixed quote, usually within a business day. Mobile across Greater Brisbane. A travel fee may apply further out.