New Electric Vehicle Testing Category for Licensed Vehicle Testers in Victoria
The new Electric Vehicle (EV) testing category for Licensed Vehicle Testers will commence on 1 June 2026.
The new EV testing category will ensure Examining Mechanics who are inspecting Electric and Hybrid Vehicles for the purposes of issuing certificates of roadworthiness are aware of the risks and hazards associated with high voltage electric vehicles and are equipped with the skills, knowledge and tools to safely and confidently interact with them when providing their services under the terms and conditions of the LVT Licence.
LVT Licence Holders will be aware of their obligations to ensure the premises, equipment and processes used by Examining Mechanics to inspect and test high voltage electric vehicles are suitable and fit for purpose.
To support Licensed Vehicle Testers and keep industry informed, the Vehicle Safety team will be issuing a series of communications, hosting briefing sessions and answering FAQs as we work towards the implementation and commencement of the EV testing category.
Please keep an eye on your emails over the next few weeks.
Things to know:
Will I still be able to issue roadworthy certificates if I do not have the EV testing category on my LVT Licence after 1 June 2026?
From 1 June 2026, it will be mandatory for any Examining Mechanic who will inspect and test an Electric or Hybrid vehicle for the purposes of issuing a certificate of roadworthiness to be ‘EV’ accredited, and for the LVT Licence to have the ‘EV’ accreditation.
A LVT who is not ‘EV’ accredited and inspects and tests any Electric or Hybrid vehicle from 1 June 2026 will be testing out of category.
Petrol- and diesel-powered vehicles may continue to be inspected and tested without change after 1 June 2026.
LPG powered vehicles may continue to be inspected and tested by LP accredited LVTs without change after 1 June 2026.
Do I need to be EV accredited now if I want to keep inspecting and testing Electric and Hybrid vehicles before 1 June 2026?
No. LVTs may continue to inspect and test Electric and Hybrid vehicles without being EV accredited – until it becomes mandatory on 1 June 2026.
Can I begin preparing now for the implementation of the EV testing category?
Yes! The Vehicle Safety team have been working with our three Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) partners who currently offer LVT accreditation training – Kangan, Box Hill and Federation Uni, to develop and deliver the LVT EV Risk and Awareness Training and Assessment accreditation module.
The RTOs have already started taking enrolments and commenced delivery of the LVT EV accreditation training and assessment module to Examining Mechanics who want to be EV accredited.
LVTs wanting to undertake the EV accreditation training now are encouraged to contact any of the three RTOs and enquire about enrolment.
Are there prerequisites for enrolment in the LVT EV Risk and Awareness accreditation training?
Yes. Examining Mechanics who want to enrol in the LVT EV Risk and Awareness accreditation training will be required to first successfully complete one of two nationally recognised Units of Competency describing the performance outcomes to depower and reinitialise the high voltage circuits of an electric or hybrid vehicle:
- AURETH101 Depower and reinitialise battery electric vehicles; or
- AURETH011 Depower and reinitialise hybrid electric vehicles
Either of these units of competency may be undertaken by any training provider offering nationally recognised and accredited training.
I have been trained by my employer to work on and service electric vehicles. Will I still need to do the prerequisite training before enrolling in the LVT EV accreditation module?
You will need to have any training that has been provided to you by your employer assessed by the RTO as having satisfied the learning outcomes of either of the required nationally recognised units of competency.
How long will the LVT EV accreditation training take to complete, and will I need to travel to attend a class?
To minimise the disruption to LVTs and remove the need to travel to do the training, the LVT EV training module has been designed to be delivered through the RTOs’ online training platforms and to be taken at a self-set pace. It is estimated the training module will take between 6-8hrs to complete.
The Assessment portion of the module will be delivered according to each RTO’s preferred method.
Will additional equipment be required to inspect and test Electric and Hybrid vehicles under the EV category?
Yes. The LVT Licence Holder will need to ensure that each premise where electric and hybrid vehicles will be inspected and tested under the LVT EV category has the following equipment calibrated (where applicable) and in a serviceable condition:
- Carbon Monoxide (CO) metre which is capable of detecting 35 parts per million (ppm) of carbon monoxide in the air
- Thermal Imaging Camera which is capable of detecting temperatures between 20°C and 400°C
- At least one fire extinguisher with a rating conforming to AS/NZS 1850 and an available capacity of at least 9kg
- Signage to alert people in the vicinity of the vehicle that there is a risk of electrocution
More information about these requirements will be provided in the LVT Licence Conditions which will be released next week.