What is a bus?

A bus is a vehicle…

  • built:
    • with seating positions for 10 or more adults (including the driver); AND
    • to comply with the requirements specified in the Australian Design Rules for a passenger omnibus (within the meaning of those rules); OR
  • prescribed as a bus; OR
  • ST Vic has declared to be a bus under section 7(1) of the Bus Safety Act 2009.

How do I determine if a vehicle is a bus?

Does it look like any of the below?

If so, it’s a bus.

Has the vehicle been built with seating positions for 10 or more adults including the driver?

If so, it’s a bus.

Does the vehicle comply with the requirements specified in the Australian Design Rules for a passenger omnibus (and have seating positions for 10 or more adults including the driver)?

If so, if it’s a bus.

 

What isn't a bus?

A vehicle is not a bus if:

  • it’s a vehicle prescribed not to be a bus;
  • it’s a vehicle that ST Vic has declared not to be a bus;
  • it’s a hummer or a limo

Please note: a passenger car modified to have more than 9 seats (for example, a stretch limousine) is not a bus.

What if I have modified my bus?

Removing seats

A vehicle that is built as a bus, which has had seats removed so that it seats less than 10 adults is still a bus.

To change the classification of a vehicle from a bus to another category, the vehicle must undergo an engineering process in which a modification plate must been attached to the vehicle.

Simply removing a seat from the bus without a VASS engineering certificate does not mean it is no longer classified as a bus.