Removed Seats? You Need a Modification Plate in Queensland
I inspected this Mercedes Sprinter in Alexandra Hills today. The owner was converting it and had removed the rear seats. Before I could complete the roadworthy, we needed to sort out the seating capacity with a modification plate. He did the right thing – got an LK1 mod plate from me for $250, and the van passed the inspection.
This situation comes up regularly, especially with van owners and 4WD owners. Here’s what you need to know.
The seating capacity must match the records
During a roadworthy inspection, I check that the number of seats in the vehicle matches what’s listed on the compliance plate or, for newer vehicles manufactured after 2022 that may not have a physical compliance plate, the RAV/ROVER record.
If seats have been removed and the actual seating capacity doesn’t match the official records, the vehicle cannot pass a roadworthy inspection. It doesn’t matter if the seats were removed neatly or professionally – without official certification, the seating capacity is wrong and it’s a fail.
The same applies if seats have been added. The number of seats must match the records, or the change must be certified.
Who needs to know this?
This catches a lot of people off guard. The most common situations I see:
Van conversions. Sprinters, HiAces, Transits – people converting vans for camping, trade use, or mobile businesses regularly remove the rear seats. Without a mod plate, the van fails the roadworthy.
4WD owners. Removing the rear seats in a Prado, Patrol, or LandCruiser for extra cargo space is common. Same rule applies – the seating capacity must be certified.
Tradies. Utes and vans with rear seats removed to fit tool storage or shelving. If the seats are gone, you need a mod plate.
Anyone who bought a vehicle with seats already removed. If the previous owner removed seats without getting a mod plate, the problem is now yours. You need to either refit the seats or get a mod plate before the vehicle can pass.
What is an LK1 modification plate?
An LK1 modification plate is a Queensland-issued plate that certifies a change in seating capacity. It gets permanently attached to the vehicle and officially records the new number of seats. Once the plate is fitted, the modified seating capacity is recognised and the vehicle can pass a roadworthy with the seats removed.
I can issue LK1 modification plates for seating capacity changes at a cost of $250 on top of the roadworthy inspection fee.
Important – modification plates from other states are not valid for Queensland registration. If your vehicle has a mod plate from NSW, Victoria, or any other state, it is not recognised in Queensland. You need a Queensland-issued plate.
I only issue mod plates for seating capacity changes. I do not do mod plates for engine modifications, suspension changes, or other types of vehicle modifications. If you need a different type of mod plate, you’ll need a specialist.
What about the floor where the seats were?
When seats are removed, the mounting bolts come out and leave holes in the floor. These holes must be properly closed. No sharp bolts or mounting hardware should be sticking up out of the floor where someone could step on them or get injured.
If seats have been removed and the bolt holes are left open with sharp edges or protruding bolts, that’s an additional fail point on top of the missing mod plate. Make sure the floor is clean, flat, and safe after removing seats.
Adding seats - get it done properly
Adding seats is the same story in reverse – the seating capacity changes and needs to be certified with a mod plate. But adding seats also comes with a safety consideration.
If the vehicle is pre-prepared for additional seats by the manufacturer – some vans have factory mounting points for optional extra rows – fitting them is straightforward. But if the vehicle was never designed for additional seats in that location, the installation needs to be done properly. Seats need to be securely mounted to handle the forces of a crash. I strongly recommend getting seat installations done by a professional if the vehicle isn’t already set up for them.
How to book
If you need a roadworthy and a mod plate for a seating capacity change, book a standard roadworthy inspection through my online booking system. In the notes, mention that you need an LK1 mod plate for changed seating capacity. I handle both during the same visit.
