Australian Design Rules

The Australian Design Rules (ADRs) are Australia's national technical standards for vehicle safety, theft resistance, and emissions. They are largely based on and actively harmonised with the "ECE" regulations promulgated by the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations, though some of the technical prescriptions of the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration regulations are accepted despite differing from the ECE prescriptions.

The ADRs use only the technical requirements of the ECE Regulations; the ECE system of type approval is not used. Instead, the ADRs are administered according to a self-certification system like that of the United States—manufacturers do not seek government-sanctioned testing or homologation; rather, they certify that their vehicles and regulated vehicle components comply with all applicable provisions of all applicable ADRs in effect on the date of manufacture. On vehicles, this certification is made by dint of the manufacturer affixing a "compliance plate" stating the vehicle's specifications and parameters, build date, identification number, and other required information along with a statement to the effect that the vehicle complies with all applicable ADRs.

Vehicles manufactured for sale in countries other than Australia are generally barred from import to Australia unless they are brought into compliance with applicable ADRs and the conversion work is inspected and certified by an authorised compliance engineer.

According to Tristan Edis, climate reporter for Business Spectator, Australia's emissions standards specified in the ADRs lag behind most developed countries, and Australia is one of only a few major economies without fuel economy standards applying to cars.