The Recreational Vehicle Manufacturing Accreditation Program (RVMAP) is designed to ensure your caravan meets strict safety requirements, giving you the peace of mind to focus on your next trip.
For many Australians, caravanning isn’t just about the destination — it’s about the journey. It’s about packing up, hitting the road and feeling that rush of freedom as you explore everything our incredible country has to offer. But whether you’re heading off on a weekend escape or a cross-country adventure, one thing matters above all else: caravan safety. That’s where the Recreational Vehicle Manufacturing Accreditation Program (RVMAP) assists.
As CEO of Caravan Industry Association of Australia (CIAA), I’ve met countless caravanners who share a deep passion for the lifestyle — people who want to know that the caravan they’re investing in has been built to last, designed with care and is backed by industry expertise. I’ve also seen the dedication of manufacturers who are striving to improve, to build better vans and to raise the standard for everyone on the road. RVMAP has brought these two worlds together since 2013 — ensuring that when you choose a caravan, you can do so with greater confidence and added piece of mind.
Australian caravanning consumers use RV products in ways which few global markets replicate — travelling across diverse landscapes and challenging terrain — which has my international colleagues questioning how so many Australian RVs survive the tough conditions our consumers subject their RV to. That is why hand on heart I consider that Australian manufacturers generally produce the toughest and most well-built RVs in the world.
RVMAP certificate of accreditation
Australian Design Rules (ADRs) are our national standards for road vehicle safety, anti-theft and emissions. All new road vehicles manufactured in Australia and imported new or second-hand vehicles (including caravans and trailers) need to comply with the relevant ADRs when they are first supplied to the Australian market. ADRs are administered by the Australian Government and attempt to harmonise national safety standards with international regulations. Those businesses who consistently ignore their ADR obligations may risk (among other penalties) having their Vehicle Type Approval suspended by the Australian Government under the new Road Vehicle Standards Act, meaning they are unable to have their products registered.
RVMAP is an ADR education program where manufacturers/importers sign a licence agreement committing to ongoing improvement and independent inspection against these national safety standards.
This education and inspections occur with the assistance of a team of caravan specific engineers who conduct more than 1000 product reviews annually, and who regularly engage with both the Federal Department around interpretation and manufacturing/importer design and engineering teams to make sure that ADR compliance is adhered to.
At our factory audits we conduct a 250-point check against ADRs, as well as payload, critical weight ratings and some visual gas and electrical compliance. At state-run consumer shows a more abridged 50-point check against the most serious and common ADRs are also conducted, not only on RVMAP product, but also those exhibitors outside of the program.
Following more than 6600 product inspections, it is not surprising that there are nearly three times more compliance concerns found on product outside of the RVMAP program than those who are RVMAP accredited. This is strong evidence of the success around having regular and consistent education and inspections around a business’s compliance obligations.
Patriot Campers is RVMAP accredited
With an RVMAP vehicle or trailer, this means we believe you can travel with a little more certainty — knowing that the people who built your caravan are part of a program that values learning, improvement and compliance best practice. With all of the focus and media attention around the road toll, anything that we can do which is designed to improve road safety — both for those undertaking a caravanning adventure as well as other road users — is a great thing. That is why ‘safety’ features prominently in our corporate vision.
At CIAA and across the industry, we believe that caravanning should always be evolving — not just in terms of technology and design, but in the way manufacturers and consumers work together to build a stronger industry. RVMAP is itself an important part of this journey and is specifically designed to improve standards in the industry and make RV products safer for the consumers who use our industry product.
So, next time you’re considering a new caravan, take a moment to look for the distinctive RVMAP accreditation badge next to your entrance door. This is a sign that the manufacturer of your product is committed to continuous learning and is prepared to subject themselves to external inspection against national compliance standards.
While there is no guarantee, as caravans are largely hand crafted and assembled using hundreds of sub-components, I know that if I was in the market for a new caravan, I would be looking for a product which on the balance of probability gives me the best possible opportunity to keep my family safe on the road.
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