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Tough Dog Suspension
Is Your Lift Kit Legal? NSW & QLD Height Rules Explained
A plain-English guide to legal suspension lift heights, based on VSB14 (the National Code of Practice) and current NSW and QLD rules.
This is general information, not legal advice. Modification rules can change, and the exact figures for your vehicle depend on its factory specifications (ESC fitment, factory tyre diameter, ADR category). Always confirm your specific build with Transport for NSW, Queensland's Department of Transport and Main Roads, or a licensed vehicle certifier before finalising a build — or contact us and we can help you check.
The national baseline (VSB14)
Under VSB14, a suspension-only lift of up to 50mm (about 2 inches) is generally allowed without engineering certification, provided the vehicle has Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and the suspension retains at least two-thirds of its original travel in both bump and rebound. This is the starting point most states build on.
NSW & QLD: up to 75mm total, without certification
Both NSW (since a December 2016 gazettal) and QLD allow a combined 75mm total height increase for eligible off-road 4WDs (ADR categories NA, NB1, MC or MD) without requiring certification:
- Up to 50mm from suspension
- Up to 25mm from a tyre diameter increase over your vehicle's factory tyre size
The 25mm tyre allowance is measured as an increase over your specific vehicle's standard factory tyre diameter — not a fixed tyre size like "33 inches." Whether a particular tyre size fits inside that allowance genuinely depends on what your vehicle came with from the factory, which varies model to model.
Beyond 75mm
Anything beyond the uncertified limits needs sign-off from a licensed vehicle certifier through the modification certification process. In Queensland, lifts of roughly 51mm to 100mm require certification, and total lift (including body blocks) is capped at 150mm even once certified.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a 2 inch lift kit legal?
In most cases, yes. A suspension-only lift of up to 50mm (about 2 inches) is the national baseline under VSB14 (the National Code of Practice for Light Vehicle Construction and Modification) that does not require engineering certification, provided the vehicle has Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and the suspension retains at least two-thirds of its original travel in both bump and rebound. This applies in NSW and QLD without further sign-off. Always confirm your specific vehicle and kit combination, since ESC fitment and suspension travel vary by model.
Is 2 inch lift and 33s legal in NSW?
It depends on your vehicle’s factory tyre diameter, not the 33-inch size alone. NSW allows a combined 75mm total height increase without certification for eligible 4WDs (ADR categories NA, NB1, MC or MD) — made up of up to 50mm from suspension and up to 25mm from the tyre diameter increase over standard. A "33 inch" tyre could be a small increase over standard on some utes and a much larger one on others, since factory tyre sizes differ by model. Combined with a 2 inch suspension lift, this is often close to or at the 75mm ceiling, so it genuinely depends on your specific vehicle — compare 33 inches to your factory tyre diameter, or contact us and we can help you check.
Is 2 inch lift and 33s legal in QLD?
The same principle applies as NSW: Queensland also allows a combined 75mm total (up to 50mm suspension plus up to 25mm tyre diameter increase) without certification for eligible vehicles. Whether a specific 33-inch tyre plus a 2 inch lift fits within that depends on your vehicle’s factory tyre diameter. If your combination would exceed 75mm total, certification from a licensed vehicle certifier is required.
What is the highest legal lift kit height in NSW?
Without engineering certification: 75mm total (suspension plus tyre diameter increase combined) for eligible 4WDs. Beyond that, a licensed vehicle certifier can approve a greater lift through the modification certification process — there is no single "maximum" once a vehicle is properly certified, but every increase beyond the uncertified limit needs that sign-off.
What is the highest legal lift kit height in QLD?
The same 75mm total without certification applies in Queensland. For lifts between roughly 51mm and 100mm, certification is required. Queensland’s rules cap total lift (including body blocks) at 150mm even with certification.
Not sure what's legal for your vehicle?
Talk to us before you order — we can help you understand how a kit fits within these rules for your specific vehicle.
Contact usSources: VSB14 (National Code of Practice for Light Vehicle Construction and Modification), NSW light vehicle modifications guidance, and Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads modification codes LS9/LS10. Correct to the best of our knowledge at time of publishing — always verify current rules for your vehicle before modifying it.