Western Australia just plugged into the national standard for vehicle labelling — and if you drive an electric, hybrid, or hydrogen vehicle, you’ll want to pay attention.

Starting January 1, 2026, all EV, hybrid, and hydrogen vehicles manufactured or modified on or after January 1, 2019 will need to display new front and rear labels identifying what powers them.

Forget optional. This one’s law.

The Labels: Blue Triangles & Yellow Pentagons

• Blue “EV” triangle for electric and hybrid vehicles.
• Yellow “H” pentagon for hydrogen vehicles.

They’re small, but their purpose is huge: to alert emergency services at crash scenes that they’re dealing with high-voltage or pressurised systems.

Because when it comes to incidents involving EVs or hydrogen vehicles, knowing what’s under the hood can literally save lives.

The Why Behind the Rule

Minister Assisting the Transport Minister, Jessica Stojkovski, put it plainly:

“The labels enable our first responders to identify electric, hybrid, or hydrogen vehicles quickly and ensure they take the necessary safety precautions when attending a crash scene or other incident.”

It’s not about bureaucracy — it’s about safety and speed.
If a firefighter or paramedic can identify a vehicle instantly, they can act faster, smarter, and safer.

Fines, Deadlines & Details

✅ Transition period: You’ve got until January 1, 2027 to comply.
⚠️ After that: Non-compliance could cost you up to $800 in fines.
🚗 Who’s affected: Vehicles made or modified on or after Jan 1, 2019.
💡 Older vehicles: Not mandatory, but owners are strongly encouraged to add the label anyway.

You’ll need to purchase and attach the correct label yourself — just make sure it doesn’t obscure any part of your number plate.

Why It Matters for the Industry

This move brings WA in line with the rest of Australia, standardising safety protocols and ensuring emergency crews have consistent visual cues nationwide.

For fleet operators, EV service providers, and logistics companies introducing hybrid or hydrogen-powered vehicles — this is about risk management. A few dollars for compliance beats downtime, legal headaches, or worse.

It’s a small change with big implications: faster emergency response, safer roads, and fewer operational risks.