how can i get a new one do i have to notify rta? i wanted to do a ca18det swap but will that be harder to do? any yes my ute is registered in nsw? thanks guys

Fark! yes notify rta for sure other than that I dont know, good luck.

When you contact the RTA, dont identify yourself and your car until you have all the answers you need. That way if it could potentially become a nightmare you could always do the dodgy and chase down a set of compliance plates from a wrecked one. (Not that I would suggest that this is the best route, just that you could, if you get desperate, go down this path)

From my experience, as far the the licenseing dept is concerned, old cars tend to get all sorts of things mixed up, so that will usually just get you to fill out some extra forms.
A HR holden that we licensed a few years back after a resto, we found out was reported stolen in the early 80s. They just changed the name on the papers and did the inspection. NO sweat.

Doesn't give you much faith in the system!

thanks heaps guys, but will it be an issue when i need to get the pink slip done as a pink slip is just a saftey check? and will a enginner need the id plates for a conversion mod or they make me a new one?

No issue -- if you get replacement compliance plate from the RTA.

not always that easy here in aus- we make things harder than practicality dictates

I would'nt be overly stressed as all official departments go by the numbers stamped into the chassis and engine block not a piece of metal screwed or riveted to the firewall that can be changed by any one.Normally the compliance plate only gives details of ADR rules complied with and a year of manufacture for Oz.

That's what people say in the US "not so easy" but actually it is quite easy having gotten new paperwork many times even in various states.

Perhaps in Aus it is really not easy, but until you've tried it don't believe the rumours.