Toyota Hilux Factory GVM Upgrade vs Aftermarket: Which Should You Choose?

Toyota’s factory GVM upgrade raises selected new N90 Hilux grades to 3500kg from $4,000, ordered when you buy the vehicle. Aftermarket kits suit every Hilux generation, offer up to 3571kg on the N90 with a 40mm to 50mm lift, and can be fitted pre-rego or after registration. The right choice depends on your Hilux, load and timing.

Since Toyota Australia announced a factory GVM option for the new Hilux, we’ve had plenty of customers ask whether the Toyota Hilux factory GVM upgrade makes aftermarket kits redundant. It doesn’t, and the reasons come down to which Hilux you own, how much weight you carry and when you get the work done. Here’s an honest comparison, plus how pre-rego and post-rego upgrades work, so you can choose with confidence before you look at our full range of GVM upgrades.

What Is the Toyota Hilux Factory GVM Upgrade?

Toyota’s factory GVM option, often searched as the Toyota Hilux Australia GVM upgrade, was developed locally for the new-generation N90 Hilux and became available from August 2026. Here are the key details Toyota has released:

•             Price: From $4,000, added on top of the vehicle’s purchase price.

•             Rating: The Hilux’s legal GVM is raised to 3500kg.

•             Payload gain: 372kg to 435kg depending on grade, for a maximum payload of about 1525kg.

•             Ride height: Up to 10mm higher, thanks to longer rear monotube shock absorbers.

•             Eligible grades: WorkMate double cab chassis, WorkMate double cab pick-up, SR extra cab chassis, SR double cab chassis, SR double cab pick-up and SR5 double cab pick-up.

•             Warranty: Toyota says the option retains its five year warranty.

Toyota also notes that Hilux models with the factory GVM option ride stiffer and are designed to be driven with a permanent minimum payload, so the ride can feel firm when the tray is empty.

Toyota Factory GVM vs Aftermarket GVM Upgrades for the Hilux

When the Toyota factory GVM upgrade makes sense

If you’re ordering one of the six eligible N90 grades new, a 3500kg GVM covers your load, and you’re happy with factory ride height, Toyota’s option is a tidy solution. It’s built into the vehicle from day one.

When an aftermarket GVM upgrade is the better choice

For an existing N70 or N80 Hilux, the factory option isn’t available at all. On the N90, our 3571kg Formula 4x4 kit gives you 71kg more GVM than the factory figure, a 40mm to 50mm lift for clearance and bigger tyres, and the option of F4R adjustable remote reservoir damping to tune the ride empty or loaded. It also suits owners who’ve already registered their new Hilux or who decide on a GVM upgrade after they’ve fitted accessories.

Pre-Rego vs Post-Rego GVM Upgrades Explained

Aftermarket GVM upgrades come in two forms, and the timing changes the process and the cost.

Pre-registration GVM upgrade

A pre-rego GVM upgrade is fitted before your Hilux is registered for the first time. The new GVM becomes part of the vehicle’s compliance from the start, so it’s the simplest path. You’ll need to arrange it at purchase, before delivery and registration. With Fulcrum, engineering for pre-rego vehicles is included at no extra charge.

Post-registration GVM upgrade

A post-rego GVM upgrade is done on a Hilux that’s already registered. An engineer inspects and signs off the installation, issues a modification plate and updates your vehicle’s registered details. This adds $1,265 to the fitted price with us. We also recommend an upper control arm kit for post-rego N80 vehicles to keep alignment correct at the new ride height.

Can you do a GVM upgrade after registration?

Post-registration GVM upgrades are common and fully legal, so the answer to “can you get a GVM upgrade after registration” or “can you upgrade GVM after registration” is yes, provided the kit is fitted by an authorised installer and certified by an approved engineer. Requirements vary between states, and if you later re-register the Hilux interstate, check whether the new state needs the upgrade signed off again.

Which GVM Option Fits Your Hilux?

Whichever path you take, start with your real weight. Our $90 GVM & Towing Assessment weighs each corner, checks GVM and GCM, and gives you a written recommendation. N90 owners can see the full detail on our N90 Hilux GVM upgrade page.

Toyota Hilux Factory and Aftermarket GVM Upgrade FAQs

Looking for more information about the Toyota factory GVM option and aftermarket Hilux GVM upgrades? Below we answer the most commonly asked questions.

Get advice on the right GVM path for your Hilux from your local Fulcrum Service Centre, or compare every kit in our GVM upgrades range.