Vehicle inspections
Roadworthy and safety certificates in Brisbane
In Queensland, the document you need to sell or transfer a registered vehicle is called a safety certificate. We inspect and issue them at our Moorooka workshop, and if something fails we can usually repair it here rather than sending you somewhere else.
When you need one
Four situations
that require a certificate.
- Selling a registered vehicle privately
- Transferring registration to a new owner
- Re-registering a vehicle that has been off the road
- Moving a vehicle's registration into Queensland from interstate
You do not need one to simply renew your own registration.
Book a safety inspectionImportant note
Most people call it a roadworthy. Queensland's legal term is safety certificate. Same inspection, same document.
An inspection covers the parts of the car that keep it safe on the road. Not the paint, not the air conditioning, not whether the stereo works.
What gets checked
Eight areas
every inspection covers.
An inspection checks the parts of the car that keep it safe on the road, not cosmetics or comfort.
Tyres and wheels
Tread depth, condition, correct fitment. The legal minimum tread is 1.5mm across the tread face, and worn edges will fail it.
Brakes
Pad and rotor condition, handbrake operation, fluid, lines and hoses.
Steering and suspension
Play in the steering, worn bushes and ball joints, shock absorbers, anything loose.
Lights and electrical
Headlights, brake lights, indicators, reversing lights, horn.
Windscreen and wipers
Cracks and chips in the driver's line of sight will fail. So will wipers that smear.
Body and structure
Rust in structural areas, doors that do not close, sharp edges.
Seatbelts
Condition, operation, mounting points.
Exhaust and emissions
Excessive smoke and leaks.
What we see most often
The most common
reasons cars fail.
After eight years of doing these, the same items come up again and again.
Most of these are cheap to fix if you deal with them before the inspection rather than after.
How long it is valid
Certificate validity periods.
2 months
Private seller
or 2,000 km
Whichever runs out first. Timing the inspection to when you actually list the car is worth thinking about. If it sells slowly and the certificate lapses, you need a new one.
3 months
Licensed dealer
or 1,000 km
Licensed motor dealers have different validity rules from private sellers. Contact us if you are unsure which applies to your situation.
If your car fails
One trip instead
of three.
You get a written list of what did not pass. You then have 14 days to have the work done and bring the car back for a re-inspection of those items only.
If the repairs happen here, that is one visit and one conversation. That is the main reason people book their safety certificate at a workshop rather than an inspection-only outfit.
Book your inspectionThe process
Book in
Usually a quick wait or a same-day appointment.
We inspect the vehicle
Under an hour for most cars.
We give you a written result
Pass, or a list of what failed.
If repairs needed, we quote them
14 days to fix and re-inspect. If repaired here, no second trip.
Common questions
Roadworthy FAQ
How long does a safety certificate last in Queensland?
Two months or 2,000 km for a private seller, whichever comes first. Three months or 1,000 km for a licensed dealer.
Is a roadworthy the same as a safety certificate?
Yes. Queensland's legal term is safety certificate. Roadworthy is what everyone actually says, and it is the same inspection and the same document.
How long does the inspection take?
Usually under an hour if nothing needs investigating. Book it in and you can generally wait.
What happens if my car fails?
You get a written list of the failed items and 14 days to have them repaired and re-inspected. We can carry out the repairs here so it is one trip rather than three.
Do I need a roadworthy to renew my rego?
No. You only need a safety certificate when selling, transferring, re-registering or bringing a vehicle into Queensland from interstate.
Can you do a roadworthy at my place?
Call us on 0402 723 464 to discuss mobile inspections for vehicles that cannot easily get to the workshop.
Can you fix what fails the inspection?
Yes, in most cases. That is the main advantage of booking your inspection at a full workshop rather than an inspection-only outfit.
How much does a roadworthy cost?
Pricing is set per vehicle type. Call us on 0402 723 464 for the current figure for your car.
Book your inspection
Get your safety
certificate sorted.
Call us or request a booking and we will get your vehicle inspected as quickly as possible. If it fails, we will tell you exactly what needs fixing and quote the repairs before we touch anything.