Vehicle inspections
Vehicle Inspections in Brisbane
We run five different vehicle inspections out of 2 Baldock St, Moorooka, and they are not interchangeable. Which one you need depends on whether you are selling a car, buying somebody else's, driving for a rideshare platform, chasing a defect notice, or just want the car looked over before a long drive. Every one of them ends with a written report in plain English.
Find the right inspection
Which inspection do you actually need
Most people arrive knowing something is wrong or something is required, without knowing what the inspection is called.
If you are selling or transferring a registered vehicle in Queensland
You need a safety certificate. That is the statutory one.
If you are buying a used car
You want a pre-purchase inspection before the money moves.
If you are handed a defect notice for smoke
You need an emissions inspection.
If you are driving for Uber, DiDi or Ola
The platform sets its own inspection requirement.
If you are none of the above but want peace of mind
A voluntary safety inspection. No pass or fail, just a proper look at what the car needs.
Our inspections
The inspections we run
Roadworthy and safety certificate
Queensland's legal term is safety certificate. Everyone says roadworthy. It is the same document and the same inspection, and you need it to sell or transfer a registered vehicle.
Pre-purchase inspection
The one that saves people the most money. We go over a car you are thinking of buying, scan it for fault codes, road test it, and give you a written report on what it needs.
Vehicle safety inspection
A voluntary check-over. No certificate, no legal standing, no pass or fail. The inspection you book because you are driving to Cairns next month, or because you want the car properly looked over.
Emissions inspection
If your car has been defected for smoke, we inspect it and tell you what is causing it. Blue, black and white smoke each point somewhere different.
Uber and rideshare inspection
We book these tightly and turn them around quickly. We inspect to the checklist the platform requires and hand you the paperwork the same day where we can.
Our approach
What all of them have in common
Every inspection is carried out by a qualified technician, not a box-ticker with a torch. The report is written in plain English, so you get told what is worn and what can safely wait until next time.
Nothing gets repaired without you approving it first. If we find a problem, you get told what it is and what it costs before a spanner comes out. Parts we fit carry supplier or manufacturer warranty.
What we find most often
Common findings
Eight years of inspections turns up the same list with tedious regularity. Tyres worn on one edge because the alignment has been out for months. Brake pads sitting on the wear indicators. Oil leaks that started as a weep and now drip onto the driveway. Blown globes. Perished wiper blades.
Almost all of that is cheap to deal with early and expensive to ignore.
We come to you
Mobile inspections
Some inspections do not need the car to come to us. If the vehicle is unregistered, off the road, parked at a seller's house on the other side of town, or you simply cannot get away from work, we run mobile inspections across Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton Bay and Redlands.
Mobile roadworthy inspectionsCommon questions
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a roadworthy and a pre-purchase inspection?
A safety certificate is a legal document confirming the vehicle met the minimum safety standard on the day. A pre-purchase inspection is far broader and has no legal status. It tells you about condition, wear and upcoming costs, none of which a safety certificate covers.
Do I need a safety certificate to renew my registration?
No. Renewing your own registration does not require one. Selling or transferring the vehicle does.
How long does an inspection take?
A safety certificate is usually under an hour. A pre-purchase inspection takes longer because it includes a diagnostic scan and a proper road test.
Can you inspect European and diesel vehicles?
Yes. We work on all makes and models, including European, diesel, 4WD, hybrid and EV, plus fleet and commercial vehicles.
Will you tell me if the car is worth buying?
We will tell you what condition it is in and what it needs. The decision stays yours, but people usually find the report makes it obvious.
Do you do inspections on Saturdays?
Yes, Saturday 8am to 3pm. Saturday books out first, so ring early in the week.
Can you repair what the inspection finds?
Yes, in most cases. Being a full mechanical workshop means the repairs happen in the same building, which usually means one visit instead of three.
Do you come to me?
For several inspection types, yes. Mobile inspections cover Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton Bay and Redlands from our Moorooka base.
How far ahead do I need to book?
Usually a day or two for a workshop inspection. Rideshare drivers and buyers on a deadline should say so when they call, because we hold slots for time-critical jobs.
Book an inspection
Call us to book
the right inspection.
Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm, Saturday 8am to 3pm. After-hours key drop available. All major cards and cash.