Vehicle inspections
Vehicle Safety Inspections
A vehicle safety inspection is a voluntary check-over of your own car. It is not the Queensland safety certificate, it does not produce a legal document, and there is no pass or fail attached to it. You book one because you want to know the actual condition of the car you are already driving, usually before a long trip or a change of season.
Worth being clear about this
This is not a safety certificate
A safety certificate is the statutory Queensland inspection you need to sell or transfer a registered vehicle. It is issued by an approved inspection station, it has legal standing, and it lasts two months or 2,000km for a private seller. If that is what you are after, you want the other page.
Roadworthy and safety certificatesA vehicle safety inspection is us going over the car for your benefit. It covers more than the statutory check in some areas and none of it is bound by a minimum legal standard. We tell you what is worn, what is close to needing replacement and what is fine, and you decide what to do about it.
The common reasons
When people book one
Before a long drive
A car that copes fine with a 12km commute is being asked to do something different when you point it at the Bruce Highway with a full boot, four people and a roof box. We look hard at cooling, tyres, brakes and anything that is going to be a very expensive phone call if it lets go 400km from home.
On a used car you already own
You bought it two years ago, it has been fine, and nobody has looked underneath it since. This tells you what you actually own. Particularly worth doing if you bought privately without an inspection at the time.
Before summer
Brisbane summer is hard on cooling systems, batteries and air conditioning. A radiator with a weeping seam in September is a tow truck in January. Batteries also fail in heat far more often than people expect.
Before the wet season
Worn tyres and tired wipers stop being a minor annoyance when there is standing water on Ipswich Road. Tread depth matters enormously, and grip drops off well before the legal minimum of 1.5mm.
The inspection
What we check
Brakes.
Pad and rotor thickness, rotor condition, calipers, hoses and lines, fluid condition and level, handbrake operation, and pedal feel.Tyres and wheels.
Tread depth across the face, wear pattern, sidewall condition, tyre age, pressures and the spare. Uneven wear gets traced back to alignment or suspension rather than just noted.Steering and suspension.
Ball joints, tie rod ends, bushes, shock absorbers, springs, wheel bearings and general play.Cooling system.
Coolant strength and level, radiator and hoses, water pump, thermostat operation and any sign of a leak or a previous overheat.Engine bay.
Oil level and condition, belts, mounts, air filter, and any leak we can see or smell.Battery and charging.
Battery condition under load, terminals, alternator output and starter behaviour.Lights and electrics.
Headlights, brake lights, indicators, reversing lights, horn, wipers, washers and dash warning lights.Underbody.
Exhaust condition, mounts, driveshafts and CV boots, plus any leak from the transmission or differential.After the inspection
What happens after
You get a written report listing what we found and how urgent each item is. Nothing gets repaired without your approval, we quote before we start, and any parts we fit carry supplier or manufacturer warranty.
If the car needs work we can do it here. If the car is fine, we will tell you that too, which is often the most useful outcome for someone about to drive a long way.
Versus a service
Should this replace a service?
No. A safety inspection is a condition check. A service replaces oil, filters and consumables on a schedule, and includes a safety check as part of it. If your car is due for a service anyway, book the service and you get most of this included.
Car servicingCommon questions
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same as a roadworthy?
No. This is a voluntary check-over with no legal standing. A Queensland safety certificate is the statutory inspection you need to sell or transfer a vehicle.
Will I get a certificate?
Not a legal one. You get a written condition report listing everything we found.
How long does it take?
Around an hour for most vehicles, longer if something needs investigating properly.
How much does it cost?
[CONFIRM: price] Call 0402 723 464 with your make and model.
How often should I have one done?
Once a year covers most people, or before any long drive. If the car is older or high kilometre, more often is sensible.
Do I have to get the repairs done with you?
No. The report is yours to take anywhere. Most people have the work done here because the car is already on the hoist and the diagnosis is already paid for.
Can you do this on a European or diesel vehicle?
Yes. All makes and models, including European, diesel, 4WD, hybrid and EV.
Will you check the air conditioning?
We check that it operates and cools. If it is not performing, that becomes a separate diagnosis and quote.
Is it worth doing before a road trip even if the car feels fine?
Yes, because the failures that strand people are rarely the ones you can feel from the driver's seat. Cooling leaks and worn belts give very little warning.
Can you do it on a Saturday?
Yes, Saturday 8am to 3pm. Saturday fills quickly, so ring earlier in the week.
Book a safety check
Know what you are driving Before it becomes a problem.
Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm, Saturday 8am to 3pm. After-hours key drop available. All major cards and cash.