About Safety Certificates

Why should I get a Safety Certificate (RWC)?

Because you can’t sell or transfer a registered vehicle without one! By law in Queensland, a Safety Certificate (or ‘Roadworthy Certificate’) is a required document that must be obtained by the seller before the sale of any registered vehicle …and that’s where we can help!

 

Our inspections take less than an hour to complete and provide a full and thorough report detailing whether a vehicle has passed or failed inspection. Don’t worry if your vehicle fails – you have up to fourteen days to rectify any issues and get a re-inspection.

The Safety Certificate ensures vehicles on the road are safe. This ensures buyer/seller protection during a purchase, certifying a vehicle has met the required minimum safety standards.

Our approved and experienced vehicle inspectors keep with the standards outlined by the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads. Upon completion, you will be provided with an electronically issued certificate, and emailed a PDF copy for your records. (This way your certificate is always safe and cant be lost as you will always have an electronic copy).

In Queensland a safety certificate is needed when:

  • transferring registration to a new owner

  • when transferring to Queensland registration from another state or territory

  • when re-registering an unregistered vehicle.

Vehicles requiring a safety certificate are:

  • cars

  • motorcycles

  • trailers (including caravans) with an aggregate trailer mass (ATM) between 750kg and 4,500kg.

  • any other vehicles up to 4,500kg gross vehicle mass (GVM).

This inspection covers the basic vehicle safety standards for many components including:

  • tyres

  • brakes

  • steering

  • suspension

  • body rust or damage

  • windscreen

  • lights.

Read More
Certificates of Inspection
Uber ,Taxi And Limousine Inspections
Daycare Bus Mobile Certificate of Inspection

What is a Safety Certificate?

In Queensland you are required by law to get a safety certificate if you plan to sell a vehicle, or when re-registering a vehicle.  Before you advertise your car, motorbike, trailer or any light vehicle for sale you must obtain and clearly display the certificate or risk an on the spot fine.

From 1 September 2021, vehicle owners are no longer required to obtain and display a safety certificate before a vehicle is offered for sale.  But one is still required before transfer of registration and having one will assist a quicker sale.

A roadworthy certificate in Queensland is valid for up to two months or 2000km whichever comes first but only for one sale.  There are some exemptions from this requirement such as sales in very remote areas or between car dealers.

Roadworthy Certificates

Safety Certificates and Roadworthys are two names for the same thing. In 1999, the Queensland Department of Transport changed the name from a Roadworthy Certificate to a Safety Certificate. The two titles are used interchangeably by drivers and service providers alike.

Who can provide a Safety Certificate in QLD?

Scott can! Coastal safety certificates is  ASI approved. QLD Safety Certificates can only be issued by approved inspection stations (AIS). Why Choose Scott?

When do you need a Safety Certificate?

  • Your registered light vehicle is offered for sale in Queensland

  • Transferring registration to a new owner

  • Transferring to a QLD registration from another state/territory

  • Re-registering an unregistered vehicle

Why do I need a Safety Certificate?

The Safety Certificate is designed to keep vehicles that are on the road safe to avoid accidents caused by un-roadworthy and defective vehicles. This offers the buyer protection when purchasing that the vehicle meets the minimum safety standards.

How long are safety certificates current for?

A Safety Certificate will take approximately 30-45 minutes.
At the completion of the inspection, a detailed report will be issued and emailed to you. If the vehicle fails the safety inspection, you have 14 days to rectify the problem and call us back out for a re-inspection.

Licensed motor dealers: Certificates are valid for 3 months or 1000km (whichever comes first) from the date of issue.

All other sellers: Certificates are valid for 2 months or 2000km (whichever comes first) from the date of issue.

Certificate of inspection

All taxis, limousines and ride-booking vehicles, Daycare buses or any vehicle that has more than 10 seats are required to have a certificate of inspection (COI), unless exempt, to ensure they meet minimum vehicle standards. Vehicles are only exempt from the COI requirement if they are a new vehicle during the first year of being registered, or are operating solely in an exempt area. COI insures that the vehicles  caring you and your loved ones are regualry checked and kept at a roadworthy starndard. COI Take approx 45 min to complete and are valid for 12 month.

 

What you need to know about safety certificates and inspections

In Queensland, a Safety Certificate is required if you want to sell or register a car, motorcycle, a trailer with an Aggregate Trailer Mass between 750kg and 3.5 tonnes or any other vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Mass up to 4.5 tonnes.

  • Safety Certificates confirm that a vehicle meets minimum safety standards.

  • Safety certificates do not need to be obtained prior to offering a light vehicle for sale. Sellers can advertise online, at a motor dealership forecourt, in traditional print media, or the vehicle itself without a safety certificate. However, the seller still needs a safety certificate to dispose of the vehicle and transfer registration to the new owner. Note, it is not the buyer’s obligation to obtain the safety certificate.

  • Safety Certificate inspections are not required to identify all defects, so vehicles can have a valid Safety Certificate but still havemajor mechanical issues.

  • Safety Certificates are not a substitute for a vehicle inspection.

  • When buying, ensure the certificate is valid and has enough time left on it to complete the registration transfer.

Safety Certificates are valid for:

  • One registration transfer, or one new registration and one transfer, within the following timeframes:

  • For a private sale – the certificate is valid for two months or 2,000km (whichever comes first)

  • For a dealer sale, it is three months or 1,000km (whichever comes first

  • Except in a few very specific circumstances, you cannot register a car or transfer registration without one

  • A Safety Certificate is not required if you are trading or selling to a licenced motor dealer

  • It is the seller’s legal responsibility to provide the certificate and complete any repairs required to make the vehicle roadworthy

  • Buyers should never agree to get their own safety certificate as repair costs will then become their responsibility

  • A seller is not required to provide a safety certificate for an unregistered vehicle.

  • Visit Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) > Safety Certificates for more information.