Mobile Roadworthy Certificates

By Lisa Armstrong

You may not realise but Roadworthy Certificate Inspections in Queensland can be done as a mobile inspection.

So what does this actually mean? Well, you can be at home or even at work and we come out to you.

Unlike most states and territories in Australia, Queensland Roadworthy Inspections can be carried out on site.

Does this mean that you can no longer take your car into a workshop to be inspected? Absolutely not.

However, the Mobile Roadworthy Certificate Inspections can save you a lot of time and hassle.

Is a Mobile Roadworthy the same as Safety Certificate?

You may see online that a Roadworthy Certificate is referred to as a Safety Certificate.

They are one of the same.

That is to say that both are referring to the same inspection that is required to register or transfer a vehicle in Queensland.

Queensland Transport used to call it a Roadworthy Certificate now it is called a Safety Certificate.

There is no difference between the two inspections.

Image: Reuters

How do I prepare for a mobile roadworthy inspection?

All of the details are taken from the car, motorbike or trailer itself. This is apart of the identification criteria to pass the Roadworthy Inspection.

A VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) plate is affixed to each vehicle and from this information the examiner is able to confirm the identity of the vehicle.

If you do have previous or current registration papers available it is helpful but is not a necessity.

Here is a list of the top 3 things that you will be able to check yourself prior to the inspection.

Are all your lights working? Turn your headlights on. Check the high beams are also working. Engage both indicators, brake lights and reverse lights.
Are there any lights on the dash? Check engine lights or airbag lights. Service indicator lights do not affect your ability to pass a Roadworthy Inspection.
Check your tyres. There is a minimum of 1.5mm tread depth required across the whole width of the tyre. This is for all surfaces that come into contact with the road surface. Note: Your spare tyre is not required to be roadworthy or even present at the time of inspection.

What happens if my car does not pass?

It is not uncommon for vehicles to need repairs in order to pass an inspection. These can be quite minor repairs through to major work required.

This entirely depends on the service history of the vehicle, general maintenance and the age of the vehicle.

However, the Queensland Transport allows you 14 days to have any repairs completed. Within this time you can take the vehicle into your mechanic and have the repairs carried out.

Once they have been completed, we come back out to you to check those items. A completed Roadworthy Certificate is issued and you are good to go ahead with registration or transfer of registration.

Note: (Re-inspection fees do apply to cover time and travel to come back out)

How is the Roadworthy Certificate Issued?

To make things even easier, Roadworthy Certificates are issued online.

How is this different from how it used to be done?

For decades, a Roadworthy Certificate would be hand written on paper.

That original copy was the only copy that Queensland Transport would accept so if you lost it then you would have to go through the whole process all over again.

Things have most certainly changed for the better.

The examiner logs into the ICO (Inspection Certificates Online) system that is hosted by Queensland Transport. This system is where the Roadworthy Certificate is issued from. Instantly Queensland Transport can see the Roadworthy Certificate has been issued and it is attached to your registration.

When you check your registration online you can see the actual Certificate number. You can do this check by clicking this link.

Check Rego Status

Most importantly, with an online certificate you can change the registration to another person online. There is no need to go into Queensland Transport customer service centres.

Unfortunately, if you are transferring the ownership to a Company or registering a vehicle you will need to attend the Customer Service Centre.

How long does my Roadworthy Certificate last for?

The Roadworthy Certificate is valid for 2 months or 2000kms for a private sale.

For dealers it is 3 months or 1000kms.

In the situation where the time has expired or the vehicle has travelled more than the allowed kms, a new inspection will be required.