Do you need a Queensland Safety Certificate / Roadworthy Certificate?

Our Charters Towers car service is fully licensed by Queensland Transport to perform inspections and issue Safety Certificates. Call Towers Automotive now to book a Roadworthy Certificate inspection!

The Safety Certificate offers buyers better protection and makes sure vehicles being offered for disposal or being re-registered are safe - reducing the likelihood of crashes caused by defective vehicles.

In Queensland the laws are very strict about Safety Certificates on vehicles that are up for sale, or that are being re-registered for the first time or from interstate. A Safety Certificate is issued after a vehicle passes an minimum safety standard inspection.

A Safety Certificate covers basic items essential for safe operation of your car:

Note: a safety inspection is not a comprehensive inspection of the vehicle or the engine. Before purchasing a used vehicle, we recommend that you contact Towers Automotive for a full mechanical inspection of the vehicle. It is the seller's legal responsibility to provide the Safety Certificate and complete any roadworthiness related repairs required before the certificate can be issued. You should never be persuaded to get your own Safety Certificate as any necessary repairs will be at your cost.

In Queensland, you are required to obtain a Safety Certificate when registering a new vehicle, or when changing the registered owners of a vehicle. If you have a vehicle registered in another state, has been un-registered for more than 3 months or are registering the vehicle for the first time - the car needs to pass a safety inspection and receive a Safety Certificate before they can be registered.

There is no longer a requirement to display your Safety Certificate.  Using the Rego Search function with Queensland Transport will show the Safety Certificate Number and issue date online as we issue Electronic Safety Certificates.

After a failed initial inspection, items that require repair to pass the Inspection must be repaired and reinspected within fourteen (14) days or 1000km whichever comes first.  Once this passes, or if the inspection passes on the first go, the Safety Certificate is valid for 2 months or 2000km whichever comes first.  Inspections outside these guidelines are considered a new inspection and fees will be payable again.

Does my vehicle need a safety certificate?

Unless exempt, unregistered second hand and registered interstate vehicles must have a Safety Certificate as part of the Queensland pre-registration process. This includes:

Trailers and caravans with an aggregate trailer mass (ATM) of 0.751-3.50 tonnes 

Any other vehicles up to 4.50t gross vehicle mass (GVM).

All cars fitted with LPG require a Gas Certificate to be issued by a licensed gas fitter (in addition to the Safety Certificate). This involves an inspection to ensure the gas equipment is safe.

As directed by the Department of Transport and Main Roads, the Safety Certificate checklist includes the inspection of the following aspects of your car:

Lamps (lights) and electrical components 

How much does the safety certificate inspection cost?

The price of a Safety Certificate inspection is controlled by Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads. If you think you have been quoted more than you should be to get a Safety Certificate for your car, check with us at Towers Automotive for the correct price. 

When is the safety certificate not needed?

Queensland Transport regulations indicate a few situations where a Safety Certificate is not required. Some exemption criteria are:

Unregistered car being traded to or between licensed motor dealerships

Vehicle is being sold for parts, and has been de-registered before going on sale

Trading ownership between spouses, including separated couples 

The disposer of car is living in an exempt area (remote locations)

Is the Safety Certificate the same as roadworthy certificate (RWC)?

The term Roadworthy Certificate (RWC) was dropped by QLD Department of Transport in favor of the Safety Certificate. Safety certificates can only be issued by Approved Inspection Stations (AIS) as Towers Automotive. These are service stations, garages or workshops approved by the Queensland Government.

To obtain a Safety Certificate in Charters Towers, book a service with Towers Automotive online or call us to make an appointment.

You can download the Vehicle Registration Transfer Application form (F3520) from the QLD Department of Transport website.

In Queensland the laws are very strict about Safety Certificates on vehicles that are up for sale, or that are being re-registered for the first time or from interstate. A Safety Certificate is issued after a vehicle passes an minimum safety standard inspection....

Safety Certificates service in Charters Towers

Safety Certificate Inspections (previously known as Roadworthy Certificates, or RWC) are required by Queensland Transport to ensure the safety of all vehicles on Queensland roads. Find out what many customers have asked Towers Automotive over the years...

Towers Automotive share their customers frequently asked questions about Safety Certificates in Charters Towers...

Frequently Asked Questions - Safety Certificate Inspections in Charters Towers

Frequently Asked Questions about Safety Certificates

Towers Automotive in Charters Towers is an Approved Inspection Station and can issue Safety Certificates and Certificates of Inspection (formerly known as a Roadworthy Inspection)  for vehicles that pass the roadworthy assessment test.

We are licenced for the following types of vehicles;

Cars and Light Vehicles up to and including 4.5 tonne

Trucks and Heavy Vehicles weighing over 4.5 tonne up to and including 16 tonnes

Trailers, Floats, Vans and Caravans over 0.75 tonne and up to 10 tonnes

Vehicles for hire or transporting paying customers / school children (Code CL) up to and including 4.5 tonne

In Queensland, you are required to obtain a Safety Certificate for vehicles when;

buying a new vehicle that has never been registered

buying a vehicle registered in another state or territory

your registration expired more than 3 months ago; or

when your Certificate of Inspection is due for heavy vehicles.

If you are due your annual inspection from New South Wales or “Pink Slip”, we can carry out a Queensland Safety Certificate Inspection in it’s place.  Once issued, the electronic certificate is emailed to you to forward on to Service NSW.  The Queensland Inspection is equivalent to a Blue Slip in New South Wales and is a more thorough inspection than the annual Pink Slip.

A roadworthy inspection includes checking:

This is by no means a thorough list of items checked.  The staff would be happy to chat if you have specific questions regarding your vehicle.

Unfortunately we are not a Mobile Inspection Station and vehicles must be presented to the workshop. 

CAN YOU COME TO ME TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE?

 If your vehicle is unregistered and you believe it is safe enough to drive it to the workshop, you must obtain and have in the vehicle, a copy of your paid Compulsory Third Party Insurance certificate.  Make sure you remove all plates and stickers, and drive in the most direct route to the Inspection Station.

Here is a video from Queensland Transport about what steps to take to register a vehicle in Queensland

A roadworthy inspection is not a comprehensive full vehicle inspection. Talk to us today about the different types of inspections available at Towers Automotive and which one will best suit your needs...

Towers Automotive in Charters Towers is an Approved Inspection Station and can issue Safety Certificates and Certificates of Inspection (formerly known as a Roadworthy Inspection)  for vehicles that pass the roadworthy assessment test...

QLD Safety Certificates | Roadworthy Inspections

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Located in the large blue workshop behind Central State School Oval in Charters Towers, Towers Automotive has been servicing trusted customers since 2005. 

With almost 30 years of experience, the owner of Towers Automotive Aaron Stibbs together with wife Kelly invite you to personal and trusted car service at their workshop.

Employing state of the art diagnostic equipment and repair methods, Towers Automotive recommend, use and sell quality oils, lubricants and automotive parts. All our technicians are trained in the latest developments.

Specialising in classic Vintage Car,  Safety Certificates (Roadworthy Inspections), trailers and Trucks up to 16t, GVM upgrades, and towing services up to 7 tonne

Towers Automotive

QLD & NSW Roadworthy Inspections

Safety Certificates in Charters Towers

WHAT TYPES OF VEHICLES DO YOU INSPECT?

WHEN DO I NEED AN INSPECTION?

WHAT DO YOU CHECK?

CAN YOU COME TO ME TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE?

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