A vehicle inspection report is also known as a safety check or safety certificate. It is an offical document that provides a detailed overview of your vehicle’s condition. The report is typically prepared by a licensed vehicle inspector.

vehicle safety certificate

A vehicle inspection report is required in some states when purchasing, selling or transferring ownership of a vehicle. In some cases, the vehicle inspection report will determine whether your vehicle is roadworthy and meets safety standards. In certain states, a vehicle must undergo a safety inspection when the car is getting registered or re-registered, or when periodical inspections are required.

Want to find a vehicle inspector in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth or Adelaide?

What is involved in a vehicle inspection?

Your qualified inspector will check your vehicle’s engine, transmission, brakes, tyres, underbody and other essential components. The safety check will also include a road test, and the inspector will evaluate the vehicle’s performance on the road, and record any issues or defects.

NSW rego check

How to get a vehicle inspection report

Getting a safety inspection is a pretty straight-forward process. Simply call or book your inspection online with a trusted Yellow Pages vehicle inspector. You can choose to drop off your vehicle or request a mobile inspector come to you. Your vehicle inspector will then inspect and photograph any issues, and compile the report for you.

Vehicle inspection requirements by state

Each state or territory in Australia is authorised to set its own laws for vehicle inspection or automotive inspection. Here is a state-by-state breakdown of the current laws and requirements for vehicle inspections and safety checks.

Want to find a vehicle inspector in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth or Adelaide?

NT rego check

ACT car rego check

In the ACT there are a few different situations in which you will need to have a car inspection.

You will need a vehicle or car check if your vehicle is in any of these categories:

It is over 6 years old and requires a transfer of ownership
Interstate vehicle that is transferring registration (regardless of age)
The vehicle’s registration expired or was cancelled over 12 months ago
A defect notice has been issued
A brand new vehicle needing registration
A vehicle that runs on LPG or CNG requires annual inspections.

The ACT also has a random vehicle inspection system where any vehicle may be subject to a random inspection, occupied or not, in car parks or other road-related areas. If you are issued a defect notice, you must get an inspection and have it cleared in 14 days.

New South Wales rego check

In NSW, you will need a vehicle safety check to prove your car is roadworthy if the car is older than five years and you need to renew your registration. You will then get an e-Safety Check allowing you to renew online or by phone.

NT rego renewal requirements

In the Northern Territory, if your car is over three years old, you will need to have a vehicle inspection before the registration can be issued, renewed or transferred from interstate.

qld rego check

Want to find a vehicle inspector in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth or Adelaide?

Car safety certificate QLD

In Queensland, a car safety certificate indicates a vehicle has passed a minimum safety standard inspection. This must be displayed for any light vehicle from the moment the vehicle is offered for sale. Unregistered second-hand and registered interstate vehicles will also need to get a car safety certificate.

There are some cases where you are exempt. If selling the vehicle, you do not need a safety certificate if it is traded to or between licensed motor dealers, or if it is unregistered.

If transferring a vehicle, a QLD car safety certificate is not needed if any exemption criteria is met:

The disposer is in an exempt area
A beneficiary of a deceased estate
Transfer occurs between spouses
Remote locations.

Contact the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads for more information.

Vehicle inspection SA

Generally you do not need a vehicle inspection in SA for privately owned vehicles, even to transfer registration to South Australia. If you car is modified, written-off or defected, you will need a roadworthy inspection before it can be registered.

You need a roadworthy vehicle inspection if it:

has a non-standard engine
the construction of the car has been changed
is a bus with a capacity of 13 or more
has been found to have a defect
is imported from overseas, is originally right-hand drive and needs exemption from compliance plate fitting
was originally manufactured as left-hand drive
is brand new and needs a compliance plate
was registered in another state, is seven years old and has a mass of 4.5 tonnes or more
has been written-off and repaired
is used in country regions and to carry 12 or less passengers for hire, fare or reward
is a rally car or street rod type vehicle
has modifications to brakes, steering or suspension.

Want to find a vehicle inspector in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth or Adelaide?

certificate of roadworthiness

TAS rego check

In Tasmania, you will need a safety inspection if you need to register or re-register your vehicle.

You will need to register your vehicle if:

You are transferring registration from interstate
Previous registration expired or was cancelled over three months ago
Your vehicle was written off and has been repaired
Your vehicle was converted from left-hand drive to right-hand drive.

VIC rego check: Certificate of Roadworthiness

If a vehicle is being sold or re-registered (from interstate or otherwise) in Victoria, it requires a Certificate of Roadworthiness, or VIC rego check, which requires a safety inspection. It will also be required if you are issued a defect notice or a notice of unroadworthiness.

TAS rego certificate

WA vehicle inspection requirements

In WA vehicle inspection requirements are not necessary when transferring registration from another state to Western Australia, if the owner is the same. However, there are a few situations where a vehicle inspection is required.

You need a WA vehicle inspection if:

the vehicle is being registered for the first time
there has been a lapse in the registration
the vehicle has received certain modifications
there is a “yellow sticker” on car or vehicle by the police to indicate safety faults
the vehicle is a commercial or public transport vehicle that is required to be inspected annually.

You should make sure that you check with the Department of Transport (or equivalent) in your state or territory to confirm the regulations about safety inspections.

What is a vehicle inspection report?

Want to find a vehicle inspector in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth or Adelaide?

What is involved in a vehicle inspection?

How to get a vehicle inspection report

Vehicle inspection requirements by state

Want to find a vehicle inspector in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth or Adelaide?

ACT car rego check

New South Wales rego check

NT rego renewal requirements

Want to find a vehicle inspector in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth or Adelaide?

Car safety certificate QLD

Vehicle inspection SA

Want to find a vehicle inspector in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth or Adelaide?

TAS rego check

VIC rego check: Certificate of Roadworthiness

WA vehicle inspection requirements

Want to find a vehicle inspector in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth or Adelaide?

Get free quotes

Local Inspection & Testing Services in Numinbah Valley QLD

289 Results for Inspection & Testing Services Near You

Action Mobile Roadworthy Certificates & Mechanical

NH Building and Pest Inspections Gold Coast

John Westera Pool Safety Inspections

Alpine Mechanical Service

No Fuss termite repairs

South Coast Auto Clinic & Safety Certificates

Torque Motorworks

Silk Building Reports Pty Ltd

Transport and Motoring Service Centres

Residential Building & Pest Inspection Services

MSI Auto Centre

Pelican Pool Safety Inspections

Pool Inspection Approvals

Inspect My Home

Carter Automotive

State Roads

Academy Building Control Surveying & Certification

Gold Coast Pool and Spa Safety Certification Pty Ltd

Gold Coast Home Inspections Pty Ltd

Capital Pest Management

RACQ Vehicle Inspections

South Coast Auto Clinic & Safety Certificates

Pool Care Queensland

Vehicle Safety Certificates Queensland

All Properties Inspections

Horton Residential Building Inspections

Archicentre

John Snow Auto Repairs

Coffs Coast Building & Pest Inspections

SKR Mobile Safety Certificates

Victory Ford

Gold Coast Vehicle Inspection Centre

Gold Coast Mobile Safety Certificates

Mobile Safety Inspections

Pool Safety Inspector (Qld)

Related Articles

Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto

Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto

Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto

Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto

Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto

Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto

Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto

Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto

Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto

Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto

Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto

Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto

Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto

Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto

Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto

Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto

Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto

Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto

Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto

Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto

Related Articles

Our directory.

Our advertising.

Connect with us.