About Safety Certificates

A vehicle with a safety certificate issued to it has to have undergone a safety inspection by a qualified inspector at an Authorised Inspection Station known as AIS. The reasons for inspections are few.

According to Qld Dept of Transport under the currant law.
“There will be fewer unsafe vehicles on Queensland roads, reducing the likelihood of crashes caused by defective vehicles”.

This is not an efficient method of addressing the above.

Roadworthy Certificates are to be issued in Queensland on an annual basis on all vehicles with the exception of vehicles below a GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass) of 4500 kilograms (4.5 tonnes).
This means all small passengers’ cars are exempt from an annual inspection unless they are:-.

·         Offered for sale  (in Queensland only)

·         Renewing registration when the previous has expired

·         From Company ownership to private name and visa versa

·         A quality check to see if the vehicle is safe to drive

This means that if a vehicle owner just pays the registration renewal each year, the vehicle never has to be inspected for the rest of its life spent on Queensland roads.
The vehicle can even be driven interstate where the laws there compel all interstate owners to have their vehicle be inspected annually. Here we have a mix of vehicles driving on interstate roads that have inspected annually and those that have not.

The validity of a Roadworthy Certificate depends on who the certificate is issued to. A Motor Dealers certificate is valid for three months or 1000 klms whichever is first. A private seller’s validity is two months or 2000klms whichever is first. Two different standards for the same vehicle but depends on who is selling the vehicle.

For a private sale, if the Certificate is not displayed correctly an on the spot fine of $500 will issued, however the is no fine for using the Certificate for multiple transactions which is illegal.

“A quality check to see if the vehicle is safe to drive” should be carried out on regular basis, to ensure respect for other road users and your own safety.

At present the charge for an inspection is $64.20, this will give the owner a list of issues found with in the vehicles mechanics.