Frequently Asked Questions

In Queensland, a safety certificate (also commonly called a roadworthy certificate) is an official document issued by a licensed Approved Inspection Station confirming that a vehicle meets the minimum safety standards required by Queensland Transport. It's required when selling a registered vehicle, transferring registration, or re-registering an unregistered vehicle.

In Queensland, they're the same thing — just two names for the same document. "Roadworthy certificate" is the older, more common term, while "safety certificate" is the official Queensland Government terminology. Both refer to the document issued by a licensed AIS inspector.

In Queensland, a safety certificate is valid for:

• Private vehicles: 2 months or 2,000 km from the date of issue (whichever comes first)
• Commercial/hire vehicles: 1 month or 1,000 km from the date of issue

If the vehicle isn't sold or transferred within that window, you'll need a new certificate.

Yes. All certificates we issue are fully valid and legally compliant. We operate as Approved Inspection Station AIS 12673, licensed under Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads regulations. Our certificates are accepted for vehicle transfers, re-registration, and all other purposes requiring a Queensland safety certificate.

No — and that's by design. We don't fix vehicles, ever. This means there is absolutely no conflict of interest in our inspections. We assess your vehicle against Queensland standards and nothing else. If it doesn't pass, you'll get a detailed report of exactly what needs attention. You can then take it to any mechanic of your choice, get it sorted, and rebook us for a re-inspection.

The easiest way is to book online — check your postcode or suburb on our booking page, pick a date and time that suits, and you're done. It takes about 60 seconds. Alternatively, call us on (07) 4079 0767 and we'll sort it out over the phone.

Not necessarily — but we do need access to the vehicle and the keys. As part of a Queensland safety inspection, we are required to start the vehicle and carry out a short test drive. Please make sure the keys are left accessible and the vehicle can be moved. Trailers don't require a test drive. As long as we can access and start the vehicle, you don't need to be present — we'll send your certificate and full report to your email once we're done.

Pricing is shown clearly on our booking system when you select your vehicle type. What you see is exactly what you pay — no add-ons, no surprises. Book through our online booking system to see current pricing and availability.

We often have same-day availability across Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Redlands and the Gold Coast. Our booking system shows real-time availability — check what times are open and lock one in.

Yes. You can book on behalf of a vehicle owner — just make sure the vehicle is accessible, the keys are available, and the certificate email goes to the right person. Many dealers and private sellers use us to arrange inspections on vehicles they're selling.

Our inspectors check all items listed under Queensland Transport's vehicle safety standards. This includes (but isn't limited to):

• Tyres — tread depth, condition, correct size
• Brakes — operation, condition, handbrake function
• Lights — all globes, indicators, brake lights, reversing light
• Seatbelts — all belts, buckles, webbing condition
• Steering and suspension
• Windscreen and wipers
• Body and chassis — no dangerous sharp edges or protrusions
• Engine — no dangerous leaks
• A short test drive to check brakes, steering, and operation under normal conditions

Trailers are inspected for lights, tyres, coupling, braking (if fitted), and structure. No test drive required.

Yes — for cars, motorbikes, and other powered vehicles, a short test drive is a required part of the Queensland safety inspection process. We need to assess the vehicle under normal driving conditions to check brakes, steering, and overall drivability. Please ensure the keys are accessible and the vehicle can be driven. Trailers, by nature, don't require a test drive.

Most inspections take between 30 and 60 minutes, depending on vehicle type and condition. Your certificate is issued and emailed to you as soon as the inspection is complete — you don't wait days for paperwork.

Yes. We inspect modified vehicles across the full range — lifted 4WDs, lowered cars, performance builds, custom motorbikes, and more. All modifications are assessed against Queensland Transport regulations. Mods need to be properly engineered and certified to pass. If you're unsure whether your modifications will pass, give us a call before booking and we can talk you through it.

You'll receive a detailed written report itemising exactly what failed and why. Because we don't do repairs, you can trust the assessment is completely unbiased — we have zero financial incentive to fail a vehicle. Get the issues fixed by any mechanic of your choice, then rebook us for a re-inspection. We'll check the previously failed items to confirm they're resolved.

Yes — EVs, hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and hydrogen vehicles are all welcome. The safety inspection process covers the same fundamental safety items regardless of drivetrain. Our inspectors are experienced with electric and hybrid vehicles.

Yes — in Queensland, you must have a current safety certificate when selling a registered vehicle. The certificate must be provided to the buyer. If the vehicle is unregistered, it must have a safety certificate to be re-registered by the new owner. Without one, the sale can still proceed but the buyer takes on the responsibility of obtaining registration.

Yes, a safety certificate is required to transfer registration of a vehicle in Queensland. The certificate must be current (within 2 months or 2,000 km for private vehicles). You can transfer registration online through the Queensland Transport website.

Not for day-to-day driving of a registered vehicle — you don't need to get a safety certificate just to continue registering a vehicle you own. Safety certificates are required at the point of sale/transfer. However, if you're re-registering a vehicle that's been off the road, a safety certificate will be required.

Yes. A pre-purchase inspection is something you arrange before buying a vehicle — to check its condition before committing. It's not the same as a safety certificate, and doesn't result in a formal certificate being issued. It's purely for your peace of mind. Because we don't do repairs, we have zero incentive to find problems that aren't there. Book a pre-purchase inspection through our booking system.

Tyres are one of the most common reasons vehicles fail a safety inspection. Here's what to check:

A blown globe is an easy and cheap fix that's a common fail. Check all of these:

Faulty seatbelts are an automatic fail. Check each belt in the vehicle:

A few things that are commonly missed:

• Windscreen: No cracks in the driver's line of sight, and no cracks longer than a specified size. Chips can sometimes be repaired — check with a windscreen repairer.
• Wipers: Both blades should clear the windscreen without streaking or skipping.
• Horn: Make sure it works.
• Engine leaks: Check underneath for any active oil, coolant, or fuel leaks.
• Handbrake: Should hold the vehicle on a slope — check it actually holds.
• Doors and boot: All doors, bonnet, and boot must latch properly and not have dangerous sharp edges.

Yes. We issue Certificates of Inspection (COI) for rideshare vehicles including Uber and DiDi. Rideshare vehicles have inspection requirements that go beyond a standard roadworthy — there are additional checks around interior condition, passenger safety, and vehicle age/odometer requirements depending on the platform. Our inspectors are experienced with rideshare COI requirements for both platforms.

A standard safety certificate checks that a vehicle is safe to drive on Queensland roads. A rideshare Certificate of Inspection (COI) adds specific checks required by the rideshare operator — things like interior cleanliness, air conditioning operation, child seat anchors, and compliance with the platform's vehicle age or kilometre requirements. You need both for rideshare — a current safety certificate and a current COI.

Rideshare platforms typically require a COI annually, though requirements may vary by platform and vehicle age. Check your platform's specific requirements through your driver app. We can sort yours out quickly — book through our online system and select the COI option.