Approved Inspection Station
In Queensland the document you need before selling or re-registering a vehicle is officially a safety certificate, though almost everyone still asks for a roadworthy certificate. They're the same thing. At Advanced Automotive Services, we're an approved inspection station for cars and light commercial vehicles, and the inspection entitles you to two inspections along with the certificate once the vehicle passes. If defects come up, you're free to have the remedial work done here or by a mechanic of your choice before the re-inspection. We'll tell you plainly what failed and why. If the car is close to due, we can pair the inspection with a logbook service in the same visit. Call (07) 4033 6418 to book in Cairns.
What the Inspection Covers
A safety inspection checks whether a vehicle is safe to be on the road, not whether it's in good condition generally.
- Brakes and steering. Pad and disc condition, hydraulics and play in steering components are all assessed against the standard. These are among the most common reasons a vehicle fails.
- Tyres and wheels. Tread depth, damage, mismatched sizes and wheel condition are all checked. Tyres below the legal limit are an automatic fail.
- Lights and electrics. Headlights, indicators, brake lights and reflectors need to work and be the correct colour. Aim is checked as well as function.
- Body, seats and belts. Rust in structural areas, seat mountings and seatbelt condition all form part of the inspection. Cosmetic damage generally doesn't.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Queensland renamed the roadworthy certificate a safety certificate, and the two terms are still used interchangeably. The inspection and the document are identical.
One is needed when selling a registered light vehicle, and when re-registering an unregistered one. Private sellers and dealers both need one.
The defects are listed so they can be repaired, either at the inspecting workshop or elsewhere. The vehicle is then re-inspected, and the certificate is issued once it meets the standard.
