Roadworthy certificates (RWC) in Victoria: a guide for workshops

When a Victorian roadworthy is needed

VicRoads says a roadworthy is required whenever a registered vehicle is sold, when a vehicle is being re-registered, and to clear some defect notices. VSI 26 adds that an RWC is needed after a vehicle identity validation inspection on a repairable write-off, and as part of periodic inspections for buses and taxis.

Not every transfer needs one. VicRoads’ transfer table lists no RWC requirement for a private sale to a licensed dealer, dealer-to-dealer transfers, or a transfer to a current or former spouse or domestic partner, and light trailers (including caravans under 4.5 tonnes GVM) don’t need an RWC. Family transfers and ordinary private sales do. Customers often ring unsure, so it is worth pointing them to the VicRoads transfer fees and roadworthy exemptions page rather than guessing.

Roadworthy vs pre-purchase inspection

A roadworthy is a safety check at a point in time, not a report on the car’s overall condition. Transport Victoria is clear that an RWC does not mean the vehicle is free of wear and tear, that non-safety items like the air-con, electric windows or rear wiper work, or that it meets every Australian Design Rule. VSI 26 says that if a buyer wants a comprehensive check of a vehicle’s condition, they should arrange a separate independent report.

That difference is worth explaining at the counter. A buyer who thinks an RWC is a full mechanical inspection may blame the tester for a worn clutch a month later. Offering a pre-purchase inspection as a separate, clearly named job avoids that conversation and is often more valuable work.

How long an RWC lasts

• An RWC is current for 30 days from the date of issue for the purposes of a registration or transfer transaction, and it can be used more than once within those 30 days.
• Current does not mean guaranteed. VicRoads notes the certificate is no promise the vehicle will stay roadworthy for the whole 30 days — a globe can blow the day after the test.
• Sellers who book the test too early can run out of time before the car sells. Ask when they expect to sell or transfer, and suggest booking close to that date.

When a car fails: the 14-day rule

If a vehicle fails, the tester must give the customer a copy of the test report (often called a rejection report) on the day. Under regulation 262 of the Road Safety (Vehicles) Regulations 2021, if the vehicle comes back to the same tester within 14 days, a second examination is made of each item that was rejected, and items that passed the first time are treated as passed. The tester must not do a second examination after 14 days, so after that a complete new inspection is needed. You will still see older websites quoting seven days, so check your own price list and booking messages.

That window is a big part of the customer experience. A customer who fails at your shop and gets the repair quoted, booked and rechecked inside 14 days leaves happy. One who has to chase you for a booking and misses the window pays for a full test again and remembers it.

What a roadworthy costs

Unlike NSW and Queensland, Victoria does not publish a capped fee for a light vehicle roadworthy. VicRoads says the cost depends on the age, type and condition of the vehicle and suggests customers ask a tester for a quote, and VSI 26 recommends getting a quote before authorising the inspection.

So set your own price, publish it clearly by vehicle type (car, 4WD, motorcycle, light commercial), and decide up front what a recheck inside 14 days costs. Price the repair work that follows from a properly calculated rate — see how to price labour and the free labour rate calculator. Remember your own costs too: Transport Victoria sells eCertificates to LVTs in packs (listed at $350 for 100 on its forms and fees page at the time of writing).

Becoming a Licensed Vehicle Tester

The LVT licence is issued by the Department of Transport and Planning. According to Transport Victoria and Business.gov.au (ABLIS), applicants must be fit and proper people, provide a nationally coordinated criminal history check, have completed the LVT accreditation training (for light vehicles, a technical inspection course and a structural course, run by providers such as TAFEs), own the business and have suitable premises.

The process starts with a pre-approval application, which asks for things like the lease or rates notice showing permitted automotive use, a floor plan, photos of the workshop, hoist area and customer areas, mechanical qualifications and work history for each nominated tester, and company details where relevant. Once licensed, you authorise employees to examine vehicles or sign certificates with a separate form. Fees listed for 2025–26 include a $134.50 pre-application assessment, a start-up kit, $135.50 for premises approval and $26.90 for a yearly licence renewal — confirm current amounts on the Transport Victoria LVT forms and fees page. For help, Transport Victoria lists roadworthy@transport.vic.gov.au and 1300 309 571, and VACC offers members help with applications.

Running roadworthy work without the chaos

• Give roadworthies their own booking type and time slot so they don’t collide with service work. Workshop booking software or a free online booking form lets sellers book themselves in.
• Ask at booking for the rego, vehicle type and why they need the RWC (sale, re-registration, defect notice, repairable write-off), so the right tester and enough time are allocated.
• Record the inspection result on a job card with photos of each rejected item. When a car fails, turn the defects into a quote on the spot, then book the repair and the recheck inside the 14-day window before the customer leaves.
• Put the 14-day deadline in the diary and send a reminder before it passes, so customers don’t end up paying for a full new test.
• Answer the phone, or text back fast. Sellers ringing around for a roadworthy often book with whoever replies first. Missed call text back sends an automatic text when you can’t pick up — the missed call calculator shows what unanswered calls can cost.
• Invoice from the job card so the inspection and any repairs land on one GST tax invoice, then sync it to Xero, MYOB or QuickBooks rather than retyping it. See mechanic invoicing software.
• Issue the certificate itself through the official Victorian roadworthy system and keep your roadworthy register as your licence conditions require. Workshop Hub doesn’t issue RWCs — it runs the booking, job card, quote and invoice around them.

Turning roadworthy customers into regulars

Many roadworthy customers are selling the car, so the person who keeps coming back is often the buyer. Make it easy for both: leave your details with the paperwork, note the vehicle and owner on the record, and offer to book the first service for the new owner. Make sure your listing in the VicRoads licensed vehicle tester search is correct, and mention roadworthies and RWCs on your Google Business Profile and website — people search “roadworthy” and “RWC” far more than “Certificate of Roadworthiness”, so use all three. Workshop Hub’s Google review management (Shop and Pro+) asks customers for a Google review automatically after a paid invoice.

Workshop Hub runs bookings, job cards, quotes, invoicing, missed call text back, smart invoice / statement upload & reconcile and partnered Xero, MYOB and QuickBooks sync in one place for Victorian workshops — see workshop software in Melbourne. Plans start at $59 a month + GST with a 14-day free trial — see pricing or call 1800 566 011.

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