Safety certificates (roadworthies) in QLD: a guide for workshops

When a QLD safety certificate is needed

According to TMR, a safety certificate is needed when registration is transferred to a new owner, when a vehicle moves to Queensland registration from another state or territory, and when an unregistered vehicle is re-registered. It covers cars, motorcycles, trailers (including caravans) with an ATM between 750 kg and 4,500 kg, and other vehicles up to 4,500 kg GVM. Heavier vehicles, buses, taxis and other passenger transport vehicles use a certificate of inspection (COI) instead.

A safety certificate is no longer required before a registered vehicle is offered for sale, but the seller still needs one before disposing of the vehicle (other than to a dealer). It is the seller’s job, not the buyer’s. TMR lists exemptions, such as vehicles garaged in an exempt area at the time of sale, some deceased estates and transfers between spouses — customers can confirm with TMR on 13 23 80.

What the inspection covers (and what it doesn’t)

The inspection checks the vehicle against minimum safety standards set out in the Queensland Light Vehicle Inspection Manual (QLVIM), including tyres, brakes, steering, suspension, body rust or damage, the windscreen and lights. The vehicle has to be inspected in person.

It is not a full mechanical inspection of condition or life expectancy. Saying this clearly at the counter saves arguments later, and it is a fair moment to offer a separate pre-purchase or general service inspection to buyers who want more.

How long a safety certificate lasts

• Private and other sellers: 2 months or 2,000 km from the date of issue, whichever comes first.
• Licensed motor dealers: 3 months or 1,000 km, whichever comes first.
• One certificate covers one transfer only. It can be used to register an unregistered vehicle and then transfer it, as long as both happen within those limits.
• Customers selling privately should time the inspection close to the sale so the certificate doesn’t lapse while the car is still listed.

Becoming an Approved Inspection Station

An AIS is a fixed premises (such as a mechanical workshop), optionally with a mobile AIS vehicle as well. The approval holder must make sure the premises meet local, state and federal requirements — including local council approval to carry out inspections there — and have a dedicated, suitably sized inspection area with the equipment needed for each vehicle type on the approval.

Each AIS needs at least one approved examiner who is accredited for the vehicle types it inspects. The examiner identifies and inspects the vehicle and approves the certificate; the approval holder (or a nominee) then issues it. TMR charges application, renewal and criminal history check fees for the AIS, examiners and nominees — see the current AIS scheme fees and the examiner qualification requirements on the TMR site before you apply.

Inspection fees are capped

An AIS must not charge more for a safety certificate inspection than the amount TMR allows. As at 1 July 2026 TMR lists $102.70 for motor vehicles up to 4.5 t GVM, $66.00 for motorcycles and $51.45 for trailers over 750 kg up to 4.5 t ATM (GST included). These figures are indexed every 1 July, so check the official fee schedule each year and update your price list and booking form to match.

Because the inspection fee itself is capped, the margin in safety certificate work usually comes from what follows: fixing the defects on a failed vehicle, and keeping that customer for servicing. Price the repair work from a properly calculated rate — see how to price labour.

When a vehicle fails: the 14-day reinspection window

If the examiner finds defects, the owner gets an inspection report stating how the vehicle is defective. If the vehicle comes back to the same AIS within 14 days, the AIS must arrange the reinspection — by the examiner who issued the report or, if they are absent, another examiner at the AIS accredited for that vehicle type. If no examiner is available, TMR says the AIS must arrange the reinspection at another convenient time at no further cost, or refund the initial inspection fee.

The 14 days start the day after the report is given; if the last day lands on a weekend or public holiday it rolls to the next business day. After 14 days a new inspection is needed, and a new inspection fee may be charged. Check TMR’s approval holder responsibilities page for the full rules.

Running safety certificate work without the chaos

• Give inspections their own booking type and time slot so they don’t collide with service work. TMR says an inspection usually takes around an hour. A workshop booking system or a free online booking form lets private sellers book themselves in.
• Ask for the rego, vehicle type and GVM or ATM at booking so a car, bike, trailer or caravan lands with an examiner accredited for it.
• Record the result on a job card with photos of each defect. When a car fails, turn the defects into a quote on the spot, then book the repair and the reinspection inside the 14-day window before the customer leaves.
• Put the reinspection deadline in the diary and send a reminder before it passes, so customers don’t miss out and end up paying for a fresh inspection.
• 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 fee 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.
• Keep the safety certificate itself in TMR’s systems: certificates are issued through TMR’s free Inspection Certificates Online (ICO) portal and app, or from inspection certificate books. Workshop Hub doesn’t issue safety certificates — it runs the booking, job card, quote and invoice around them.

Promote your AIS locally

TMR lists approved stations in its online Find an AIS service, so make sure your details are right there. Then mention safety certificates on your Google Business Profile, your website and your social posts — people search for “roadworthy” as often as “safety certificate”, so use both words. Workshop Hub’s social media calendar (Pro+) helps you plan and draft those posts beside the diary, and 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 Queensland workshops. Plans start at $59 a month + GST with a 14-day free trial — see pricing or call 1800 566 011.

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