Guide · Roadworthy certificates in Victoria
Roadworthy certificate checklist for Victoria: what gets checked, and what doesn’t
A Victorian roadworthy certificate (RWC) inspection checks that a car’s main safety parts are safe enough for the road: wheels and tyres; steering, suspension and brakes; seats and seatbelts; lights and reflectors; the windscreen, windows, wipers and washers; the vehicle structure; and other safety-related items on the body, chassis or engine. It is current for 30 days. It does not tell you whether the car is mechanically reliable.
When you need a roadworthy certificate
Transport Victoria says you need one when you are selling a car, re-registering it, or clearing some defect notices. Some vehicles are exempt. A roadworthy can only be issued by a licensed vehicle tester, and Transport Victoria has a tool to find an accredited tester near you.
If you are the buyer, the seller normally provides it so the registration can be transferred to you. Check the date: it has to be within 30 days.
The roadworthy checklist: what the inspection covers
The left column is the official list of what a roadworthy inspection covers. The right column is our own advice on what to look at before you book, so you are not paying for a test the car was always going to fail. The tester’s actual pass and fail criteria are in VSI 26, Roadworthiness requirements.
| What the inspection covers | Worth checking yourself first |
|---|---|
| Wheels and tyres | Tread across the whole width of each tyre, no cuts or bulges in the sidewalls, no cracked or badly kerbed wheels. |
| Steering, suspension and brakes | The car drives straight and stops straight, no knocking over bumps, a firm brake pedal, a handbrake that holds on a slope. |
| Seats and seatbelts | Every belt pulls out, retracts and clicks in; no cuts or fraying; seats are fixed firmly. |
| Lights and reflectors | Headlights on low and high beam, brake lights, indicators, reverse and number-plate lights all work; no cracked lenses. |
| Windscreen and windows, including front wipers and washers | No cracks or large chips in the driver's view; wipers clear the glass; washers spray. |
| Vehicle structure | No serious rust or poorly repaired accident damage in the body and chassis. |
| Other safety-related items on the body, chassis or engine | No fluid leaks under the car, an exhaust that is secure and not blowing, doors and bonnet that latch properly. |
What a roadworthy does not check
This is the part buyers get wrong. Transport Victoria is direct about it: a roadworthy inspection does not tell you whether a car is mechanically reliable, or what its general condition is. A roadworthy certificate does not mean:
- the vehicle is in good condition without any wear and tear
- non-safety items such as the air conditioning, electric windows and rear-window wipers are working
- the items checked will keep working: a brake light could fail the day after the inspection
- the vehicle complies with all of the Australian Design Rules
So a car can hold a fresh roadworthy and still have a tired engine, a slipping gearbox or a history of missed services. If you want to know the car’s overall condition, Transport Victoria’s own advice is to organise a separate independent inspection.
How long it lasts, what it costs, and what happens if the car fails
- Current for 30 days from the day it is issued. You can use the same certificate more than once in that time.
- No set price. The cost depends on the car’s age, type and condition. Ask the licensed vehicle tester for a quote before the inspection starts.
- If it fails, the tester gives you a report listing the problems. You have 14 days to fix them and have the car checked again. After 14 days you pay for a new test.
- If you disagree with the result, check the item against VSI 26 and raise it with the tester first. If that does not settle it, get a second roadworthy test from a different licensed tester, ideally within 30 days, and then you can make a written complaint to Transport Victoria.
Buying a car? A roadworthy is one of three checks
- 01
PPSR check
Money owing, written off or stolen. $2, by VIN. How to do a PPSR check in Victoria →
- 02
Roadworthy certificate
Safety items, on the day of the test. Check it is less than 30 days old and that the VIN on it matches the car.
- 03
A proper inspection
Everything the roadworthy leaves out: engine, gearbox, service history, signs of accident repair. The used car inspection checklist →
Every car listed on OneCall goes through a 100-point check by a licensed vehicle tester before it is listed, which goes beyond the safety items to the engine bay, the underbody, the interior and a test drive. See how we check cars.
Not sure about a car you are looking at?
Send us the listing before you pay a deposit. OneCall runs the PPSR and history checks, looks at the roadworthy and the service history, and tells you honestly whether it is worth buying. The first chat is free.
See also: money owing on a used car · where to buy a used car in Melbourne · cars we have already checked
Sources: Roadworthy certificate (Transport Victoria) · VSI 26, Roadworthiness requirements (Transport Victoria)