How Long Does A Roadworthy Certificate Last In Queensland?

Last updated: October 14, 2026

How long does a roadworthy last in QLD? A roadworthy (safety) certificate from a private seller is valid for 2 months or 2,000km, and one from a licensed motor dealer lasts 3 months or 1,000km – whichever comes first. Both limits count from the date of issue, not the date you list or sell the car.

If you're selling soon, book your roadworthy certificate in Nambour once the car is ready to list.

How long a safety certificate lasts in QLD depends on who is selling the vehicle:

Whichever limit you reach first ends the certificate. The clock starts on the date the certificate is issued, and every kilometre driven after that counts.



Example: a private seller's certificate issued on 1 March expires on 1 May. If the car covers 2,000km before then, it expires on the day it ticks over 2,000km instead.

A roadworthy certificate (RWC) is the everyday name for a Queensland safety certificate – the official document confirming a vehicle met the state's minimum safety standards on the day it was inspected. Only an Approved Inspection Station (AIS) – a workshop accredited by Queensland Transport and Main Roads (TMR) – can issue one.



For a buyer, the certificate gives confidence that the car met that safety standard at the point of sale.

According to TMR's safety certificate guidance, you need a current safety certificate when you are:

• Transferring a vehicle's registration to a new owner
• Moving a vehicle to Queensland registration from another state or territory
• Re-registering an unregistered vehicle.

You no longer need a certificate just to advertise a registered car for sale – but you must have a current one before you hand the car over. Selling without one risks a fine of more than $700.

TMR lists these situations:

• The vehicle is sold unregistered
• The vehicle is traded to, or between, licensed motor dealers
• An exemption applies – for example, the vehicle was garaged in an exempt area at the time of sale, it passes to a beneficiary of a deceased estate, or it transfers between spouses.

Check exemptions with TMR on 13 23 80 before relying on one.

Inspectors check safety-critical components against TMR's Vehicle Inspection Manuals. The main areas include:

• Tyres and wheels
• Brakes
• Steering and suspension
• Lights and electrical components
• Windscreen and windows
• Seats and seatbelts
• Body, chassis and frame – including rust or damage
• Tow couplings, where fitted.

After 30+ years inspecting cars at our Coronation Avenue workshop, we find owners are usually caught out by small fixes on an otherwise good car, such as worn tyres or wipers.

Worn suspension is another common fail item – here are the signs your suspension needs replacing before you book an inspection.

A failed car gets an inspection report listing each defect that doesn't meet the TMR standard. You then have 14 days to fix those items and return the car to the same inspection station for a re-inspection, according to TMR's rules for approved examiners.

The 14 days start the day after you receive the report. Miss that window and the car needs a new full inspection.

Only the listed fail items must be fixed. Anything else a mechanic suggests is optional advice.

If your car fails, a car service in Nambour can fix the listed defects before you return for re-inspection. Because Brown's Autobahn handles brakes, clutch, suspension, tyres and wheels, windscreens and batteries in-house, fail items in those areas can be repaired at the same workshop that inspected the car.

If your certificate reaches its time or kilometre limit before the sale goes through, it expires and you need a new full inspection before you can transfer the car. Your registration isn't affected.



The most common mistake we see is booking the roadworthy weeks before the car is ready to list. A slow market or a buyer who pulls out can burn through the window.

Get the car cleaned and fixed first, then book the inspection when you're ready to advertise.

For buyers: check the issue date and odometer reading on the seller's certificate to confirm enough validity remains for the transfer.

A roadworthy confirms a car met minimum safety standards at one point in time. It is not a full mechanical condition report – TMR itself notes a safety certificate inspection doesn't assess a vehicle's quality or life expectancy.

If you're buying, ask the seller for their current roadworthy and consider booking a pre-purchase inspection. Brown's Autobahn offers both from our Nambour workshop.

1. Book your inspection. Call us on 07 5441 3843 once the car is ready to list or register. We inspect cars, trucks and SUVs.
2. Have the car inspected. Our team inspects the car against TMR's safety standard. We also offer advanced diagnostics and same-day service.
3. Pass or fix. If the car passes, you receive your safety certificate. If it fails, you get a report of the defects and 14 days to fix them.
4. Keep the certificate safe. Give the buyer the certificate (or its number, if electronic) at transfer.

The inspection fee is set by the Queensland Government – see TMR's current inspection fees, or call us for a quote.

Brown's Autobahn is a fully licensed workshop (RTC Lic # AU 067620) and has been a trusted mechanic in Nambour for more than 30 years.

Ready to sell, buy or re-register? Book your roadworthy inspection with Brown's Autobahn at 33 Coronation Avenue, Nambour, or call 07 5441 3843. So how long does a roadworthy last in QLD? Only 2 months or 2,000km for private sellers – book once the car is ready to list.