Get a Certificate of Roadworthiness

A Certificate of Roadworthiness (also known as a ‘roadworthy’ or ‘RWC’) shows that your vehicle’s safe enough to be used on public roads. A roadworthy is required whenever a vehicle’s sold, if it’s being re-registered, and to clear some defect notices.

A Certificate of Roadworthiness isn’t a guarantee that a vehicle’s mechanically reliable, it just shows that it’s safe enough to be driven. Keep in mind that some vehicles are exempt from requiring a Certificate of Roadworthiness.

What does the Certificate of Roadworthiness inspection cover?

What’s checked

The roadworthy inspection is a check of the vehicle to make sure that key components are in a good enough condition for safe road use. It includes:

• wheels and tyres

• steering, suspensions and braking systems

• seats and seatbelts

• lights and reflectors

• windscreen, and windows including front wipers and washers

• vehicle structure

• other safety related items on the body, chassis or engine.

What isn’t checked

The roadworthiness test isn’t a check of the mechanical reliability or general condition of a vehicle. A Certificate of Roadworthiness does not mean that:

• the vehicle is in top condition without any wear or deterioration

• non-safety related accessories (such as the air conditioner, rear window demister, electric windows and rear-window wipers) are working

• the items checked during the roadworthy inspection will continue to function after the inspection, e.g. a brake light can stop functioning at any time after the inspection

• the vehicle complies with all of the Australian Design Rules (ADRs)

If you require a comprehensive vehicle inspection 

If you require a comprehensive check on the overall condition and reliability of the vehicle then you should arrange for a separate independent vehicle inspection.