Safety certificates explained: Queensland's roadworthy (RWC)
Ask around the Gold Coast and most people will call it a roadworthy, or an RWC. Officially, in Queensland, it's a safety certificate. Whatever you call it, it's worth knowing what it covers, and what it doesn't, before you buy or sell a car.
What a safety certificate is
A safety certificate shows that a vehicle passed a safety inspection at an approved inspection station (AIS). In Queensland, approved inspection stations are the only businesses that can issue one. The inspection looks at the parts that keep a car safe on the road, including:
- tyres
- brakes
- steering and suspension
- body rust or damage
- the windscreen
- lights
You'll get either a handwritten certificate or an electronic one.
What it doesn't tell you
A safety certificate is not a full mechanical inspection. It shows that the car met the safety standard on the day it was inspected; it isn't an assessment of the car's overall mechanical condition or how long it will last. For that, look at the service history, take a proper test drive, and think about an independent pre-purchase inspection.
When a car needs one in Queensland
The rules have changed, so older advice may be out of date:
- A seller no longer needs a safety certificate before offering a registered vehicle for sale.
- A current certificate is needed when the registration is transferred to the new owner. A seller who doesn't provide one can be fined more than $700.
- Vehicles that are unregistered, or traded to or between licensed motor dealers, don't need one. There are a few other exemptions, such as vehicles garaged in exempt areas.
- A car that runs on LPG also needs a gas certificate, issued no more than 3 months before the registration is transferred.
One certificate covers one transfer only.
How long it lasts
Who is selling | The certificate is valid for |
|---|---|
A licensed motor dealer | 3 months or 1,000 km, whichever comes first |
Anyone else, such as a private seller | 2 months or 2,000 km, whichever comes first |
If you're buying privately, check that the certificate hasn't expired or gone past its kilometre limit.
What it costs
The Queensland Government lists the inspection fee: from 1 July 2026 it's $102.70 for a vehicle up to 4,500 kg gross vehicle mass. Fees go up on 1 July each year.
Other states, other names
- Victoria: a Certificate of Roadworthiness, also called an RWC, is needed to transfer most used vehicles. VicRoads says it's valid for 30 days.
- New South Wales: a "pink slip" is a safety check for renewing the registration of most light vehicles more than 5 years old. It isn't needed to transfer a current NSW registration.
- Other states and territories have their own rules. Check with the transport authority where the car will be registered.
Trading in your car?
If you're trading your car in with a licensed motor dealer, you don't need to get a safety certificate first: the Queensland Government lists vehicles traded to licensed motor dealers as exempt. Selling privately is different, and the certificate is your job as the seller.
Our cars
Our cars come with a safety certificate. Ask us about the certificate for any car you're interested in. If you'd like to see and drive a car first, test drives are by arrangement: send us a message and we'll organise a time.
General information only, checked against the sources below in September 2026. Fees and rules change, so check the current figures before you buy or sell.