How Long Does A Roadworthy Last?
So, if the time has come that you are required to get your vehicle roadworthy it’s important to know how long it’s valid for. This is a common question among those who are selling a vehicle because you need to consider when you get your roadworthy certificate and how quickly you can sell your car.
In short, you don’t want to get a roadworthy certificate too early then not be able to sell your vehicle and the certificate becomes invalid. This would leave you frustrated and out of pocket… So make sure that you have got your timing right…
Or at least get a company (like us 😉) who offer same day service and bookings.
If you are currently confused about what a roadworthy certificate is, then please don’t hesitate to read our full guide on roadworthys here. If you need to know how much roadworthys costs, read here.
Finally, if you’re ready to book then don’t hesitate to book online with us for your roadworthy inspection. I promise we will take care of you! 😇
Right, let’s jump straight into this. Here’s how long does a roadworthys last.
Table of Contents
What Is A Roadworthy Certificate?
I don’t want to spend too much time on this, but I’ll briefly explain it. A roadworthy certificate is required to ensure the safety for all road users.
In more simple terms, the Queensland government is making sure that all vehicles are safe to be driven on the road. We don’t want to have drivers with areas of their vehicle hanging off and flying into other vehicles.
This would cause accidents and a lot of upset. The same applies for all areas of cars and bikes to ensure they are safe for the driver and other road users.
So, when is a roadworthy needed?
Roadworthy certificates are required for a few different reasons. Don’t worry, they are not constant costs in your life. They are only needed once in a while. Here’s when roadworthys are required:
- You are registering an unregistered vehicle
- You are selling a registered light vehicle (car, bike, trailer)
- You are transferring the registration to another person or state
Now, if you have a look at these you will need to consider when the best time to get your roadworthy certificate would be to ensure that it’s valid for the time you need it to be.
For anyone who is transferring the rego, this doesn’t take long so you will have plenty of time to make sure your roadworthy is valid.
The same really applies for registering your unregistered vehicle, you can get this done pretty quickly and therefore don’t need to stress about how long your certificate is valid for. Just don’t take forever to get it registered.
If you are selling a vehicle, make sure you don’t get your roadworthy too soon.
How Long Is A Roadworthy Valid For?
Ok, so I’m going to answer this in the most simple way possible.
Once you have passed your roadworthy inspection and got your certificate, it will be valid for a period of 2 months from the issue date. This is the most common timeframe for vehicle owners unless exempt (which I’ll go into more details below).
So in short, a roadworthy will last for 2 months before it will expire and you will need a new one.
So, I know this should never be the case 😆 but if you are selling your vehicle make sure you kinda leave it a little last minute to get your roadworthy inspection to ensure you leave enough time for people to buy.
For example, you don’t want to get your roadworthy then not be able to sell your car for 6 months and your roadworthy certificate then becomes invalid.
There is also a chance that you may fail your inspection as well, you can find out what happens if you fail your roadworthy inspection here.
How Long Does A Roadworthy Last For?
You are expected to obtain and display a roadworthy certificate before selling your registered car. Sales within very remote areas are also exempted.
If you are still wondering, “How long is a roadworthy valid for?” I’ve gone through in more detail below about anyone who might be exempt or the different timeframes for certain types of road users or dealers.
It’s important to know if you can get a roadworthy that is valid for longer due to any special reason. Some people might be able to obtain a roadworthy certificate that is valid for longer than others.
Here’s the following areas of each roadworthy certificate and how long they last for, depending on whichever comes first.
- Licensed car dealers – Roadworthy certificates are valid up to 1,000km or 3 months from the issue date.
- Every other seller – Roadworthy certificates are valid up to 2,000km or 2 months from the issue date.
So, with this information you can see how long your roadworthy is valid for. Again, ensure you are leaving enough time to do what you need to do before your roadworthy certificate expires.
It’s good to remember, a roadworthy will last for either 2 months or 2,000km’s. So make sure you take this into consideration when selling your car.
When Is The Best Time To Get A Roadworthy Certificate?
You will really need to consider the validity period here. If you are a normal seller you have 2 months or 2000kms. So, if you are doing a lot of long trips you might need to think about leaving your roadworthy last minute when you’ve got a confirmed seller.
Although it’s never best to leave anything last minute, we’d hate for anyone to have to do their roadworthy more than once at full price.
However, if you’re reregistering an unregistered vehicle, you can be a bit more flexible. As long as you have the correct paperwork you can pretty much get the roadworthy done and then go down to the department of transport and get it registered.
This really depends on you. If you get a roadworthy but then decide not to go to the DOT and get it re-registered then it will become invalid.
I think it’s all about taking into consideration what you are doing and when you will need to get a roadworthy for. This will help you understand when the best time to get your certificate would be.
Conclusion:
Well, it’s safe to say we’ve pretty much covered everything regarding how long a roadworthy is valid for. I hope now you consider the best time to get your roadworthy inspection.
You shouldn’t just be aware, go ahead and educate a friend. You could refer them to this blog post so that they can have firsthand information.
If you are ready for a roadworthy inspection, don’t hesitate to contact our team of qualified examiners to get it booked in.
One Response
AFTER BUYING A CARAVAN, WITH A ROAD WORTHY, AND THERE IS A DEFECT IN 7 DAYS, WHO SHOULD PAY TO HAVE THE DEFECT RECTIFIED.