QLD Car Care
things you needto know to stayon the road & earning
What is an LPG Gas Certificate and Why Do You Need One
September 20, 2024
Quick Summary:
An LPG gas certificate is a document issued by a licensed gas fitter to confirm that a vehicle’s LPG system is safe, leak-free, and installed correctly according to safety standards.
This certificate is legally required in Queensland when selling or transferring ownership of an LPG vehicle. It ensures the vehicle is safe for use on the road, protects the buyer, and helps you avoid fines or legal issues
Table of Contents
What Is An LPG Gas Certificate
In short, an LPG safety certificate is a document given to you by a licensed LPG Inspector as proof your LPG system is safe and complies with Government regulations. To get this, your system must be proven to have no leaks, be safe and installed correctly.
LPG Safety Certificates are needed in Queensland if you’re selling a car that uses LPG or has a dual-fuel system. This certificate shows that the gas system is safe, has no leaks, and is installed correctly.
Be aware, without this certificate, selling or transferring the car is illegal, and you could be fined over $700 in QLD according to the Department of Transportation and Main Roads.
You actually cannot physically change ownership without submitting the number generated from a valid LPG gas certificate, as well as your Roadworthy certificate.
How To Get An LPG Certificate
To get the certificate, you need a licensed gas mechanic to inspect your vehicle. They will check the LPG tank, lines, and connections to make sure everything is safe and up to standard.
You’ll get the certificate if the vehicle passes, which will last you three months or 1,000km, whichever comes first.
So, having this certificate is actually very important for both the seller and buyer. As it makes sure that the car’s gas system is safe and meets Queensland’s safety rules, which of course is a massive point of safety.
Why Do You Need An LPG Gas Certificate
You Need An LPG Certificate To Buy Or Sell An LPG Vehicle
If you’re buying or selling a vehicle that uses LPG, having an LPG gas certificate is a must. The certificate shows that the vehicle’s gas system is safe and meets the current safety standards.
It’s important to know, without this, you won’t be able to complete the transfer. This simple certificate makes the whole process smooth and ensures that everything is legal and done officially.
LPG Safety Certificates Keep The Buyer Safe
For me, an LPG gas certificate isn’t just about following the rules, it’s about safety. It guarantees that the gas system in your vehicle has been checked and is safe to use on the road.
Honestly, as an LPG car owner, I feel the most important reason as to why you need this certificate is for the safety of everyone on the road. This protects the new owner, but it also keeps everyone else on the road safe by reducing the risk of gas leaks or other dangerous issues.
From my point of view, an LPG safety certificate gives me peace of mind that the vehicle is in a safe condition to drive, for myself and everyone else on the road.
You Will Need A Valid LPG Certificate For Vehicle Insurance
From my experience, any insurance company that you’re asking to cover your LPG vehicle is going to want to see a safety certificate before they do.
If you do not have this LPG certificate they will reject all claims you try and make relating to that car, as they will correctly point out your car was illegally on the road.
My advice would be to make sure that your LPG car is absolutely up to date with all its legal documentation. This is to make sure you’re not left with a hefty bill to pay because you don’t have the right documentation to be covered by insurance.
Just be wary, you can actually face heavy fines ($1000-$5000) and legal actions if you are part of an accident without a valid LPG safety certificate, especially if the accident is related to your LPG system.
LPG Safety Certificates Boosts Resale Value
Looking from a seller’s point of view, having an up-to-date LPG certificate can make the vehicle more attractive to buyers, as it shows the system has been recently inspected and certified safe.
From my knowledge of the LPG car market, vehicles that have fresh LPG safety certificates get much more attention than listings that have not yet obtained one.
This can give potential buyers confidence in the condition of the vehicle and attract serious buyers that won’t waste your time. You’ll also be way more likely to get your asking price with a valid LPG gas certificate
If you are trying to sell your car and want some tips, check out our blog on how to sell a car.
When Do You Need an LPG Gas Certificate
You Will Need An LPG Certificate To Sell A Vehicle
So in order to sell your vehicle you will require a valid LPG safety certificate. Alongside a roadworthy certificate, you will need to submit a specific number generated from your valid roadworthy and LPG safety certificate to TMR in order for the sale to actually go through legally.
In summary, your LPG safety certificate is a must when selling your LPG vehicle in order to transfer ownership to the buyer.
A helpful note to any caravan owners, this is not the same as getting your caravan gas certificate, which we have plenty of information and advice here.
You Will Need An LPG Tank Certificate Every 10 Years
Now, selling your LPG car is not the only time you’ll need to get your LPG safety certificate. You will actually need to get one 10 years after the system was installed, and every 10 years after that done on your LPG tank.
To give you an example, if your LPG system is installed in 2014, you will be due an LPG tank Inspection in 2024. This timeline is entirely different and unaffected by the LPG safety certificate and is actually a different certificate itself, but still a legal requirement around the safety of your LPG system.
LPG tank requirements are a set of standards specific to the tank and are focused on the systems being able to hold the pressurised liquid for the next 10 years.
*Ask ASAP for more info and to double check this, as maybe remove and add new h2 about Tank testing
You Will Need An LPG Certificate To Re-Register An LPG Vehicle
Now, this is a rarer case than selling your LPG car, but if you have an LPG car that has been unregistered for any reason whatsoever that you wanted to get back on the road. You will need to get an LPG Gas Safety Certificate before it gets re-registered into your name.
Who Issues Your LPG Gas Certificate
The only valid way to get your LPG gas safety certificate is if it’s issued by a licensed gas fitter or mechanic who is qualified to do inspections and certify LPG systems in vehicles.
Thats because these professionals are certified by the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) which is the state regulatory body in Queensland in this case. This means they are trained and experienced in inspecting LPG systems and know how to test and diagnose the system correctly.
Picking Your LPG Gas Safety Inspectors
Just some words of advice! From my experience, good inspectors will often take photos of any issues and want to teach you about LPG safety. These are the type of inspectors you want to go with.
Beware of scams, as if an unqualified inspector issues you a certificate, it is fake and therefore invalid. This will mean your car will be illegally on the road or illegally sold, maybe without you even knowing.
A professional tip for you, if you can book your roadworthy and LPG gas inspection on the same day you’ll save on any callout fee!
LPG Tank Testing Certificate VS LPG Safety Certificate
LPG Tank Certificate is another safety certificate you’ll need to get every 10 years, which specifically focuses on the tank being safe. This is not the same as your LPG gas safety certificate, both must be valid at the same time for the vehicle to be on the road.
It’s very important you know that if you buy an LPG vehicle with a fresh LPG safety certificate but the LPG tank is due for testing in two years, the tank test requirement still stands.
The safety certificate confirms the system is safe at the time of sale, but it doesn’t reset the LPG tank’s inspection timeline. The LPG tank in Australia requires a pressure test and recertification every 10 years, starting from the last tank test date, not the date of the safety certificate.
The LPG safety certificate is about confirming that the system is currently safe to operate, while the tank test checks the tank’s structural integrity and ensures it can handle the pressure for another 10 years.
How Long Is An LPG Gas Certificate Valid For
You’ll need to know that your LPG safety certificate doesn’t last forever. It actually lasts either 3 months or one thousand kilometres, whichever comes first. This means that if you are selling or transferring ownership of a vehicle with an LPG system, you have to do so within that window or you’ll have to get a whole new one.
If you surpass 1,000k then the safety certificate will no longer be valid anymore, the same applies for if you go over 3 months of the day you got it. This is because within that time frame something could’ve happened and the condition of the system could have deteriorated.
So to make sure that the system is still in the safe and working condition it was inspected in, there is a time and distance limit of 3 months or 1000ks on how long your LPG safety certificate lasts for.
Don’t forget you’ll have to time this and think about your roadworthy certificate here too, as both must be valid for the sale to go through. Read our blog on how long does a roadworthy last so you don’t get caught out with an invalid document.
What Happens During An LPG Gas Certificate Inspection
So during an LPG gas safety inspection the mechanic will visually check over a number of systems, followed by more physical tests. To give you an idea of what goes on, this is what our process looks like:
- Checking the tank date on the actual tank/s
- Checking the emission
- Run and empty gas lines
- Remove gas tank fittings
- Carry out external inspection
- Remove all liquid and vapour from gas tank/s
- Remove tank with nitrogen
- Remove and test valves and fittings
- Inspect tank/s internally
- Test and replace valves & seals
- Pressure test tank/s
- Leak check tank/s
- Date stamp tank/s
- Leak test connectors & fittings using a small amount of LPG
- Compliance certificate is issued
Once the inspection is complete, we follow up with a phone call and email over a full report with photos that explain our findings. If anything does end up failing, it will be outlined clearly in a report so you know what there is to be addressed.
What Happens If You Fail The Inspection
While it’s not something we want to think about, it’s best if you are prepared and know what to do if you fail your inspection.
You will need to keep the report your inspector gave you and fully read and understand what is the issue with your system. Only then is the right time to approach a garage who can address the issues. My advice would be to get multiple quotes and go with the garage that feels right.
Once the work is completed you can book another inspection, if the issues were addressed correctly you should now have your valid LPG gas safety certificate.
Conclusion
There we have it folks, that is my answer to what is an LPG gas certificate and why you need one.
In conclusion, an LPG gas certificate is essential for ensuring the safety and compliance of your vehicle’s LPG system. Whether you’re buying or selling a vehicle, re-registering it, or maintaining your insurance coverage, a valid certificate confirms that the LPG system has been inspected and is safe to operate.
Having a certificate isn’t just about following the law—it’s about protecting yourself, the buyer, and other road users from potential hazards like gas leaks. Without it, you risk fines, issues with insurance claims, or even legal consequences if you’re involved in an accident.
Remember, the certificate has a limited validity, lasting only three months or 1,000 kilometres, so it’s important to stay up to date.