If you live in Queensland, you will typically need a roadworthy certificate for your car before you can legally drive it. This certificate needs renewing on a regular basis, so it's good to know some basics about this certificate, who does the examination of your vehicle, and when it's needed. Note a few questions you might have about such a certificate, and then call your department of motor vehicles if you still need more information.

What is the difference between a safety certificate and a roadworthy certificate?

There is no difference between these two items; this is simply a difference in terminology that you might hear in some local areas.

Can a mobile certifier inspect a vehicle?

Note that you need to have your vehicle inspected by someone licensed by the state for such inspections, but some mechanics who provide this service will come to you and where your car is located. They will bring all the tools needed to thoroughly inspect your car and test all safety features. As long as they are certified by the state, don't assume that a mobile service is somehow not qualified to offer you a legal inspection and certificate.

What happens if the vehicle doesn't pass inspection?

If the vehicle doesn't pass inspection, you have 14 days to make repairs to the vehicle; if you don't make needed repairs within that time, the inspection expires and you need to have a new one performed in order to get proper licensing of your vehicle. Many inspectors also have shops where they perform needed repairs, and will typically have what is called a dealer's plate. This allows them to drive the vehicle to their shop for those repairs, even if the vehicle registration has expired. Keep this in mind if you don't have an updated license on the vehicle and it fails inspection; don't hesitate to talk to the inspector about how this can be handled in your case.

Do you need a safety certificate if you're selling a vehicle?

You actually need to get a safety certificate before you list your vehicle for sale, or advertise it in any way. The certificate needs to be displayed clearly and available for potential buyers to review. Never assume that you can shop around interested buyers and then get a safety certificate, as failure to have that certificate displayed when the vehicle is being reviewed for sale can result in a heavy fine.