Roadworthy Certificate (RWC) Explained: State Rules & Buyer Checklist in Australia

A Roadworthy Certificate (RWC) — also called Safety Certificate, Vehicle Inspection Certificate, or Certificate of Inspection depending on the state — is one of the most important requirements when buying, selling or transferring a used car in Australia.

 

But each state has different rules, different names, different inspection standards, and different exemptions.

This guide simplifies the rules using only official state government sources, and adds AUCN's practical buyer advice.

 

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🟩 1. What Is a Roadworthy Certificate (RWC)?

 

A Roadworthy Certificate confirms that a vehicle meets the minimum safety standards required to be driven on public roads.

 

An RWC inspection covers (varies slightly by state):

         •       brakes

         •       tyres

         •       steering & suspension

         •       lights & electrical

         •       windscreen & windows

         •       body structure & chassis

         •       seatbelts

         •       general safety items

 

An RWC is not a mechanical inspection — it does not guarantee engine or gearbox health.

 

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🟦 2. State-by-State RWC / Safety Certificate Rules

 

Below is an accurate summary based strictly on official transport authority regulations.

 

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🟥 VIC — Roadworthy Certificate (VicRoads)

 

Official reference:

https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au

 

Victoria is the strictest state regarding RWCs.

 

When RWC is required:

         •       When selling a registered vehicle

         •       When transferring registration

         •       When re-registering a vehicle

         •       When bringing an interstate car into VIC

 

Who can issue RWC:

         •       Licensed Vehicle Testers (VicRoads-approved)

 

Validity:

         •       RWC valid for 30 days from issue date.

 

Exemptions:

         •       Transfer between spouses

         •       Deceased estate to beneficiary

         •       Some categories of heavy vehicles (different inspection schemes)

 

AUCN insight:

 

Because VIC requires RWCs for transfers, many unroadworthy cars are sold with expired or invalid RWCs.

Always verify the date and check for tampering.

 

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🟧 QLD — Safety Certificate (TMR)

 

Official reference:

https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/registration/roadworthy

 

Queensland uses the term "Safety Certificate", not RWC.

 

When Safety Certificate is required:

         •       For most private sales

         •       Before transferring registration

         •       When offering a vehicle for sale (must display certificate)

         •       When re-registering a vehicle

 

Who can issue:

         •       Approved Inspection Stations (AIS)

 

Validity:

         •       Private sale: 2 months or 2,000 km (whichever comes first)

         •       Licensed dealer: 3 months or 1,000 km

 

Exemptions:

         •       Vehicles being sold to licensed dealers

         •       Some trailers and caravans

         •       Unregistered vehicle permits

 

AUCN insight:

 

QLD's requirement to display the Safety Certificate means:

If a QLD seller refuses to show it, avoid the car.

 

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🟦 NSW — eSafety Check (Pink Slip) / Blue Slip

 

Official references:

https://www.service.nsw.gov.au

https://www.nsw.gov.au/driving-boating-and-transport

 

NSW does not use the term "RWC".

NSW has two types of inspections:

 

1. Pink Slip (eSafety Check) — for renewing rego

 

Required when:

         •       renewing registration for vehicles over 5 years old

 

2. Blue Slip — identity & full safety check for unregistered or interstate vehicles

 

Required when:

         •       registering an unregistered vehicle

         •       transferring interstate vehicles into NSW

         •       major modifications

         •       after 3+ months expired rego (registration cancelled)

 

AUCN insight:

 

NSW Blue Slip is the most rigorous equivalent to a "roadworthy".

 

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🟦 WA — Vehicle Examination (Department of Transport)

 

Official reference:

https://www.transport.wa.gov.au

 

WA does not use "RWC" terminology.

 

Inspection required when:

         •       transferring interstate vehicles

         •       re-registering cancelled registration

         •       defect notices issued

         •       some special vehicle categories

 

WA does not require inspection for private rego transfers in most cases.

 

AUCN insight:

 

Many low-quality used cars move from VIC → WA because WA's transfer rules are more relaxed.

 

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🟦 SA — Vehicle Inspection (Service SA)

 

Official reference:

https://www.sa.gov.au

 

South Australia only requires inspections under specific circumstances:

 

Required when:

         •       transferring interstate vehicles

         •       defect or unroadworthy notices

         •       re-registering cancelled rego

         •       modified vehicles

 

Not required for:

         •       most private transfers

         •       most used car sales

 

AUCN insight:

 

Because SA has lighter inspection rules, many repaired write-offs are sold into SA.

Buyers must do PPSR + AUCN checks to verify WOVR history.

 

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🟦 TAS — Vehicle Inspection (Transport Tasmania)

 

Official reference:

https://www.transport.tas.gov.au

 

TAS only requires inspections in limited cases:

         •       defect notices

         •       unregistered vehicles being re-registered

         •       modified vehicles

         •       imported vehicles

 

TAS also notes that many hail-damaged or storm-damaged cars may not require inspection unless WOVR-listed.

 

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🟦 ACT — Inspection Requirements (Access Canberra)

 

Official reference:

https://www.accesscanberra.act.gov.au

 

ACT requires inspections when:

         •       transferring interstate vehicles

         •       renewing registration for older vehicles

         •       defect notices

         •       unregistered vehicle renewals

 

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🟦 NT — Vehicle Inspection (NT MVR)

 

Official reference:

https://nt.gov.au/driving

 

NT requires an inspection for:

         •       older vehicles

         •       defect notices

         •       unregistered vehicles

         •       some transfers

 

NT's rules are similar to WA but with more frequent safety checks for older vehicles.

 

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🟩 3. What an RWC / Safety Certificate Does Not Cover

 

Across all states, an RWC does not guarantee:

 

❌ Engine/gearbox health

❌ Previous accidents

❌ Flood damage

❌ Full service history

❌ Odometer consistency

❌ Finance owing

❌ Interior electrical condition

❌ Structural rust that hasn't reached safety thresholds

 

This is why AUCN always recommends pairing an RWC with:

         •       PPSR

         •       AUCN valuation / odometer analysis

         •       mechanic pre-purchase inspection

 

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🟩 4. Buyer Checklist: How to Use RWC Properly

 

✔ Confirm the certificate is valid

 

Check the issue date (especially VIC's 30-day window).

 

✔ Make sure the VIN matches

 

Fraudulent RWCs exist.

 

✔ Understand that RWC is minimum safety

 

Not full mechanical health.

 

✔ Still run a full AUCN report

 

Because RWC alone won't reveal:

         •       past write-off status

         •       finance owing

         •       price manipulation

         •       odometer rollback

         •       interstate movement patterns

         •       suspicious valuation gaps

 

✔ Always ask for receipts of recent repairs

 

Especially for vehicles being "sold with fresh RWC" —

often means major repairs were done to barely pass inspection.

 

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🟦 5. AUCN Final Advice

 

A Roadworthy Certificate (or equivalent state inspection) is essential, but it is not designed to protect you financially — only to confirm basic road safety.

 

For a safe purchase, AUCN's recommended sequence is:

 

1. AUCN Report → 2. PPSR Check → 3. RWC/Safety Certificate → 4. Full mechanical inspection

 

This order protects buyers from legal, financial, and mechanical risks.