Roadworthy Certificate in Victoria - A Bird's Eye View
The laws in the State of Victoria, Australia are very strict regarding issuance of a roadworthy certificate. All vehicles being
sold or purchased or up for re-registration have to mandatorily possess a road worthy certificate issued in an accredited and authorised garage by licensed vehicle testers. This is to basically ensure that vehicles that are on the roads are safe and do not have any issues that might cause accidents. Once a certificate is issued, the vehicle is deemed to be in a well maintained condition, almost eliminating the possibility of mishaps caused due to vehicle failures. Issuance of such a certificate is also required as part of mandatory periodic inspections and also to get over any Vehicle Defect Notice.
What then is the procedure if for example you need a roadworthy certificate in Yarraville, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne, barely 6 km from the Central Business District? There is Western Auto Services where you can take your vehicle for testing. First, the vehicle will be inspected by trained and licensed technicians to see if the vehicle meets all standards as laid down in VSI Clause 26 of Road Corporation of Victoria (VicRoads). The stipulations are to make sure that the vehicle is free from any wear and tear or deterioration that can make it a hazard when driven on the roads of Victoria. The decision of the licensed vehicle tester is final in this regard. If the vehicle fails the test, it must be repaired or serviced and the issues raised rectified within 7 days of the inspection if the Certificate of Roadworthiness has to be issued. A fresh inspection has to be carried out again if the limit of 7 days is exceeded.
The inspection procedures and the components to be checked are clearly given by VicRoads and are so structured that the safety of a vehicle on the roads is ensured. Scrutiny of the vehicle is comprehensive and all-inclusive and covers all major parts that can have a bearing on the smooth running of the vehicle. For example, a certified service station issuing a roadworthy certificate in Melbourne will take up the following activities –
• Checking the condition of tyres and wheels, lamps and reflectors
• Examining overall vehicle structure and full chassis. Many a time after an accident and smash-up, the vehicle is not restored to a perfect shape and the wheels and chassis are not properly aligned. This can make the vehicle unstable even at moderate speeds.
• State of the suspension, steering and brakes. Needless to say, these are connected with primary safety issues of any vehicle on the roads and should therefore be in optimum condition.
• Full engine check-up. If any tuning or servicing is required, it should be done immediately. The condition of the engine has a bearing on the fuel consumption too.
• Monitoring working of windows, windshields and wipers and changing any parts that might have a bearing on the overall performance of the vehicle.
A certificate of roadworthiness is valid for 30 days after it is issued. Hence, any sale or purchase or re-registration has to be completed within that period.
The cost of having a roadworthy certificate issued depends largely on the age, make and model and the condition of the vehicle. For instance, checking an SUV will be different for that of a car and expenses for a 2008 model will vary from a 2014 model. Similarly separate rates will apply for issuing certificate to a LPG run car. It is advisable to contact an authorised garage with all vehicle particulars for getting a quote.
These are the very basics of the process of getting a roadworthy certificate in the State of Victoria, Australia.