Vehicle inspection in Australia is done on a state basis. Each state or territory has the authority to set its own laws pertaining to vehicle inspections, all have some form of inspection, either periodically or before a transfer of ownership.
Upon transfer of ownership if the vehicle is over six years old
Before transferring a registration from interstate regardless of the vehicle's age
Before re-registering a vehicle if the previous registration was canceled or expired more than 12 months ago
If a defect notice is issued
Once a vehicle is registered, it generally will not need to be inspected again if it remains with the same owner. However, the Australian Capital Territory has a random inspection scheme, vehicles can be spot checked whether occupied or not. If faults are discovered, a defect notice can be issued in which case the owner will be required to have repairs made, and obtain a full inspection from a licensed examiner with 14 days to clear the notice. If egregious safety violations are found, the vehicle's registration can be suspended on the spot and the operator will need to have the vehicle towed. Vehicles powered by natural gas or propane must receive a special annual gas inspection.
Vehicles over five years old are required to obtain an e-Safety Check' prior to annual registration renewal or before transferring a registration from interstate. This was previously known as a "Pink Slip", and the term is still used colloquially.
Northern Territory
Vehicle Roadworthy Inspections for light vehicles are required once the vehicle is 5 years old, 10 years old, then annually. Vehicles 5 years or older, seeking registration in the NT for the first time require a Roadworthy Inspection. All vehicles over 10 years old require a roadworthy inspection every year.
Queensland
requires any vehicle to have a safety inspection before it can be offered for sale or have its interstate registration transferred. The inspection checks the general condition of the vehicle itself and certain items of basic safety equipment such as the tyres, brakes, lights, windshield, etc... The certificate is valid for 1,000 km or 3 months if the vehicle is being offered for sale by a dealer, and for 2,000 km or 2 months if being sold by an individual. There are some exceptions, vehicles being sold in rural parts of the state are exempt if driving to the nearest inspection station would present a hardship, and vehicles that are only being sold for parts likewise do not require a safety inspection. Sellers who are required to have a safety certificate but either do not obtain one or fail to display it properly while the vehicle is advertised for sale are subject to a $500 on the spot fine. There are no periodic safety inspections in Queensland once a vehicle is registered, however, mobile road teams conduct random emissions inspections through a program called OVERT, and drivers may be summoned if their vehicles are not within legal guidelines or emits visible smoke.
The majority of privately owned vehicles do not need to be inspected to be legally driven or have their interstate registration transferred to South Australia. Vehicles with certain types of modifications, specifically engine, chassis, wheel-base, seating capacity, brakes, steering, or suspension modifications require a certificate of roadworthiness prior to registration. Additionally, several other categories of vehicles also require a certificate:
Vehicles that were previously written off and/or salvaged.
Rebuilt, self-constructed or homemade vehicles
Vehicles transferred from interstate that are over seven years old and weigh more than 4.5 tonnes.
Vehicles that were transferred from left-hand to right-hand drive.
Buses with a seating capacity of 13 persons or more
Tasmania
A safety inspection is required for:
Transferring a mainland registration to Tasmania
Re-registering a vehicle whose previous registration expired or was cancelled more than three months ago
Re-registering a vehicle that was written off and repaired
Registering a vehicle converted from left-hand to right-hand drive
Victoria
Similar to Queensland, VicRoads requires that a vehicle being sold, registered from interstate have a current Certificate of Roadworthiness from a licensed vehicle inspector. Additionally, vehicles that are cited by the police for safety defects must also obtain a certificate. Victoria does not require an inspection upon transfer of an interstate registration if the vehicle remains with the same owner.
A vehicle inspection is required before a vehicle can be registered for the first time, after a lapse in registration, if a vehicle has received certain modifications, or has been cited for safety faults by the police. Certain commercial and public transport vehicles must be inspected annually. Western Australia does not require an inspection upon transfer of an interstate registration if the vehicle remains with the same owner and the vehicle has been owned for more than 12 months.
