Roadworthy Certificate Checklist

RWC Checks - What to check to help your vehicle pass a Certificate of Roadworthiness

If you want to be able to pass a Roadworthy Examination it helps to understand what the mechanic conducting the vehicle inspection will be considering when deciding if the car is roadworthy or not.

The following checklist may help you to make sure your vehicle will be able to succesfully pass a Roadworthy Inspection.

Brake & Braking Systems - RWC Checks

Brakes and warning systems are an essential safety feature of all vehicles and must be in good working order to pass a roadworthy examination

All components must function correctly, be mounted securely and correctly located
All brake components must be free from visible wear, distortion or damage
Vehicle parking and emergency brakes must be functioning correctly
Park brakes must be capable of keeping the vehicle stationary on any grade of hill
Brake lights (warning signs) must be fitted correctly and functioning
Car horn must be working correctly
Brake systems must be free of leaks
Brake linings must not be worn down to the wear indicators

Chassis & Vehicle Body RWC Checks

To pass a Roadworthy Inspection a vehicle must have;

An absence of any condition able to cause structural failure or affect safe operation
A sound floor, free of obstructions or any condition which could hamper safe operation
Functioning mechanisms , inc doors, boots, Ute lids, bonnets, hatches & tailgates
Bumper bars which eliminate sharp corners or protrusions must be securely fitted
Towbars (when present) should be in good condition and correctly fitted
Vehicles with a tray type body require suitable mudflaps for the vehicle type

General Vehicle - RWC Checks

To pass a Certificate of Roadworthiness examination, a car should be generally in a good condition.

All accessories should function correctly without impeding performance and must be suitable for the intended task.

Steering wheels should be suitable to the vehicle and any covers must be secure

Pedals & steering wheel/control knobs in working order (not hampering performance)

A suitable rear view mirror must give a clear view to the rear of the vehicle

An effective horn/warning device able to sustain a steady and constant pitch

Vehicles built after 1 July 1988 need a functioning speedometer displaying speed in km/h

Suitable Fuel caps must be in use, be adequately secure and seal correctly

(Plastic emergency or temporary fuel caps are not acceptable and will not pass inspection)

Lights, Reflectors and Signals - RWC Checks

Light requirements vary greatly with vehicle type, but as a general rule all vehicles must be fitted with;

Headlights (Lights & Reflectors must be in good condition)

Brake Lights (aka stop lamps)

Front and rear position lights

Turn signal lamps (aka indicators or blinkers)

Number plate light/s

All Lights must be in reasonable working order

All lights must be correctly placed and securely fitted

All lenses or light covers must be clean and free of damage

All light covers and lenses need to be of the correct colour (not faded)

Seatbelts & Seats - RWC Checks

Seatbelts need to be present and free of damage or obstructions whilst being secure and structurally sound. All seats, partcularlt the drivers seat, must be in good condition and fitted securely to the vehicle.

Seatbelts must be present

Seatbelt webbing must be firmly secured

Seatbelt must not display any cuts, damage, wear, knots or fraying

All seats must be secure and structurally sound

Seats may not have protrusions or jagged edges

The drivers seat must not have any defect which could impede driving ability

Seat sliders must be functioning correctly and free of any looseness

If present head restraint must be secure and in a sound condition

No seatbelt component can be modified in any way

Suspension & Steering RWC Checks

The vehicle must drive straight, without wandering or pulling left or right when driving straight ahead. All steering components must be securely and correctly mounted and free from damage or excessive wear, including dust and grease seals.

Power steering fittings should be free of oil leaks

Adequate clearance between suspension components and vehicle body

All joints, pivots and bushes must be in good condition

Dust and grease seals must be deemed as suitable

All wheel bearings and mounts need to be in good condition

Shock absorbers and struts must be securely mounted

Shock & Struts must not display any sign of leaks

Wheels and Tyres - RWC Checks

Tyres and wheels play a crucial role in safety and a vehicles' ability to stop quickly and safely in an emergency situation. To pass a Roadworthiness Examination yourwheels and tyres need to be in good condition and free of any damage or wear which could cause failure of the rims, tyres or wheels or otherwise compromise vehicle safety.

Tyres must display a tread depth of 1.5mm (min) at any point on the tread reasonably expected to contact the road (other than at tyre tread indicators)

Where tread wear indicators are present, tyres cannot display sufficient wear that such indicators contact the road surface

Tyres and rims must be of compatible size

In the case of retreaded tyres, the ID of the retreader must be clearly marked

Retreaded tyres must display the word "retreaded" in addition to relevant markings as required by the Australian standard

Wheels, rims and tyres must be free of cracks or any other damage that could cause failure of the tyre, wheel or rim

The wheels and rims must cannot be out of balance or otherwise damaged, dented or buckled

You cannot have a "temporary use" spare tyre fitted as a road wheel

If you have spoke wheels, all spokes must be intact, straight, fitted and laced or tensioned correctly

When facing straight ahead the wheels and tyres must not project beyond the width of the mudguards

Tyres & Wheels must not contact any part of the vehicle during any combination of steering or suspension functions

Wheels must be have the correct type and number of studs, nuts (or both where required) and be securely fitted

Windows & Windscreen - RWC Checks

All windows need to be free of damage and must not be altered to the extent that it hampers safe vehicle operation. Impairment of a drivers vision of the road as a result of significant cracks, chips or scratches may cause the car to fail a roadworthy test.

Minor wear and tear is sometimes deemed acceptable provided the drivers vision is not impacted. Windscreens with tinting included included during manufacture are acceptable. Tinting applied via coatings or tint films post manufacture is unacceptable.

To pass a Certificate of Roadworthiness vehicle windows should;

Be free of any cracks, chips, scratches or damage which compromises driver view or safe operation

Have no alterations (including tinting) which might impact a drivers ability to see the road and other users at all times

Have Correctly fitted and properly functioning windscreen wipers

Include windscreen washer jets which are correctly positioned to effectively keep the windshield clear of rain, dirt or debris

Not have a windscreen where the primary vision area is tinted to more than 70% (where manufactured after 1971)

Not have a windshield which has tinting applied as a coat or tint film in the primary vision area

Roadworthy tests must be performed by a Licensed Vehicle Tester such Golden Plains Mechanical.

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