Whether you’re selling or planning to sell your car or re-registering your vehicle, you’ll be better off having a roadworthy certificate. But what is a roadworthy certificate and why should you get one? Furthermore, how can you get one anyway?
Read on as I share what you need to know about roadworthy certificates from experts like RWC Gold Coast.
What is a Roadworthy Certificate?
Roadworthy certificates are documents ensuring that a vehicle is in a suitable operating condition to be used on public roads. Basically, this certificate confirms that the vehicle is safe to use for driving, transport, along with commercial purposes, if licensed for it. This certificate is necessary for those who plan to sell their car and/or re-register it.
The Benefits of Roadworthy Certificates
So, why exactly are roadworthy certificates so beneficial in the first place? Here are some of the benefits offered:
- It’s a Safety Requirement
When you obtain a roadworthy certificate, it is beneficial for both buyer and seller.
Sellers who want to sell the vehicle are aware of its safety conditions and can share the information with their potential buyers. Buyers can verify the safety of the vehicle they want to invest in by checking its roadworthy certificate.
Because the inspection will be done by professionals, the certification can be relied on. This can also help attract potential buyers, as it acts as an assurance that the car is safe and passes the standards of roadworthiness based on local government rules.
- Save on Insurance
If you own the car and have a roadworthy certificate, obtaining insurance can be done with less hassle. Most insurance companies prefer giving coverage to vehicles certified as safe and roadworthy.
- For Registering Vehicles
No one should drive an unregistered vehicle. All of us know this fact, but some would forget that vehicles can’t be registered without a roadworthy certificate.
That’s why it’s important to have your vehicle certified right away, so you can go to your local department of motor vehicles to have it registered legally.
- Become the Official Owner
When you invest in a vehicle, you need to take the steps to become the official owner of it. A roadworthy certificate is required when doing so, regardless of the reason you’re investing in a vehicle and the type of vehicle it is.
When you’re purchasing a secondhand vehicle, ask about the roadworthy certificate before you complete the transaction. This will help make the transfer of vehicle ownership to you easier and quicker.
- For Document Transferring
When the owner of a vehicle will sell to another person, then the ownership of the vehicle will be transferred, too. And without a valid roadworthy certificate, then the transfer of ownership won’t be possible. As mentioned, it will be easier to transfer the documents, and you are ensured the vehicle’s true condition as the certificate can only be produced by legal and licensed operators.
It will also help you figure out if something is fishy about the vehicle. If someone tries to purchase a vehicle with the owner not wanting to show any legitimate roadworthy certificate, then there may be something wrong with the vehicle.
How to Get a Roadworthy Certificate
Now that you know about the importance of getting a roadworthy certificate for your vehicle, the next step is learning how to obtain one. Here are some tips you should follow when getting a certificate:
- Where to Get Licensed
When getting your roadworthy certificates, it should be done by licensed operators. Such operators can carry out pre-purchase car inspections if you plan to invest in a secondhand car, along with offering mobile services.
For the certificate, the vehicle will go through various inspection levels of its different parts. The certification will be issued only if the vehicle satisfies the conditions based on the inspection manual.
Note that local governments set individual standards on what determines the quality of vehicles and if they are safe to be driven on public roads. Typically, the certificate would be issued a week after the inspection was done, with the process being relatively quick and easy.
If you failed the inspection, not to worry! You have at least 14 days to repair all of what’s needed to be done before going for another inspection. If you repair it within 14 days, there’s no need to spend on another certificate issuance fee.
- What You Should Look Out For
Here are the parts of your car you need to look out for so you can pass the roadworthy test to obtain the certification:
- Tire condition is crucial, so watch out for cuts, cracks, and any wearing. You should also look into the tire wear from the tread, which is above the indicators.
- Your wipers should be operational and can remove water from the windscreen well. Check the windscreen too, as it should stay clear without cracks.
- Oil leaks may indicate that your car isn’t roadworthy, so have it checked for oil leaks and degrease it well.
- The suspension is another crucial component, which helps the vehicle handle wear and tear, thus being important in vehicle safety. Inspect the suspension’s springs, ball joints, rubber bushes, along with its tie rod edges.
- Check your car’s exhaust system for any signs of corrosion or holes which may compromise the functioning.
- Inspect the air conditioning, as this is part of comfort and no one would want to buy a car with poor A/C.
- Check your vehicle’s lights, including the low beam, high beam, plate lights, brake lights, indicators, and parkers.
- It isn’t road safety without poor-quality or lack of seatbelts. Be sure that all seatbelts are functional.
Wrapping It Up
Hopefully, this article on roadworthy certificates helped you out! Don’t wait any longer and begin getting a roadworthy certificate today.
If you have questions or want to share your tips and experiences on getting a roadworthy certificate, share them in the comments section below. All of your thoughts are much appreciated!
