The questions people actually ring and ask
Mostly about safety certificates and tyres, because that is what people are unsure about. The legal detail here comes from the Queensland regulations and the inspection manual rather than from another workshop's blog.
- 4 min read
How long does a Queensland safety certificate last?
For a private seller, a Queensland safety certificate stays in effect for 2 months from the day it was issued or 2,000 kilometres driven after issue, whichever happens first. For a licensed motor dealer it is 3 months or 1,000 kilometres. It also ends early if the registration is cancelled, an unapproved modification is made, or the vehicle's condition changes significantly.
Read the answer - 5 min read
What does a Queensland safety certificate actually check?
A Queensland safety certificate inspection is carried out against the Queensland Light Vehicle Inspection Manual and covers 13 defined areas, including tyres, brakes, steering and suspension, lights, seatbelts, glazing, body and chassis, tow couplings, exhaust and emissions, and a road test. It is a safety check against a set standard — not an assessment of a vehicle's mechanical quality or how long it will last.
Read the answer - 4 min read
Your car failed its safety certificate. What now?
If your vehicle fails, the examiner must give you an inspection report listing exactly what is defective. You then have 14 days — starting the day after the report is issued — to have those faults repaired and return the vehicle for re-inspection. A re-inspection inside that window only covers the items listed on the report. After 14 days, a completely new inspection is required.
Read the answer - 4 min read
Are second-hand tyres legal in Queensland?
Yes. Second-hand tyres are legal in Queensland as long as they meet the same requirements as any tyre in use: at least 1.5mm of tread across the tread surface, no sidewall damage or exposed cord, and the correct size and load rating for the vehicle. A used tyre meeting those requirements will also pass a safety certificate inspection.
Read the answer - 4 min read
When do your tyres actually need replacing?
A tyre must be replaced once tread depth reaches the legal minimum of 1.5mm across the tread surface — the point where the wear indicator bars moulded into the grooves sit level with the tread. Tyres also need replacing regardless of tread if they have sidewall cuts or bulges, exposed cord, damage from being run flat, or significant age cracking.
Read the answer - 3 min read
How to read the numbers on the side of your tyre
A tyre size like 205/55R16 91V reads as: 205 is the tread width in millimetres, 55 is the sidewall height as a percentage of that width, R means radial construction, 16 is the rim diameter in inches, 91 is the load index, and V is the speed rating. The load index and speed rating must be at least what the vehicle manufacturer specifies.
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Question not answered here?
Ring the workshop. You will get a straight answer, even if the answer is that it is a job for someone else.