Motorcycle certification and Roadworthy RWC

Taverner wants to remind you the importance of ensuring your motorcycle is safe for the road and the key points about Queensland safety certificates:

• A safety certificate is a must-have for anyone looking to sell or transfer registration of their motorcycle.
• The certificate is issued after a minimum safety standard inspection has been passed.
• A safety certificate covers essential components that affect the safe operation of the motorcycle, including tyres, brakes, steering, suspension, rust or damage, and lights.
• Displaying a valid safety certificate not only offers buyers better protection but also ensures vehicles being offered for disposal or re-registration are safe, reducing the likelihood of crashes caused by defective vehicles.

The experienced technicians we partner with are fully trained to carry out safety inspections and issue safety certificates for your peace of mind. Whether you’re buying or selling a motorcycle, we’re here to assist you every step of the way.

In Queensland, a Safety Certificate and a Roadworthy Certificate refer to the same thing. The certificate verifies that a vehicle meets the minimum safety standards set by the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads at the time of inspection. The Safety Certificate is required by law to be obtained and displayed for vehicles being offered for sale, transferring registration, or when registered in another state or territory and re-registered in Queensland.

As a responsible seller, it’s your duty to obtain and display a safety certificate on any registered motorcycle that you intend to sell, from the moment you list the vehicle for sale online, place it in public offering, or ride it while displaying a sale sign (e.g. For Sale – Phone 1234 5678). Note. You’re required to obtain and display a safety certificate on a registered motorcycle when it is being offered for sale, even if you plan cancelling the registration when the motorcycle’s sold.

A safety certificate is issued after a minimum safety standard inspection, covering crucial components that could affect the vehicle’s safe operation, including the tyres, brakes, steering, suspension, rust or damage, and lights. By displaying a safety certificate, you offer buyers better protection and ensure that the motorcycle being offered for disposal or re-registration is safe, significantly reducing the likelihood of accidents caused by defective vehicles.

If you’re purchasing an unregistered second-hand or interstate registered motorcycle, keep in mind that the motorcycle must undergo a safety inspection and obtain a safety certificate as part of the Queensland pre-registration process, unless exempt.

To comply with the regulations, the safety certificate must be displayed in a prominent location, such as the front forks or guard. At Taverner Motorsports, we can assist you with obtaining a safety certificate to ensure that your motorcycle is safe and compliant with Queensland laws.

Failure to display a Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads Safety Certificate on the motorcycle from the time it’s first offered for sale can carry an on-the-spot fine penalty of $550.

At Taverner Motorsports, we want to ensure that our customers are well-informed about the regulations regarding safety certificates for motorcycles. While safety certificates are vital, there are certain instances where the certificate isn’t really needed. If your motorcycle meets certain exemption criteria, you may not need to obtain a safety certificate. 

Some situations where you may be exempted when transferring a vehicle, include: 

• being in an exempt area, 
• a beneficiary of a deceased estate, 
• transferring between spouses, including separated spouses, or 
• in remote locations. 

However, if you plan on selling a motorcycle for parts, it must be de-registered prior to offering it for sale. It’s important to note that motorcycles that are unregistered or being traded between licensed motor dealers are also exempt from needing a safety certificate. 

We would like to note that a safety certificate is different from a pre-purchase inspection, which serves as the mechanical reliability or condition of the vehicle. If you have any further questions regarding safety certificates or other motorcycle-related inquiries, please don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our friendly teams.

The validity of a safety certificate depends on who’s selling the motorcycle:

• Licensed motor dealers: safety certificates are valid for up to 3 months or 1000km (whichever comes first) from the date of issue.
• Other sellers: safety certificates are valid for up to 2 months or 2000km (whichever comes first) from the date of issue.

A safety certificate can be used to register an unregistered motorcycle and transfer its registration, as long as it’s within the time and distance limits specified above. However, a new safety certificate is required for each sale or transfer, even if it’s within the allowed time and distance limits. A single safety certificate cannot be used for multiple transfers.

Safety certificates are valid for different durations depending on who is selling the vehicle. 

• For private sellers, the safety certificate is valid for 2 months or 2000km (whichever comes first) from the date of issue.
•  For licensed motor dealers, the safety certificate is valid for 3 months or 1000km (whichever comes first) from the date of issue.

At Taverner Motorsports, we try to keep costs affordable while ensuring the highest quality service. Please contact us at 1800 697 433 to obtain a quote for your inspection.