Can You Do a Roadworthy Inspection in the Rain?
This is one of the most common questions I get, especially during Brisbane’s wet season. I was out in Mount Gravatt East today and this photo pretty much sums it up – wet roads, grey skies, and a roadworthy to do.
So can I do a roadworthy inspection in the rain? The short answer is – it depends on how heavy the rain is.
Light rain - usually fine
If it’s a light drizzle, I can generally still carry out the inspection. The test drive and brake test can still be done safely, and I can check the underbody and external components without too much trouble. It’s not ideal, but it’s workable.
Heavy rain - not possible
In heavy rain, a proper roadworthy inspection can’t be done safely or accurately. There are a few reasons for this.
I need to check the underbody for oil leaks, damaged components, cracked bushes, and rust. If water is streaming off the underside of the car, I can’t tell the difference between an active oil leak and rainwater carrying old residue. The inspection wouldn’t be accurate.
Headlight aiming needs to be checked, and heavy rain affects visibility to the point where this can’t be done properly.
The test drive and brake test become unreliable in heavy rain. Wet roads change braking distances, and I need to assess the brakes under normal conditions to give an honest result.
I also need to physically get under and around the vehicle. Lying on a flooded driveway isn’t practical for anyone.
How to handle a rainy day booking
If rain is forecast on your booking day, the best thing you can do is park your vehicle under cover before I arrive. A garage, carport, or any covered area works perfectly. This solves most of the problem – I can inspect the car in the dry and do the test drive when there’s a gap in the rain.
If you don’t have any covered space at home, we can meet at an undercover car park. A shopping centre car park works well – there’s usually plenty of space and it’s dry. I’ve done plenty of inspections this way and it works fine.
If the rain is too heavy and there’s no covered option available, we can reschedule to another day or cancel for a full refund. But honestly, it rarely comes to that. We almost always find a solution without cancelling.
Don't stress about it
In reality, I can’t remember the last time I had to cancel an inspection because of rain. Brisbane weather is usually pretty stable and heavy rain that lasts all day is rare. But nobody can predict the weather with certainty – it’s one of those things we don’t control. If your booking happens to fall on a wet day, just have a covered spot available as a backup and we’ll make it work.
