Can You Drive Without a Roadworthy Certificate in Queensland?
This is a question I get asked regularly, usually by people who’ve just bought a car or are about to sell one. The answer depends on your situation.
If your vehicle is registered in Queensland - yes, you can drive it
As long as your vehicle is currently registered in Queensland, you do not need a roadworthy certificate to drive it. Your registration and CTP insurance cover you for normal use on the road.
You only need a roadworthy certificate when you are transferring ownership of the vehicle to someone else, or re-registering a vehicle that has become unregistered.
So if you’re simply driving your registered car around Brisbane, Springwood, the Redlands or anywhere else – no roadworthy required.
If your vehicle is unregistered - it gets complicated
If your vehicle is unregistered and you need to drive it on the road to get it registered, you can legally do so under certain conditions.
You must have a CTP insurance certificate. This is compulsory. CTP insurance in Queensland is available from QBE Insurance, Allianz Australia Insurance, or AAI Limited (trading as Suncorp). You can purchase a CTP certificate without registering the vehicle first.
Any number plates on the vehicle must be removed. If you drive an unregistered vehicle with plates still attached, you can be fined.
With the CTP certificate and plates removed, you’re allowed to drive the vehicle to get a safety certificate and then to a transport and motoring service centre to register it. If you can’t complete the registration on the same day, you’re also allowed to drive the vehicle back to its home address.
Important - CTP insurance is not the same as third party or comprehensive insurance
This is where people get caught out. A CTP insurance certificate covers injuries to other people in an accident. It does not cover damage to other vehicles, property, or your own vehicle.
If you’re driving an unregistered vehicle with only CTP insurance and you’re involved in an accident, you are likely personally liable for all damage – to the other vehicles involved and to your own. On top of that, if the vehicle doesn’t have a roadworthy certificate, you can’t prove it was in safe condition. If a mechanical fault contributed to the accident – worn brakes, bald tyres, faulty steering – that could create serious legal problems for you.
This is exactly why I recommend getting a mobile roadworthy done at the vehicle’s location instead of driving an unregistered, minimally insured car across town to a workshop. I come to you, inspect it on the spot, and if it passes, you get the certificate without the vehicle ever leaving your driveway. Local Roadworthys is fully insured for the entire inspection process including the test drive, so you’re covered.
If your vehicle is registered in another state
If your vehicle is currently registered in another state or territory and still has plates attached, you have 14 days to register it in Queensland. During that 14-day period, you can legally drive the vehicle. After 14 days, you can be fined.
Within that window, you need to get a Queensland safety certificate and then visit a transport and motoring service centre to complete the registration transfer.
When do you actually need a roadworthy certificate?
To keep it simple, you need a roadworthy certificate (safety certificate) in Queensland in these situations:
Selling a registered vehicle – the seller must provide a valid safety certificate to the buyer before ownership can be transferred.
Registering an unregistered vehicle – the vehicle must pass a roadworthy inspection before it can be registered.
Transferring interstate registration to Queensland – a Queensland safety certificate is required.
You do not need a roadworthy for your annual registration renewal, for regular driving, or for any other purpose beyond those listed above.
Selling an unregistered vehicle? A roadworthy still helps
If you’re selling a vehicle that’s currently unregistered, you’re not legally required to provide a roadworthy. But it’s still worth getting one. A roadworthy certificate gives the buyer confidence that the vehicle is in safe condition and ready to register immediately. This usually results in a quicker sale at a higher price. Without a certificate, the buyer has to organise their own inspection, which adds time and uncertainty to the process.
