How Much Does a Motorcycle Roadworthy Cost in Queensland?
I inspected this Triumph Street Triple in Beenleigh today. Passed without any issues – a well-maintained bike from an owner who clearly looks after it. Before booking, he asked what a motorcycle roadworthy costs. It’s a common question and the answer is simpler than most people expect.
The government inspection fee for motorcycles
The Queensland Government sets the inspection fee for motorcycles at $63.85. This is the official fee as of 1 July 2025. Stationary workshops are required to charge this fee for the inspection itself.
This is lower than the car inspection fee ($99.35) and the trailer fee ($49.75). But the government fee is only part of the story if you’re using a mobile service.
What Local Roadworthys charges
With Local Roadworthys, the total price for a motorcycle roadworthy is the same as for a car or trailer:
Book online – $110 (I arrive between 8am and 4.30pm) or $140 (you choose a 2-hour time window, earliest 7am-9am, latest 3pm-5pm).
Book over the phone – $120 or $150.
The price includes the government inspection fee plus the call-out fee for travelling to your location. The total is the same regardless of whether it’s a car, motorcycle, or trailer because the majority of my time goes into travel, not the inspection itself. Travelling to your location takes the same time whether I’m inspecting a motorcycle or a car.
Prices include GST. No hidden fees. No card surcharges.
Why some competitors charge more for motorcycles
You might find mobile services that charge more for motorcycle inspections than for cars. There are a few reasons for this.
Motorcycle inspections require a special licence and qualification. Not every roadworthy inspector is licensed to inspect motorcycles. The ones who are have invested additional time and training to get qualified. Some charge a premium for this.
Limited competition. Because fewer inspectors can do motorcycles, there’s less competition in the motorcycle roadworthy market. Less competition means some inspectors charge more because they can.
Some inspectors are uncomfortable riding larger bikes. A test ride is mandatory for every motorcycle inspection. Some inspectors don’t want to ride a customer’s 200kg sport bike or a heavy cruiser. They either avoid motorcycle inspections entirely or only accept small, easy-to-ride bikes. This limits your options even further.
Local Roadworthys inspects all motorcycles. Every type, every size. Scooters, mopeds, LAMS bikes, sport bikes, cruisers, adventure bikes, dual sports, tourers – from 50cc to big bikes and everything in between. I don’t pick and choose based on the size or style of the bike.
Watch out for "free" motorcycle roadworthys
If a workshop is offering free motorcycle roadworthys, ask yourself how they’re making money. An inspection takes time, expertise, and a qualified inspector. Nobody gives that away for nothing.
A free inspection is designed to get you and your bike through the door. If the bike fails – and the inspector has every incentive to find something – the repair quote is where they make their money. That’s the same conflict of interest that exists with car inspections at workshops, but it’s even more common with motorcycles because the parts and labour are often more expensive than owners expect.
With an inspection-only mobile service, there’s no repair shop behind the inspection. No upselling, no repair quotes, no conflict of interest.
Re-inspection costs
If your motorcycle fails and you get the repairs done, the re-inspection costs:
Book online – $50 (flexible timing) or $80 (2-hour time window of your choice).
Book over the phone – $60 or $90.
The government inspection fee for the re-inspection is included in the original fee you already paid. The re-inspection cost covers the call-out fee only.
No illegal modifications
I inspect all motorcycles but I do not pass motorcycles with illegal modifications. If the bike has been modified in ways that don’t meet Queensland standards, it will fail the inspection. Get any modifications sorted before booking.
