Before buying or selling a vehicle, it is important to note and understand its present condition and how safe it is for driving. One of the best ways to ensure this is to get a safety certificate. It guarantees that your vehicle meets safety standards and is safe for use. However, the certificate doesn’t come cheap, and there are certain requirements you must meet to be eligible for a safety standards certificate. In this post, we will talk about these requirements.
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What Is A Safety Standard Certificate?
A safety standards certificate refers to a safety standard certificate given under the Highway Traffic Act and Regulations for your vehicle to confirm its mechanical fitness. The certificate is signed by a registered and qualified mechanic who isn’t employed or owned by the vehicle owner.
It’s proof that your vehicle is in good condition and meets the minimum safety requirements. Although the certificate doesn’t act as a warranty for a used car, you still need it before you get your license plate. It also helps to secure the safety and health of those on the road.
When Do You Need a Safety Certificate
There are different instances of having a safety certificate in each state. However, below are the basic four instances of when you need a safety certificate:
- When you want to re-register an unregistered vehicle
To drive your vehicle legally, your registration must be renewed yearly, and you need a roadworthy certificate to do this.
- When you’re transferring your vehicle to someone else or another state
If you’re selling your car to a new owner in the same state or a different state, it’s essential to get a safety standards certification to ensure that the car is fit for use. The only exemption for this is if you’re giving the car to your spouse.
- When you’re changing your vehicle from unfit to fit
If your car was previously unfit, you’d need a roadworthy certificate to change its status to roadworthy. This is the only way to ensure that it’s roadworthy indeed.
- When you’re selling a registered light vehicle
Before you can sell your registered light vehicle, it must pass a road safety inspection. This applies to trailers and caravans with a total mass within the range of 750kg to 3500kg, motorbikes, scooters, cars, and other vehicles with a total mass of 4500kg.
How To Ensure You Pass And Get Your Vehicle Roadworthy Certificate
Getting roadworthy certificates can be challenging sometimes, but if you know your way around it, it will come easy to you. Even when you don’t pass the inspection phase, you can prepare better within two weeks and come back again free of charge. However, below is a list of some areas of concentration to prepare you ahead:
- Ensure your windows are not cracked and clean.
- Your windscreen must be clear. It must be void of cracks or dirt that can obstruct your view while driving.
- Ensure you have firm steering that doesn’t move from one side to the other. You must be able to turn it sideways easily and smoothly.
- Your seatbelts must be fixed. The buckles must be in place to allow you to fasten the belts when driving.
- Your battery must be in good condition. You can test it to ensure it’s fit before you take the inspection.
- Go on a test drive to ensure that the brakes are in good condition. You may have to replace them if they’re slow, sticky, or noisy.
Common Areas People Fail Their Road Safety Inspection
Now that you know what areas to focus on, it’s also essential to know the areas people fail their road safety inspection. Below are some of the common areas you should work on:
- Light bulb: Most people don’t fix their lights at the correct angle. Your lights must be very bright and working perfectly.
- Tires: Check that your tires are fully inflated and that there are no sharp objects protruding from the tires. Also, ensure that your wheel tread depth is 1.5mm.
- Mountings: These are the mounts that hold parts of your car together, such as the engine mount. Check that they are well fastened and not loose. Otherwise, there is a high risk of injury.
If you don’t pass the safety inspection, you will not be issued the safety certificate. Without the certificate, you’ll be unable to obtain your license and drive around. Hopefully, the above guide will help you pass your inspection test and get your safety certificate on the first trial.
