As a car owner or driver in Victoria, you might have come across the term "Roadworthy Certificate" or RWC, which is a mandatory requirement when you sell or re-register your vehicle. But what exactly does this certificate mean and how is it different from a pre-purchase inspection?

In Victoria an RWC, or Certificate of Roadworthiness, is needed before a vehicle can be sold or when it needs to be re-registered. A Licensed Vehicle Tester must check that your vehicle meets the standards set out under Regulation 220 by the Roads Corporation, or VicRoads, prior to a Certificate of Roadworthiness being issued.

Occasionally a Certificate of Roadworthiness is also needed before you can have a defect notice removed from a vehicle or it may be required as part of a required inspection for vehicles such as taxis and buses (which must undergo regular, periodic mandatory Inspections).

Firstly, it's important to note that a roadworthy inspection is not a pre-purchase inspection. A roadworthy inspection only verifies that your vehicle meets the minimum safety standards set out under Regulation 220 by the Roads Corporation, or VicRoads, and does not take into account the overall condition or mechanical reliability of the vehicle. This means that passing a roadworthy inspection doesn't guarantee that your vehicle is in perfect working condition or that it will continue to function properly for a long time.

If you want to know the general condition or value of a vehicle before you purchase it, you should consider arranging for a separate independent pre-purchase inspection. Such an inspection will give you a comprehensive report on the overall condition, reliability, and value of the vehicle you are interested in purchasing.

It is also important to note that a Certificate of Roadworthiness does not constitute a complete assessment of a vehicle's compliance with the Standards for Registration. These standards are generally governed by the Australian Design Rules (ADRs) and are often beyond the scope of a Roadworthy Inspection.

Wells Automotive in Mornington are licensed to conduct Roadworthy Certificate Examinations for light vehicles (RWC EX11821LV) and are able to to issue Certificates of Roadworthiness. Bring your car in to our well equipped workshop or Book a Roadworthy Inspection Online