The short answer
Whether you need a roadworthy (or 'safety') certificate to sell your car comes down to your state or territory and, in some places, the age of the vehicle. Victoria, Queensland, the ACT and the Northern Territory require one in most private sales. New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania generally don't - as long as the car's registration is current.
Below is what applies in each state in 2026. Rules do change and there are always edge cases (written-off vehicles, modified cars, lapsed registration), so treat this as your starting point and confirm the details with your state road authority before you list.
First, the terminology
The same document goes by different names around the country:
- Roadworthy Certificate (RWC) - Victoria
- Safety Certificate - Queensland
- eSafety inspection report (pink slip) - New South Wales
- Certificate of inspection - other states, where required
They all mean roughly the same thing: proof that an authorised inspector has checked the vehicle against a minimum safety standard - brakes, tyres, lights, steering, seatbelts and the like - at a point in time.
Do you need one to sell? State by state
Victoria - yes
You must provide a current Roadworthy Certificate (RWC) to sell or transfer a registered, drivable car, whether it's a private sale or through a dealer, and regardless of the car's age or value. An RWC used for a sale is valid for 30 days. The main exemptions are transfers to a spouse or domestic partner, sales to a licensed dealer, and unregistered vehicles. The seller arranges it, and it must come from a VicRoads-authorised tester.
Queensland - yes (private sales)
You need a current Safety Certificate to sell a registered vehicle privately, and you must give it to the buyer when you transfer the registration. For private sellers it's valid for two months or 2,000 km, whichever comes first. Selling to a licensed motor dealer is the main exception, and failing to provide a certificate when required can attract a fine.
Australian Capital Territory - only for older cars
In the ACT you don't need a roadworthy to sell a used car unless it's more than six years old. Once a vehicle passes that age, a current inspection is required before the sale can go through.
Northern Territory - not to sell, but to register
You aren't required to hold a roadworthy just to sell privately in the NT. However, vehicles over five years old need a roadworthy inspection to be registered or re-registered each year - so if the car's registration has lapsed, an inspection will be part of getting it back on the road.
New South Wales - generally no
This is the one most people get wrong. If your registration is current, you do not need a pink slip to transfer the car to a new owner - the buyer can complete the transfer without a fresh safety check. The eSafety inspection (pink slip) is tied to renewing registration on vehicles five years and older, and is valid for six months. So if your rego is up to date you need nothing; if it's expired or about to expire, the new owner will need a pink slip to renew. Providing one anyway can help build buyer trust.
South Australia - generally no
South Australia has no routine inspection scheme for most light vehicles, so a registered car can usually be transferred between private owners without a roadworthy. Exceptions can apply - for example if the car was previously written off or the registration has lapsed.
Western Australia - generally no
You generally don't need a roadworthy to sell a registered light vehicle in WA. An inspection can be required in specific situations, such as when registration has lapsed or the licensing authority requests one, so check whether your car falls into an exception.
Tasmania - generally no
Tasmania doesn't require a roadworthy to sell, regardless of the car's age - unless the vehicle has been unregistered for more than three months or its registration was cancelled, in which case an inspection is needed.
What a roadworthy does - and doesn't - guarantee
A roadworthy or safety certificate confirms the car met a minimum safety standard on the day it was inspected. It is not:
- a mechanical warranty or a guarantee the car is in good condition;
- a check of the car's history, money owing or whether it's been written off;
- proof the odometer is genuine.
It's a floor, not a seal of approval - and it only reflects the vehicle's state at inspection time.
Buying? Don't rely on the roadworthy alone
If you're on the buying side, treat a roadworthy as one piece of the puzzle. Before you hand over any money, it's worth also:
- running a PPSR check to confirm there's no money owing and the car hasn't been written off or reported stolen;
- checking whether the car has been in an accident;
- making sure the odometer hasn't been wound back.
For anything you can't verify yourself, an independent pre-purchase inspection by a qualified mechanic is money well spent.
Quick answers
Who pays for the roadworthy?
Where one is required, the seller is normally responsible for obtaining and paying for it, though everything is negotiable in a private sale.
How much does it cost?
Expect roughly $120-$250 depending on the state, the inspector and the vehicle. Any repairs needed to pass are on top of that.
How long is it valid?
Validity is short and varies - for example 30 days in Victoria and two months (or 2,000 km) in Queensland when used for a sale. Get the certificate close to when you actually list the car.
Rules and fees change and individual circumstances differ. Always confirm the current requirements with your state or territory road authority before selling.
