About certificates of inspection

Vehicles requiring a Certificate of Inspection (COI) in Queensland include heavy vehicles, licensed tow trucks, buses, taxis, limousines and booked hire vehicles and other public passenger vehicles.

These vehicles need an annual inspection to ensure they meet minimum safety standards.

A COI is issued once the vehicle successfully passes the inspection. Owners of registered COI vehicles must maintain a current COI at all times, unless exempt.

Without a current COI, you cannot renew your vehicle’s registration. As such, it is important to plan ahead, check your vehicle for defects and book an inspection and have the inspection completed before the COI expires.

To facilitate a thorough inspection, the vehicle must be clean and free of excessive grease, allowing all components to be properly examined.

COI vehicles

Depending on your vehicle type, you can obtain a COI from either a National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) inspection centre or an approved inspection station accredited by the Department of Transport and Main Roads.

• Find out about the different COI vehicle types and requirements
• Find out where to book a vehicle inspection
• Find out about NHVR vehicle inspections

Unregistered vehicles can get a COI from an approved inspection station.

COI exemptions

Certain COI vehicles are eligible for a COI exemption.

New vehicles

New vehicles are exempt from needing a COI during the first year after their registration.

This exemption does not apply if the vehicle registration is transferred to another person or if the vehicle has been previously registered anywhere else in Australia or overseas.

Accreditation scheme vehicles

Vehicles participating in a relevant maintenance management system for the national Heavy Vehicle Accreditation (HVA) scheme are eligible for a COI exemption.

This exemption does not apply if the vehicle registration is transferred, unless the new registered operator is also participating in the maintenance management system and will add the vehicle to the vehicles managed under their own accreditation.

Find out more about participating in the HVA.

Special interest vehicles

A vehicle registered under the special interest vehicle registration concession is eligible for a COI exemption.

This exemption does not apply if the vehicle is sold or transferred to another registered operator, regardless of whether the new registered operator will obtain a special interest vehicle concession. The current registered operator must provide a COI to the new registered operator.

Remote area vehicles

Vehicles used only in exempt areas are eligible to apply for a COI exemption.

Exempt areas are designated remote local government areas and eligible Queensland islands.

The following designated local government areas are exempt areas:

• Aurukun
• Barcoo
• Boulia
• Bulloo
• Burke
• Carpentaria
• Cook
• Croydon
• Diamantina
• Doomadgee
• Etheridge
• Hope Vale
• Kowanyama
• Lockhart River
• Mapoon
• Mornington
• Napranum
• Northern Peninsula Area
• Pormpuraaw
• Quilpie
• Torres
• Torres Strait Island
• Weipa Town Authority Area
• Wujal Wujal.

In addition, all Queensland islands are exempt areas if:

• there is no approved inspection station on the island authorised to provide a COI inspection for that vehicle, and
• the island is not connected to the mainland by bridge(s).

A vehicle is no longer eligible for a COI exemption if it travels outside of the exempt areas for any period of time.

Travelling outside exempt areas

If a vehicle that has only been used in exempt areas will travel into a non-exempt area, a COI is required prior to the travel taking place. The COI can be obtained from an approved inspection station in the exempt area, even for vehicle types that would normally require an NHVR inspection.

When a COI is issued by an approved inspection station in an exempt area for a vehicle type that requires an NHVR inspection (such as a truck over 16t or a trailer over 10t) the COI must be handwritten and not issued using the Inspection Certificate Online (ICO) system.

• For a heavy vehicle over 4.5t, the handwritten COI and the brake test must be scanned and emailed to DefectClearance@nhvr.gov.au.
• For a light vehicle up to 4.5t, the handwritten COI and the brake test must be scanned and emailed to the Department of Transport and Main Roads at RCE_BSS@tmr.qld.gov.au.

The COI must be lodged in the registration database before you can renew your registration. You can check the registration and COI status by using the online service or the QLD Rego Check app before renewing your registration online.

If the vehicle type being used in an exempt area can be inspected at an approved inspection station (a light vehicle or a truck up to 16t or a trailer up to 10t), the COI can be issued as an electronic certificate using ICO which will automatically lodge the COI with the Department of Transport and Main Roads.

Renewals

COI expiry reminder notices are issued to those with a current COI ten weeks prior to the COI expiring.

It is your responsibility to ensure your COI vehicle has a current COI. The Department of Transport and Main Roads recommend that you book your inspection as far in advance as possible.

You can check your registration status online or use the QLD Rego Check app to see when your COI expires. This service also allows you to set up a reminder for when your COI is due to expire.

If a COI vehicle is inspected:

• up to 2 months before or up to 2 months after the previous certificate for the vehicle expires—the new certificate will take effect on the day after the previous certificate expires
• more than 2 months before the previous certificate for the vehicle expires—the new certificate will take effect from the date the vehicle was inspected.

What if your vehicle is not in Queensland when your COI is due?

Heavy COI vehicles

Eligibility

The heavy vehicle must be continuously outside of Queensland for the entirety of the two months directly prior to its current COI expiring.

Process

1. Obtain an inspection report from one of the following:

   Jurisdiction	Description
   ACT	Vehicle safety standards officers from Access Canberra Authorised examiner from approved inspection station
   NSW	Safety and compliance officers, National Heavy Vehicle Regulator Authorised examiner from authorised inspection station
   NT	Transport Inspector from Motor Vehicle Registry Authorised vehicle inspector
   SA	Vehicle inspector from the Department for Infrastructure and Transport
   Tas	Vehicle examiner from approved inspection station
   Vic	Vehicle inspector from a licensed vehicle tester
   WA	Authorised examiner from authorised inspection station

2. Inspection report requirements:
   The report must be:
   • if issued by a road authority (preferable), on a form with the jurisdiction’s logo indicating the vehicle is roadworthy, or
   • if issued by a private examiner or inspector, a report in writing that confirms the vehicle is safe and serviceable. The NHVR heavy vehicle/trailer inspection checklist can be used for this purpose.
3. Submit the report:
   Email the inspection report to NHVR at DefectClearance@nhvr.gov.au to get your reciprocal COI processed.

Light COI vehicles

Light COI vehicles up to 4.5t are not eligible for a reciprocal COI.

Expired COIs

Driving a vehicle without a current COI is an offence unless you have a COI exemption or you have been granted an extension of time (EOT) to comply.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads can only issue an EOT for up to 2 months after the COI expiry date and where a special circumstance exists, such as following a natural disaster.

Contact the Department of Transport and Main Roads on 13 23 80 to enquire about EOTs.

Inspection fees

Vehicle category	Inspection fee (as at 1 July 2026)	Booking fee (as at 1 July 2026)
Light motor vehicle, other than bus, at a Department of Transport and Main Roads inspection centre	$63.85	$37.20
Light motor vehicle, other than bus, at an AIS	$104.50	Nil
Bus with a gross vehicle mass of not more than 4t, or a school bus	$107.60	$37.20
Any other bus with a gross vehicle mass more than 4t	$127.00	$37.20
Another motor vehicle with a gross vehicle mass more than 4.5t but not more than 16t	$146.65	$37.20
Another motor vehicle with a gross vehicle mass more than 16t	$183.50	$37.20
Trailer with an aggregate trailer mass more than 4.5t	$83.25	$37.20

After the inspection

After your vehicle’s inspection, if your COI was:

• issued by the NHVR: you don't need to do anything
• issued electronically at an approved inspection station:
  • assigned certificate: you don't need to do anything
  • unassigned certificate (when your vehicle’s details are not recorded in our system): you need to provide a copy in person at a transport and motoring customer service centre
• issued as a handwritten certificate at an approved inspection station: You need to provide the Department of Transport and Main Roads with the original (pink) copy of your certificate by:
  • visiting a transport and motoring customer service centre
  • emailing a scanned copy of the COI to:
    customer.service.support@tmr.qld.gov.au
  • posting a copy of your certificate to:
    • Customer Service Support
      Department of Transport and Main Roads
      GPO Box 1412
      Brisbane QLD 4001

• issued as a handwritten certificate for a heavy vehicle in an exempt area: refer to the process for remote area vehicles above.

If you email or post a copy of the handwritten certificate to the Department of Transport and Main Roads, you also need to include a signed cover note requesting your COI details be recorded against your vehicle’s registration number/record.