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.
These vehicles need annual inspections to ensure they meet minimum safety standards.
A COI is issued once the vehicle successfully passes the inspection and owners of registered COI vehicles must maintain a current COI at all times, unless exempt.
Without a valid COI, you cannot renew your vehicle’s registration, therefore, it’s 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 Transport and Main Roads.
- find out about the different COI vehicle types and requirements
- find out where to book a vehicle inspection.
Unregistered vehicles can get a COI from an approved inspection station.
COI exemptions
Certain COI vehicles may be eligible for a COI exemption under certain circumstances.
New COI 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 the maintenance module of the National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme are eligible for a COI exemption
- however, a COI is required if you decide to sell the vehicle, unless the buyer is also participating in the scheme and will add the vehicle to the maintenance module. Find out more about participating in the NHVAS.
Special interest vehicles
A vehicle registered under the special interest vehicle registration concession is eligible for a COI exemption. However, a COI is required if the vehicle is transferred to another registered operator, when it is sold or otherwise transferred to a new owner. The current registered operator must provide the COI to the new owner. This requirement applies in the following situations:
- when the vehicle registration is transferred
- regardless of whether the new owner obtains a special interest vehicle registration concession or not.
Remote area vehicles
A vehicle used only in an exempt area is eligible for a COI exemption. The exempt areas include the shires of:
- 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 Islands
- Wujal Wujal.
The exemption does not apply if the vehicle is used outside these areas. A vehicle with a garage address in an exempt area is not exempt when it travels outside of the exempt area.
If the vehicle type based in an exempt area is intended to be used outside the exempt area at any time, an inspection certificate is required prior to travelling outside of that exempt area. This certificate 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
- The handwritten COI and the brake test for a heavy vehicle must be scanned and sent to DefectClearance@nhvr.gov.au. For a light vehicle up to 4.5t, the handwritten COI and the brake test must be scanned and sent 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 Transport and Main Roads.
Renewals
COI expiry reminder notices are issued to those with a current COI, 10 weeks prior to COI expiry. It is your responsibility to ensure your COI vehicle has a current COI and Transport and Main Roads recommend to avoid delays or your COI expiring, that you book your inspection as soon as you receive your renewal notice.
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 to do if your vehicle is out of Queensland when your COI is due?
Eligibility
- The heavy vehicle must be continuously outside of Queensland for more than 2 months from the previous COI expiry date.
- Get an Inspection Report: obtain an inspection report from one of the following qualified areas where you are operating.
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
- Inspection Report Requirements: The report must be:
- on a form with the jurisdiction’s logo indicating the vehicle is roadworthy (preferable)
- in writing, confirming the vehicle is safe and serviceable (for mechanics). The NHVR Heavy Vehicle / Trailer Inspection checklist can be used for this purpose.
- Submit the Report: Forward the inspection report to NHVR by email at defectclearance@nhvr.gov.au to get your reciprocal COI processed.
Expired COIs
Driving a vehicle with an expired 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 only issue an EOT for up to 2 months after the COI expiry date, and where a special circumstance exists, such as natural disasters.
Contact the Department of Transport and Main Roads on 13 23 80 to enquire about extensions of time.
Inspection fees
Goods and services tax (GST)
The amount shown includes goods and services tax (GST).
| Vehicle category | Inspection fee (as at 1 July 2024) | Booking fee (as at 1 July 2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Light motor vehicles other than bus, at a Transport and Main Roads inspection centre | $59.75 | $34.80 |
| Light motor vehicle, other than bus, at an AIS | $97.75 | Nil |
| Bus with a GVM of not more than 4t, or a school bus | $100.65 | $34.80 |
| Any other bus with a gross vehicle mass more than 4t | $118.80 | $34.80 |
| Another motor vehicle with a gross vehicle mass more than 4.5t but not more than 16t | $137.20 | $34.80 |
| Another motor vehicle with a gross vehicle mass more than 16t | $171.70 | $34.80 |
| Trailer with an aggregate trailer mass more than 4.5t | $77.85 | $34.80 |
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: 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
- Customer Service Support
Important: if your COI is a handwritten certificate issued for a heavy vehicle in a remote exempt area, please refer to the process for Remote Area vehicles above.
Note: if you email, or post a copy, you also need to include a signed cover note requesting your COI details be recorded against your vehicle’s registration number/record.
An unassigned certificate is issued when your vehicle's details are not recorded in our system (for example, interstate registered vehicles) or do not match what is already recorded in our system.
An unassigned certificate is issued when your vehicle's details are not recorded in our system (for example, interstate registered vehicles) or do not match what is already recorded in our system.