Certificate of inspection vehicle types and requirements
If the vehicle is unregistered or registered in another state or territory the first inspection must be obtained at an approved inspection station.
After the vehicle is registered, some high-risk vehicle categories must obtain their future COIs at a Department of Transport and Main Roads inspection site only. Other vehicle categories must obtain their COI from an approved inspection station only. Many vehicle categories have a choice of inspection provider.
The following is a list of Certificate of Inspection (COI) vehicle types and their inspection provider. You may need to know the purpose of use and the Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) or Aggregate Trailer Mass (ATM) to work out the COI requirements for your vehicle. For buses, you may also need to know the registered seating capacity. You can check the purpose of use for the vehicle on the check registration status page.
All COIs are valid for 12 months, unless cancelled by the Department of Transport and Main Roads or by the registered operator.
A COI issued for a Heavy Primary Production Vehicle that has a registration concession is valid for 2 years after the registration concession is applied. The first COI issued before the registration concession is applied remains valid for 12 months only.
Vehicle categories that need a Certificate of Inspection (COI) are:
- buses
- mobile home or motorhomes
- passenger vehicles, including motorbikes.
- personalised transport services
- prime movers
- rigid trucks
- heavy trailers
Buses
Note: A bus is any vehicle with 10 or more seats
Purpose of use | GVM | Who inspects vehicle |
Private | Over 4,500kg | Transport and Main Roads |
Public passenger vehicle | Up to and including 4,500kg | Approved inspection stations or Transport and Main Roads |
Over 4,500kg | Transport and Main Roads | |
Not for profit | Up to and including 4,500kg | Approved inspection stations or Transport and Main Roads |
Over 4,500kg | Transport and Main Roads | |
Commercial | Over 4,500kg | Transport and Main Roads |
Self-drive rental | Over 4,500kg | Transport and Main Roads |
Farming | Over 4,500kg | Transport and Main Roads |
Emergency services | Over 4,500kg | Transport and Main Roads |
Mobile home or motorhomes
Note: A 2 axle mobile home or motorhome (single steer axle and single rear axle) cannot legally exceed 15,000kg when used on the road. However, the manufacturers rated GVM may be higher than 15,000kg. In this case, the manufacturer's GVM is not used for assessing inspection categories for motorhomes and campervans. A 2 axle mobile home or motorhome is considered to be under 16,000kg for determining the inspection provider, and is to be inspected at an approved inspection station.
Purpose of use | GVM | Who inspects vehicle |
Any | Over 4,500-16,000kg | Approved inspection stations |
Over 16,000kg | Transport and Main Roads |
Passenger vehicles, including motorbikes
Purpose of use | GVM | Who inspects vehicle |
Public passenger vehicle | Up to and including 4,500kg | Approved inspection stations or Transport and Main Roads |
Over 4,500kg | Transport and Main Roads | |
School services | Up to and including 4,500kg | Approved inspection stations or Transport and Main Roads |
Over 4,500kg | Transport and Main Roads |
Personalised transport services vehicles
Purpose of use | GVM | Who inspects vehicle |
Taxi | Up to and including 4,500kg | Approved inspection stations or Transport and Main Roads |
Booked hire | Up to and including 4,500kg | Approved inspection stations or Transport and Main Roads |
Booked hire-rental | Up to and including 4,500kg | Approved inspection stations or Transport and Main Roads |
Limousine | Up to and including 4,500kg | Approved inspection stations or Transport and Main Roads |
Special purpose limousine | Up to and including 4,500kg | Approved inspection stations or Transport and Main Roads |
Prime movers
Purpose of use | GVM | Who inspects vehicle |
Any | Over 4,500kg | Transport and Main Roads |
Rigid trucks
A 2 axle rigid truck (single steer axle and single rear axle) cannot legally exceed 15,000kg when used on the road. However, the manufacturers rated GVM may be higher than 15,000kg. In this case, the manufacturer's GVM is not used for assessing inspection categories for rigid trucks (other than prime movers) if a 2 axle rigid truck is considered to be under 16,000kg and is to be inspected at an approved inspection station.
Purpose of use | GVM | Who inspects vehicle |
Any, other than a licensed tow truck | Over 4,500-16,000kg | Approved inspection stations |
Over 16,000kg | Transport and Main Roads | |
Licenced tow truck | Any | Transport and Main Roads |
Heavy trailers
Purpose of use | ATM | Who inspects vehicle |
Any | Over 4,500-10,000kg | Approved inspection stations |
Over 10,000kg | Transport and Main Roads |