If you are planning to sell your car, transfer its ownership to someone else, re-register the vehicle, or relocate to another state, having a roadworthy certificate (or RWC) is essential. Also known as road safety certificates, they prove that your register vehicle is safe enough to be driven on public roads. A car is granted a roadworthy certificate only if it passes a safety inspection. Through these inspections, the government ensures that all vehicles on the road meet minimum safety requirements.
It is a highly effective way to keep poorly maintain cars off the roads. This is done to ensure maximum safety for the other vehicles. Also, the roadworthy certificate acts as a guarantee of the car’s condition for a buyer. They can be confident about buying a vehicle that has undergone the inspection test and has been issue the certificate and be assure that it is in good condition, which should not give them any problems in the future.
Why is getting a roadworthy certificate necessary?
Among the many guidelines laid down by the government that focuses on maintaining the safety standards on the road, getting a roadworthy certificate is an important process that proves that the vehicle you are driving is fit to be driven on the roads without causing damage or harm to the other vehicles.
A vehicle that is not roadworthy can be a great hazard for others on the road. So, getting a roadworthy certificate is an extremely important step to ensure the highest standards of safety on the road are being strictly adhere to.
When do you need a roadworthy certificate?
Getting your vehicle inspect for the roadworthy certificate may be necessary for the following scenarios:
1. You are selling your registered vehicle
Before you process with the sale transaction, you are liable to get your vehicle inspect. If it passes the test, it will be issue the roadworthy certificate. This rule applies not only to cars but also motorcycles, trailers and caravans weighing 750 kg – 3500 kg and all vehicles with a gross vehicle mass of 4500 kg.
2. Transferring your vehicle’s ownership to someone else
You need a roadworthy certificate to transfer your car’s ownership. This can happen if you plan to sell the car or decide to give your car to a person known to you.
3. Shifting to another state
You need to transfer your registration to another state when you shift to another state. For doing so, you will be ask to produce the roadworthy certificate of your vehicle before the commencement of the registration process in the state you have shift to.
4. Registering your unregistered car
You are legally bound to register your vehicle before driving it on public roads. If your vehicle is unregister, you cannot drive it on the road. So, to get your unregister vehicle register, an important criterion must be met is that it should pass the inspection test. On getting the roadworthy certificate, you can start the registration process.
What does the road safety inspection test include?
The roadworthy certificate can be issued only by a licensed vehicle tester affiliate with a garage or a service station. The team checks almost all the components of the car, including:
- wheels and tyres
- steering, suspensions, and braking systems
- seats and seatbelts
- lights and reflectors
- windscreen, and windows, including front wipers and washers
- doors and windows
- chassis
- speedometer and odometer
The test also includes a road test wherein the inspector drives the vehicle before certifying whether it is safe or unsafe to be driven on public roads.
What happens if your vehicle passes/fails the inspection test?
Suppose the vehicle tester, after completing all the require testing and checking, finds the vehicle fit and worthy to be driven on the road. In that case, you will be issue the roadworthy certificate within 30-45 minutes. However, if the inspection team finds some issues with the vehicle that need to be rectify, you will be given a 14-day period to get the issue sort and return for the test, which will be done at no extra cost.
Conclusion
The roadworthy certificate ensures that only vehicles fit to be on the roads are allow access to public roads, thus making the roads safe for other drivers and everyone else.