certificate of roadworthiness victoria

In Victoria, a Certificate of Roadworthiness (RWC) is the safety tick you need to sell, transfer or re-register a vehicle—think “safe to drive,” not “as-new showroom sparkle.”

It’s issued by a licensed vehicle tester after inspecting essentials like tyres, brakes, steering, suspension, lights, windscreens and structural rust.

Pass and you get a certificate typically valid for 30 days for transfer; fail and you’ll get a list of repairs to fix before a re-check.

Costs vary by vehicle and workshop but budget a few hundred dollars plus any repairs, and leave some time for parts if the inspector finds a nasty surprise.

VicRoads sets the rules, but the tester calls the shots on defects—arguing with the hoist rarely ends well.