Ten-minute checks that stop an $89 inspection turning into a second visit.
A Queensland roadworthy certificate (safety certificate) is a legal check that the car is safe to drive — not a service. You need one to sell a registered vehicle, transfer interstate rego into Queensland, or register an unregistered car. At Driven Autocare in Molendinar the inspection is $89.
Walk-around you can do at home
- Tyres: at least 1.6 mm of tread across the face, no cords or bulges, and matching types on an axle. Check the spare if the car has one.
- Lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, number-plate lights and reverse lights. A second person helps.
- Wipers and washer: blades that chatter or smear fail. Top up washer fluid.
- Windscreen: a crack in the driver’s view is a fail. Chips outside the primary vision area are often OK.
- Seatbelts: every belt must retract and lock. Check the warning lamp.
- Horn, mirrors and number plates: present, secure, readable.
- Brakes: the pedal should feel firm. A grinding noise or a spongy pedal is worth fixing before you book.
What we inspect in the workshop
On the hoist we look at brakes, steering, suspension, rust in structural areas, fuel and brake lines, exhaust leaks, and underbody damage. Queensland’s safety certificate is about crashworthiness and control — oil leaks and worn wiper inserts fail; a service that is slightly overdue does not.
If something fails
You get a list in plain English and a quote to fix it here if you want. There is no pressure to leave the car. Plenty of Southport, Ashmore and Nerang customers fix lights or a tyre themselves and come back the same week. The certificate is issued once the car meets the standard.
Book a roadworthy online or call (07) 5626 0055. We are at Unit 1/54 Export Drive, Molendinar — Monday to Friday 6am–5pm.
Updated 2026-09-22 · Driven Autocare, Molendinar
