Could Your Trailer Pass a Roadworthiness Check?
by Debra Morgan
As you may know, if you own and run a vehicle in any Australian state or territory then you need to make sure that it is safe and suitable for its purposes. In most cases, you will need to get a roadworthy certificate from a government-appointed inspector and will need to ensure that your vehicle complies before taking it in for this test. However, are you also aware that you may need a roadworthy certificate for your trailer, especially if it is on the larger or heavier side? What does this type of inspection cover?
The Need for a Test
If you are more of a casual owner and your trailer is relatively small, then you may be able to self-assess its condition and may not need to undergo formal inspection. Nevertheless, always remember that you are responsible for this trailer and its contents, and you may run into trouble with your insurance company if you don't pay the right amount of attention to it.
Of course, trailers come in all shapes and sizes, and if you have a very large unit then you may need an annual certificate of inspection or HVRAS test, which is an entirely different matter. For everything else, you will need to get a safety and roadworthy certificate whenever the trailer is registered.
Areas for Inspection
When you first take your trailer in for this inspection, the technician will look at a variety of different areas.
- They'll want to make sure that your lights are all in working order and that your electrical system is in good condition.
- Wires will need to be insulated and show no signs of corrosion, and the loom must be contained and mounted correctly.
- The tow coupling must be correctly configured and securely attached to the trailer, together with any fail-safe devices.
- If your trailer is fitted with brakes, then these must be in good condition, with plenty of spare friction material left in the pads or shoes.
- The wheels should be in relatively good condition and free from any impact damage, while the tyres should have enough tread left to pass legal requirements and show no signs of internal failure.
- The suspension system on this type of trailer tends to be fairly basic, but it must nevertheless be fully serviceable and up to the job.
And finally, the technician will look at the condition of the body and chassis; he or she is likely to fail the trailer if there's too much evidence of corrosion.
Getting a Pass
You can get a roadworthy certificate on the spot once the trailer passes any inspection, but if not you will be given two weeks to rectify any defects before resubmission. To be safe, you should get the vehicle checked by a mechanic before you take it in for your roadworthy test, or make sure that your facility can both carry out any repairs and issue the certificate as well.
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About Me
I've been running an auto service shop for the past 30 years. The trends in cars have changed a lot over that time, and cars are becoming a lot more complicated and automated. People can't fix many items on their own cars any more as you need a computer to diagnose most issues. People use their cars a lot more these days as we live further away from workplaces and schools so it's important for me to be able to get cars back quickly. I have had to keep learning about how the new cars run and I keep a lot of hints on this site so you can all learn the things you can do to make your cars run better.