can you sell car without roadworthy qld

[Dante]

No, you generally cannot legally sell a registered car in Queensland without a current safety certificate, commonly known as a roadworthy certificate (RWC). This certificate is a mandatory requirement for the transfer of registration when selling a vehicle that is currently registered. The RWC confirms the vehicle meets minimum safety standards at the time of sale. The rule is enforced by the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads under the Transport Operations (Road Use Management—Vehicle Standards and Safety) Regulation 2021.

The primary exception is if you are selling the vehicle unregistered. In this case, you are not required to provide a safety certificate. However, the buyer must then obtain a RWC themselves to register the vehicle, which can be a significant deterrent and will likely lower the car's selling price.

Attempting to sell a registered car without an RWC can result in substantial fines for the seller. More importantly, the registration transfer will be blocked by the Department of Transport, preventing the sale from being legally finalized. This protects the buyer from inheriting a potentially unsafe vehicle and associated repair costs.

Here’s a quick comparison of the two scenarios:

Scenario	Roadworthy Certificate Required?	Key Considerations
Selling a Registered Car	Yes, mandatory.	The seller must provide a valid RWC (issued within the last 2 months or 1,000 km) for the registration to be transferred to the new owner.
Selling an Unregistered Car	No, not required.	The vehicle is sold "as is." The buyer is responsible for towing it and obtaining a RWC before it can be registered and driven legally.

If your car is unlikely to pass a roadworthy inspection due to mechanical or safety issues, your most straightforward option is to sell it unregistered "as is" to a private buyer who understands the situation, or to a wrecking yard. Be transparent about the vehicle's condition to avoid legal disputes.

[SanDominic]

Absolutely not, it's a fast way to get into trouble. I learned this the hard way when I tried to sell my old hatchback. I figured I'd save a few hundred bucks on the inspection. The buyer and I agreed on a price, but when they went to transfer the rego, the system flagged it. The sale fell through, and I got a warning letter from Transport and Main Roads. I ended up having to get the roadworthy anyway and lost the original buyer. Just get the certificate first; it makes everything smooth.

[VonGabriela]

Legally, the answer is no for a registered vehicle. The roadworthy certificate is a consumer protection law. It ensures the buyer isn't stuck with a hidden, expensive repair bill for faulty brakes or worn tires right after purchase. Think of it as a mandatory disclosure. If you sell a registered car without one, the transaction is essentially invalid. The buyer cannot legally drive it, and you remain liable. Selling it unregistered is the legal workaround, but it significantly narrows your pool of potential buyers.

[MariaLynn]

From a purely practical standpoint, trying to sell without a roadworthy is a bad business decision. Even if you find a buyer willing to skip it, they will drastically reduce their offer because they're assuming the risk and cost of any repairs needed to pass inspection. A current RWC acts as a powerful marketing tool. It signals that the car is in good, safe condition, justifying your asking price and making it more attractive compared to listings without one. It builds immediate trust.