Approved inspection station
An approved inspection station (AIS) is a fixed premises such as a service station, garage or mechanical workshop approved by the Department of Transport and Main Roads for the purpose of issuing safety certificates and certificates of inspection. Vehicles are inspected by an approved examiner (AE) who has been accredited by the Department of Transport and Main Roads under the provisions of the Transport Operations (Road Use Management – Accreditation and Other Provisions) Regulation 2005.
Approved inspection stations are located throughout Queensland and they are required to be open to the public to arrange inspections during normal business hours.
Intended outcomes of AIS
Department of Transport and Main Roads
To ensure registered vehicles are safe to use on a road, when being offered for sale, when the vehicle is being registered and when the registration is being transferred.
Approved inspection station
To issue safety certificates or certificates of inspection for vehicles that are safe to use on a road.
Public
To ensure your vehicle is safe to use on a road and allow you to conduct business transactions concerning your vehicle with the Department of Transport and Main Roads with the required documentation.
Suitable person assessment
As part of the assessment of applications for both AIS and AE, we consider information contained in a criminal history check using the suitable person's policy (PDF, 219 KB) as a guide.
Relevant convictions upon indictment from the District or Supreme Court for criminal offences in the 10 years prior may affect your ability to meet our suitable person criteria. This includes, but is not limited to, convictions relating to:
- stealing
- fraud
- assault
- forgery
- intimidation
- all convictions in the 5 years before your application.
Business rules
The purpose of the Business Rules for Approved Inspection Stations (business rules) is to provide a framework for the operation of AISs. The business rules set out the current policies and procedures for the conduct of the AIS, its proprietor, nominees and AEs.
The business rules came into force on 4 May 2012 and replace section 1 of the Code of Practice – Vehicle Inspection Guidelines (COP) with sections 2 and 3 of the COP remaining in force.
Business rules for approved inspection stations (PDF, 108 KB)
Certificate of Inspections in special circumstances
Ordinarily, AISs can inspect and issue Certificate of Inspections (COIs) for unregistered vehicles with a GVM over 16 tonne and/or unregistered trailers with an ATM over 10 tonne.
If a special circumstance, as listed below, is declared, approved AISs will be notified by an official departmental email that they can begin inspecting registered vehicles in this category for the period stated in the email.
Examples of special circumstances include:
- natural disasters, including floods, affecting access to inspections of vehicles in the area in which an owner's vehicle or inspection facilities are located or affecting the availability of inspections of vehicles because of diversion of resources for inspections or loss of inspection capability
- circumstances in which authorised officers, other than police officers, are not reasonably able to provide inspection of vehicles in remote areas.
The following policy document outlines the policy and procedures for determining the suitability of an AIS to issue COIs in special circumstances:
Policies and procedures
The renewal of approved examiner accreditation policies and procedures (PDF, 314 KB) outlines the requirements for renewal of approved examiner accredition for an AIS.
Current AIS fee schedule
Check the AIS fee schedule (PDF, 129 KB) for AIS and AE fees.
Information sheets
The following information sheets have more information on this scheme:
Application forms
Reorder forms
