Approved inspection station scheme

The Department of Transport and Main Roads manages inspection and certification schemes to ensure vehicles meet minimum safety requirements before being registered and used on a road. 

To ensure that this minimum safety standard is met, we require all vehicles to have a safety certificate or certificate of inspection (also known as inspection certificate or roadworthy certificate) before a registered vehicle is offered for sale in Queensland, or when registering an unregistered vehicle.

Vehicle safety inspections are conducted by approved examiners at approved inspection stations (AIS). If the vehicle meets the minimum standard of safety and is safe to use on a public road, an inspection certificate may be issued to the owner or driver of the vehicle.

For further information about the AIS scheme and how you can make an application to become an AIS, a nominee or approved examiner and other applications you may need to make during your accreditation, refer to the information sheets below.

AIS scheme changes and updates

Changes to the AIS application form and Business Rules for AIS

From 26 March 2021, the Business Rules for Approved Inspection Stations (PDF, 227 KB) (AIS business rules) will list the required equipment necessary for inspecting vehicles under an AIS approval. The required equipment in the AIS business rules will replace Schedule One of the AIS application form. 

The AIS application form will no longer list the equipment necessary for inspecting vehicles under an AIS approval. You do not need to have the required equipment before making an AIS application, however, you must have the required equipment before conducting any vehicle inspections of the type listed in your AIS approval. 

For more information read AIS business rules (PDF, 227 KB) and Information Sheet 2 - Inspection area and equipment requirements (PDF, 200 KB). 

Inspection certificates online

Inspection certificates online (ICO) is a web portal which enables AIS approval holders (including nominees) and approved examiners to complete and submit safety certificates and certificates of inspection directly and online to the Department of Transport and Main Roads.

ICO can be used for all vehicle inspection types, including light vehicles, light vehicle COIs, light trailers, motorbikes, heavy vehicles and heavy trailers.

ICO is a free online system that reduces the cost of purchasing inspection certificate books. ICO also meets document keeping requirements under the Business Rules for Approved Inspection Stations (PDF, 227 KB).

While we encourage all AISs and approved examiners to use ICO for all vehicle inspections, at this stage it is not compulsory for existing AISs to use ICO.

ICO can be accessed using the web portal on a desktop computer or on the QLD ICO mobile app for Android and iOS.

For more information about ICO:

• visit the ICO Portal at https://ico.tmr.qld.gov.au
• read Information Sheet 19 – Inspection Certificates Online
• read the ICO user guide (PDF, 273 KB)
• contact the ICO Administrator at ico@tmr.qld.gov.au.

Find an AIS

Find an AIS allows customers to search online for an AIS. Depending on the customer’s search criteria, they will be provided with the addresses and phone numbers of any AIS that matches their search criteria, including AISs that issue online inspection certificates or has a mobile AIS. If your AIS information on Find an AIS needs to be updated, contact the ICO Administrator by email at ico@tmr.qld.gov.au.

AIS scheme information sheets

Below is a collection of information sheets that  provide you with information about the AIS scheme and how you can make an application to become an AIS, a nominee or approved examiner and other applications you may need to make during your accreditation. If you have any questions about the information sheets, contact the AIS Administrator.

Information sheet 1
Introduction to the AIS scheme (PDF, 138 KB)

Information sheet 2
Inspection area and equipment requirements (PDF, 200 KB)

Information sheet 3
When an AIS approval holder is required to have a nominee (PDF, 187 KB)

Information sheet 4
Making a new AIS application (PDF, 78 KB)

Information sheet 5
Making changes to your AIS approval (PDF, 77 KB)

Information sheet 6
Making changes to AIS business structure (PDF, 412 KB)

Information sheet 7
Making a mobile AIS application (PDF, 118 KB)

Information sheet 8
Multi-listing AIS (PDF, 106 KB)

Information sheet 9
Purchasing inspection certificate books (PDF, 130 KB)

Information sheet 10
Renewing your AIS approval (PDF, 146 KB)

Information sheet 11
Surrendering your AIS approval (PDF, 114 KB)

Information sheet 12
Making an approved examiner application (PDF, 69 KB)

Information sheet 13
Approved examiner qualifications and experience requirements (PDF, 192 KB)

Information sheet 14
Making changes to your approved examiner accreditation (PDF, 44 KB)

Information sheet 15
Renewing your approved examiner accreditation (PDF, 53 KB)

Information sheet 16
Important changes and updates to the AIS scheme (PDF, 108 KB)

Information Sheet 17
AIS approval holder and nominee responsibilities (PDF, 173 KB)

Information Sheet 18
Approved examiner responsibilities (PDF, 74 KB)

Information Sheet 19
Inspection certificates online (PDF, 181 KB)

Information Sheet 20
Compliance checks and enforcement action (PDF, 196 KB)

AIS confirmation and compliance audits

If you are granted approval as an AIS,  a confirmation audit may be conducted to verify that the information you provided is correct, and that you have the required equipment listed in the AIS business rules. We may also conduct further compliance audits during the period of your AIS approval.

We conduct the to assess your compliance with the conditions of your AIS approval notice and assess the performance of your approved examiners and nominees. If you have a mobile AIS listed on your AIS approval notice, you must make arrangements to ensure that the mobile AIS is  present at the AIS premises during the audit.

During the audit, you, your nominee or your approved examiner may be asked to demonstrate:

• how to access current legislation, business rules, Light Vehicle Inspection Guidelines and National Heavy Vehicle Inspection Manual (where applicable)
• the operation of equipment that is being used as part of a thorough vehicle inspection.

The current audit checklist (PDF, 135 KB) describes what an auditor will be looking at during the audit. The checklist can also be used as a tool to ensure that your AIS complies with the conditions of your AIS approval.

Contact details

The preferred method of contacting the AIS Administrator is by email at ais@tmr.qld.gov.au

Alternatively you may contact the AIS Administrator by: