Why Is NSW The Only State That Requires Annual Vehicle Inspections?

Windows7forever on 22/02/2025 - 03:16
Last edited 22/02/2025 - 08:25

I understand it is for safety purposes but no other states in Australia appear to mandate annual inspections. I have always found this a bit odd.

I'm thinking that certain hidden issues with a vehicle, such as worn out disc brakes/rotors, would not be easily detected by the police and could lead to catastrophic accident in the event of a mechanical failure.

I have a few questions:

  1. Is the onus on the individual and/or the police in these other states to identify and rectify (or defect) vehicles with obvious safety issues such as bald tyres and blown headlights?

  2. Is NSW a nanny state when it comes to road safety or are we leading the rest of the nation?

  3. Are vehicles in States outside of NSW potentially less well maintained and roadworthy?

It might be annoying having to take my car to a mechanic every year and pay $50 for a mandatory safety inspection, but it does give me some peace of mind knowing that other registered cars on the road are (hopefully) meeting minimum safety standards.

Automotive

Comments

  • resubaehtgnolhcs on 22/02/2025 - 03:28
    +3

    Just buy a new car every 5 years!

    • tenpercent on 22/02/2025 - 09:46
      +2

      I don't think the neggers get sarcasm.

  • oscargamer on 22/02/2025 - 07:18
    +4
    1. Both
    2. No then Yes
    3. Yes
  • Jaduqimon on 22/02/2025 - 07:29
    +5

    pink slip is such a rort. so easy to get one even if your car is falling apart.

    • Devastator0 on 22/02/2025 - 13:59

      Yeah, I see so many cars on the road owned by older people that are rusted out, blowing smoke and with body panels hanging off that shouldn't even be on the road. I have no idea how that is still happening.

    • Shoocat on 22/02/2025 - 15:14
      +3

      Try watching 'Just rolled in' on YouTube to see what happens when we don't enforce annual safety inspections.

      • MS Paint on 22/02/2025 - 16:27

        Welcome to another episode of just rolled in. This customer states…..

  • tenpercent on 22/02/2025 - 07:34
    +1
    1. Both
    2. Yes nanny state, No leading
    3. Who knows
  • souths123 on 22/02/2025 - 07:50
    1. both…the onus on the owner, otherwise fined by police if caught
    2. no, yes
    3. prob yes
  • shaybisc on 22/02/2025 - 08:11

    Is that right? NSW the only one? They must not have any old defective vehicles anywhere else.

    • Windows7forever on 22/02/2025 - 08:24

      Apparently so Lol. Based on the few articles I have read.

      • MS Paint on 22/02/2025 - 10:19

        I think Northern Territory requires an inspection at 5 years then annually after 10 years based on the few articles I have read.

  • barge-in hunter on 22/02/2025 - 09:06
    +7

    I’m in Vic and honestly, there are a lot of old bangers on the road that simply shouldn’t be.

    Case in point - as a dumb 20 y/o, I was driving around my grandmas 70s ford that leaked oil, trans fluid and petrol - with worn out suspension and steering. The car hadn’t had a RWC since it was registered in her name in 1975.

    Yes, the onus was definitely on me - a broke student with no mechanical knowledge, who decided getting around was more important than listening to a mechanic

    • Windows7forever on 22/02/2025 - 09:36

      I suspect this was the case. Seems like a big gaping hole in state road safety. If I was poor or didn't have money to afford a decent car, Victoria would be the state to be in 😂.

    • Murkymerv on 22/02/2025 - 09:44
      -1

      a lot of old bangers on the road that . And you'd know , right ?
      Older vehicles aren't necessarily neglected because you've looked and decided that they're passed their use by date .

      • barge-in hunter on 22/02/2025 - 10:06

        I didn’t say that @Murkymerv - and I didn’t say that old ford couldn’t be fixed.

        The very necessary safety related repairs weren’t done because I had the choice. With an annual check up, I would have had to get them done or cancel the rego until I could afford to do them.

        • Murkymerv on 22/02/2025 - 10:35

          I'm pointing out what you said , and it doesn't mean much here so don't worry about what you "didn't" say .
          honestly, there are a lot of old bangers on the road that simply shouldn’t be.

  • GordonD on 22/02/2025 - 09:41
    +11

    NSW has annual inspections because of the political power of the Motor Traders Association. Garage owners make a fortune extorting money out of car owners for the inspections themselves, and whatever work they can force you to pay for them to do to get the pass.

    The rest of the country realised that very few road deaths and crashes result from defective vehicles, they result from driver behaviour.

    • Windows7forever on 22/02/2025 - 13:14

      An interesting counter argument. Thanks for sharing.

    • Euphemistic on 22/02/2025 - 14:06

      Id argue that part of driver behaviour is making sure the car is roadworthy.

      Having a mechnic throw an eye over a car once a year is a remonder you need to keep it roadworthy.

      Is it a pain? Yes. Does it mean more cars get their tyres, brakes and lights checked more often? Absolutely.

      • eug on 22/02/2025 - 15:03

        Does it mean more cars get their tyres, brakes and lights checked more often? Absolutely.

        I wonder how throughly cars are actually checked.

        • Euphemistic on 22/02/2025 - 16:16

          In my experience its not particularly thoroughly. BUT, it doesnt take a lot to check the lights are working, have a look at the tyres to check tread depth and give it a quick look underneath for oil leaks. It also involves a quick drive when done properly which gives the mechanic a few moments to see if there are suspension or brake issues.

          Its not a full mechanical inspection youd rely on for pre purchase, just a cursory check of major safety items.

    • brad1-8tsi on 22/02/2025 - 15:23

      Garage owners make a fortune extorting money out of car owners

      An eSafety check is $46 which is 20 minutes labour at the cheapest mechanic you can find. If you can't afford $46 maybe you shouldn't be running a car.

      I've never had to make any repairs as a result of an annual eSafety check. That's 46 years of car ownership. Maintain your car and it passes the check.

      • fantombloo on 22/02/2025 - 20:04

        I went to rego check my mum's car last year and the first 2 shops I asked (not my regular, different location) blew me off saying they make no money on them and only do them for regular customers.

  • shaybisc on 22/02/2025 - 09:58

    Determining the exact number of deaths caused by defective vehicles in Australia is challenging due to limited specific data. However, studies have estimated that vehicle defects contribute directly to approximately 3% to 19% of road accidents, with more robust studies indicating at least 6%. Common defects identified relate to brakes and tyres.
    monash.edu

    In the 12 months leading up to January 2025, Australia recorded 1,324 road deaths.
    datahub.roadsafety.gov.au
    Applying the 6% estimate suggests that around 79 of these fatalities could be attributed to vehicle defects.

    ChatGPT

  • DashCam AKA Rolts on 22/02/2025 - 10:05
    +3

    States other than NSW, have resisted being bent over by the MTA, who periodically agitate for annual inspections. No self interest in churning out pink slips for some easy bakshish, of course.

  • wallet72 on 22/02/2025 - 10:18
    +1

    I've lived in WA, QLD and NSW and believe that NSW still has old death trap cars on the road - just a heck of a lot less of them.

    While I think it's a good idea to have inspections, I'd rather it was a random thing or even every second year. But to be honest as long as you keep up on the essential maintenance an insepction shouldn't be a problem.

  • shaybisc on 22/02/2025 - 10:29
    +1

    "But to be honest as long as you keep up on the essential maintenance an insepction shouldn't be a problem."

    That is precisely the problem. Many people won't.

  • Wiadro on 22/02/2025 - 11:18

    have you been in vic?
    the amount of old clappers on the road is insane
    then again in NSW you can get a inspection done without anyone seeing it

    • Windows7forever on 22/02/2025 - 13:18

      Yes, i have. You generally see more old clappers in poorer areas, country towns and outer regions. It's not hard to find a dodgy mechanic who will pass rego on any old bomb but in the event of an major accident the crash investigators might audit them and they could lose their licence.

      • MS Paint on 22/02/2025 - 13:34

        event of an major accident the crash investigators might audit them and they could lose their licence.

        Source?

        • Wiadro on 22/02/2025 - 13:41

          his brain.
          car crashes dont have have the ATSB investigate them

  • Protractor on 22/02/2025 - 11:23

    It's a $$making scam to appease motoring orgs.Traffic cops (which we have more than enough of) should divert activity from news worthy car chases etc, and perform more actual patrols. Once word gets out that old bangers are being defected (often and as they should).
    ( Remember the dark ages when 'prevention' was a thing?)
    The age of the domestic fleet has changed over time so the whole concept of rorced inspections is obsolete, and easily gamed by cowboys, so the safety dividend is moot. The admin alone is a burden tax payers should be released from. Scrap that shit.
    Certainly appreciate that other states are not so easily duped by vested interests

    • rumblytangara on 22/02/2025 - 11:36

      It's a $$making scam to appease motoring orgs.Traffic cops (which we have more than enough of) should divert activity from news worthy car chases etc, and perform more actual patrols. Once word gets out that old bangers are being defected (often and as they should).

      Serious question here and not trying to start an argument- how would traffic cops reliably and impartially judge that a car was an 'old banger' that justified issuing a requirement for a checkup?

      Just because the exterior looks a bit crap or bright and shiny wouldn't be much of an indication of something like the brakes needing work.

      Speeding, running red lights, etc seem much more objective than deciding if a car is an old banger.

      Seems like this would be massive grey area and (depending on your viewpoint) either place a huge onus, or give police too much leeway for judgement for making roadworthy calls.

      • Protractor on 22/02/2025 - 11:48
        +1

        Old banger is just a term. It could be a new car with bald tyres. Police ? The point is visible presence, and doing their job.
        Police are trained to know the basics of road-worthiness, already. Vehicle inspection stations would/should do the full examinations beyond that. You don't need blanket saturation via every mechanical w/shop to maintain a network of inspections. The annual inspection /pink slip model is the rort.If was only about safety all states would do it, it may even be free . It's an exercise to raise money and validate input from vested interests to preserve a paradigm.

        TDLR Not all crap looking cars are unroadworthy. Not all flash looking rides are roadworthy. There is a better cheaper way to get unsafe cars off roads.By traffic police doing their jobs

        • brad1-8tsi on 22/02/2025 - 15:27

          It could be a new car with bald tyres.

          If they were really smart they would target cars almost 5 years old before the first eSafety check was due. Bald tyres abound.

          • Protractor on 22/02/2025 - 18:00

            @brad1-8tsi: You'd have to prise them away from TV News story policing ,first.

  • Drakesy on 22/02/2025 - 12:36

    Mechanic/motor vehicle group lobbysits are to blame.

  • Euphemistic on 22/02/2025 - 14:13
    +2

    Personally id rather drivers are forced to get an annual inspection for rego. Too many drivers would not replace tyres (the biggest problem IMO) anywhere near as often. It would be so much easier to tell the oil change guy youll get new tyres next week and then drive worn out tyres for another 12 months if yoy didnt need an inspection.

    Yes, getting a pink slip is a pain and a bit of a rort. No, id rather not be surrounded by cars that havent seen a mechanic in 5 years.

  • 7ekn00 on 22/02/2025 - 15:17

    Yearly in the NT too ;)

    • MS Paint on 22/02/2025 - 16:30

      After 10 years of age.

  • Muppet Detector on 22/02/2025 - 19:44

    Most states put the onus onto the driver of the car to ensure it is safe and meets road worthy standards.

    Basically every time you get behind the wheel of a car you are signing a little contract saying I have checked this car, it is in roadworthy condition and complies with all rules and regulations.

    When an accident occurs, if the condition of the car is found to be lacking, the driver can now be deemed negligent (as they knew about the issues but drove anyway) and awarded fault and liability.

    In NSW, however, it appears that the Gov has decided not to take everybody's word for the condition of their car and is taking proactive measures that shouldn't be too onerous for most people, to ensure that most cars on NSW roads at least meet a minimum standard.

    CAN have the affect where negligence may shift in whole or in part to the regulatory body should a failure occur which causes injury. Probably why other states haven't followed suit so as not to blur any lines of negligence and leave it entirely on the driver of the car.

    • Euphemistic on 22/02/2025 - 20:21

      ;CAN have the affect where negligence may shift in whole or in part to the regulatory body should a failure occur which causes injury

      Im not sure how that could happen. As you rightly point out, its the driver first, then perhaps the mechanic that performs the inspection. The regulatory body would only be held responsible if the standards they set were too low for the vehicle to be safe.

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