Can you sell a car without a Roadworthy?

If you’ve ever tried to sell your car, you’ve probably faced the big question: Can you sell a car without a roadworthy?

In Australia, each state and territory sets its own requirements for inspections and registration transfers, so what’s fine in Perth might be an issue in Brisbane. But to momentarily answer the question “do I need a roadworthy to sell my car?” yes, but the rules are not consistent nationwide.

Quick note: This is general information, not legal advice. Always double-check with your local transport authority if your vehicle is facing unusual circumstances. E.g., defect notices, write-offs, modified vehicles, or interstate moves.

Different state, different name

A roadworthy certificate is proof that your vehicle passed a safety inspection by an authorised examiner. Depending on where you live, it may be called something else, including:

• VIC: Roadworthy Certificate (Certificate of Roadworthiness)
• QLD: Safety Certificate
• NSW: eSafety Check / Safety Inspection Report / “pink slip” for rego renewals
• ACT: Certificate of Inspection
• WA/TAS/SA/NT: often referred to as an inspection or roadworthy check in specific situations

Why it matters?

In some places, you can’t transfer registration or advertise/sell a registered vehicle privately without RWC. In a few places, you can sell without it, but you still can’t claim the car is safe or roadworthy if it isn’t, and you should not mislead the buyer.

What “roadworthy” actually means in Australia

Selling a car without RWC usually just means there’s no proof of fundamental safety check included with the sale. It does not necessarily translate to the car being unsafe. It just means it hasn’t been signed off as meeting the minimum safety standard at the time of inspection.

A roadworthy inspection focuses on the safety basics: things like tyres, brakes, steering, suspension, lights, seatbelts, windscreen/wipers, and major structural issues. The exact checklist varies slightly by state and vehicle type, but the purpose is minimum safety compliance.

So essentially, roadworthy doesn’t have to be in perfect or near-new condition, and it definitely does not guarantee it won’t conk out next week.

Worth noting: Roadworthy is a minimum safety check. While we also provide RWC, for a deeper condition check, Cars24 offers a 300-point inspection to ensure you’re getting a clearer picture of the car’s overall condition, not just the bare minimum required to be road-legal on the day.

What “roadworthy” does not mean

A lot of people assume a certificate is a full mechanical report; it’s not. Here’s what a roadworthy certificate usually doesn’t mean:

• The engine and gearbox are in top condition
• The car won’t need repairs soon
• The car has no oil leaks unless they affect safety
• The aircon, stereo, windows, or other convenience features work
• It’s a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection

So when people ask can you sell a car without a roadworthy, it is important to remember: roadworthy is an impression of basic safety, not a “perfect car” stamp.

Do you need roadworthy to sell a car in Australia?

This is the point where most people want a clear answer, and unfortunately, Australian authorities do not make it that simple. Whether you need a roadworthy to sell a car depends on two things:

1. Which state or territory the car is registered in, and
2. Whether the registration is being transferred as part of the sale

In some states, a private sale of a registered vehicle requires the seller to provide a current RWC or safety certificate before the registration can be transferred to the buyer. In other states, a roadworthy certificate isn’t strictly vital for the sale itself, but the car still needs to be safe, and all registration and transfer steps must be completed properly.

So if you’re asking, do I need a roadworthy to sell my car, the answer isn’t a blanket yes or no. It depends on where you’re selling, how the car is sold, and what’s happening with the registration.

State-by-state: selling rules for private car sales

Most of the time, when someone asks do you need a roadworthy to sell a car, they mean a private sale where the registration is being passed on to the buyer.

The table below explains how that works across each Australian state and territory.

State/Territory	What it’s called	Need it to transfer rego in a private sale?*
VIC	Roadworthy Certificate (RWC)	Usually yes
QLD	Safety Certificate	Yes
NSW	Pink slip (for renewal)	No (for current rego)
ACT	Certificate of Inspection	Yes if vehicle > 6 years
WA	(No routine “RWC” for this)	No (if currently licensed)
SA	Roadworthy inspection (only in specific cases)	No blanket requirement
TAS	(No blanket “RWC” for transfer)	No blanket requirement
NT	Roadworthy inspection (changing)	From 9 Feb 2026: Yes if 7+ years

General guidance for private sales and typical passenger vehicles. Special circumstances can change requirements.

So, how do you actually sell a car if you don’t have a roadworthy?

If you’re in a state where a roadworthy is needed to transfer registration, not having one does not mean there’s no scope for sale. In this scenario, it is you who needs to choose how you want to sell the car.

Most people in this situation end up taking one of three paths. The “right” one depends on the condition of the car and how much time or effort you want to invest.

Option 1: Get the roadworthy and sell the car registered

If the car is in reasonable shape, this is usually the easiest option. From a buyer’s point of view, this feels straightforward and low-risk, which is why cars sold this way often attract reasonable interest and better offers.

Option 2: Sell the car unregistered

Another common and perfectly legal option is to sell the car without transferring the registration.

• You cancel or don’t transfer the registration, and
• The buyer takes care of inspections and registration in their own name

Because the car isn’t registered at the time of sale, the buyer usually can’t just drive it away. Depending on where you are, they may need to tow it or use an unregistered vehicle permit. This route is only successful if the buyer is happy to take the car on “as is” and sort out the paperwork later.

Option 3: Let us handle the next steps

If inspections, repairs, and registration rules feel like more effort than they’re worth, we can take care of it for you. At Cars24, we buy cars directly from owners and don’t require a roadworthy certificate upfront.

Common exceptions where you may not need a roadworthy

Even in stricter places, there can be exceptions depending on:

• selling to a licensed dealer
• selling a vehicle for parts/wrecking
• transferring to specific parties
• special vehicle types (some trailers, some non-standard vehicles)
• vehicles under certain age thresholds (notably, ACT uses a 6-year trigger for many transfers)

Because exceptions are state-specific and can change, the safest approach is to treat them as possible, not guaranteed, and check with your local authority’s transfer page before you list.

Step-by-step: selling a car without a roadworthy

If you’re planning on selling a car without RWC, the process below can keep things clean and reduce the hassle for you.

Step 1: Work out which rules apply

• Where is it registered now (state/territory)?
• Are you selling it registered (rego transfer) or unregistered?
• Is it older? (ACT: 6+ years triggers inspection for transfers)
• Any noticeable defects, write-off history, or major modifications?

Step 2: If you don’t have the certificate, communicate it clearly

• “Selling unregistered” or “No current roadworthy / safety certificate”
• Mention known issues (e.g., tyres, brakes, warning lights)
• Don’t describe it as “roadworthy” unless you’re confident it truly is

Step 3: Price it like a car that needs admin and possible repairs

When buyers hear “can you sell a car without a roadworthy”, many assume there will be “hidden problems.” Even if your car is fine, they’ll factor in:

• inspection cost
• likely repairs
• towing, permits, and logistics
• time and effort

Step 4: Do the paperwork immediately

No matter where you are, the biggest risk is leaving the car “in your name” after it’s gone.

For example, WA tells sellers to notify the Department of Transport within a set timeframe and complete transfer steps. Tasmania similarly focuses on transfer steps via Transport Tasmania.

Step 5: Give the buyer a proper receipt

Include:

• buyer and seller names
• date/time
• VIN and rego (if applicable)
• sale amount
• “sold as-is” and unregistered/registered status
• any agreed disclosures (“no roadworthy certificate supplied”)

Also read: Understanding RC Transfer

Final takeaway

So, can you sell a car without a roadworthy in Australia? Yes, but only if you understand where the car is registered and whether the rego is being transferred.

In some states, RWC is mandatory to complete the transfer. In others, it isn’t, but selling without one still means extra paperwork or inspections down the line. If you get it wrong, the headache usually comes after the car is gone.

That’s why it’s smart to decide early: do you want to organise a roadworthy, sell the car unregistered, or avoid the admin altogether?

Whatever you decide, the key is being clear, honest, and aware of your state’s rules, which can save you from a lot of trouble later.

FAQs

• Is a roadworthy the same as a mechanical inspection?
  No. It’s a basic safety check, not a full mechanical report.
• Can you sell a car without a roadworthy if it’s still registered?
  Yes, but in some states, you can’t transfer the registration without one. For example, VIC and QLD generally require it for rego transfer, and the ACT requires it for vehicles over 6 years old.
• Do you need a roadworthy if you sell the car unregistered?
  Often, no. But the buyer will usually need an inspection to register it later, depending on the state.
• What if the buyer is interstate?
  Interstate registration often triggers an inspection in the buyer’s state (for example, when registering a vehicle in the ACT).
• Have NT rules changed recently?
  Yes. From 9 February 2026, NT vehicles 7+ years old will need an inspection in certain cases, including ownership transfer.