Inspections for heavy vehicles

Before the registration of a heavy vehicle in NSW, or the renewal of its registration, an inspection at an authorised station is a must.

Heavy vehicle inspections are required for:

  • establishing registration for vehicles not currently registered in NSW
  • renewing registration
  • adjusting vehicle records
  • clearing a Defect Notice.

Heavy vehicle inspections are carried out at a Heavy Vehicle Authorised Inspection Scheme (HVAIS) station, or by Transport for NSW (TfNSW), depending on the type of vehicle and its use.

Your certificate of registration will state whether the vehicle requires a HVAIS or Heavy Vehicle Inspection Scheme (HVIS) inspection.

If the vehicle does not need to be inspected by TfNSW, the notice will include the line 'HVIS Exempt – HVAIS Insp. Required' in the 'Conditions' section.

Preparing your vehicle for inspection

As a heavy vehicle operator, you should make sure that your heavy vehicle is well maintained and roadworthy at all times.

The following points are a guide to preparing for an inspection:

  • The person driving the vehicle to the inspection must have the correct licence to drive that particular type of vehicle.
  • All brakes must operate correctly and be free of leaks. Ensure air reservoirs are drained and the drain valves can be readily operated.
  • Tyres should have at least 1.5mm of tread and must be free of deep cuts.
  • Steering and suspension components must be in good condition. Check for worn bushes, bearings and joints.
  • All required lights must operate.
  • The portion of the windscreen directly in front of the driver should be free from cracks and scratches that impair vision.
  • Windscreen wipers and washers must operate.
  • The body and cab must be securely mounted, and the structure of the vehicle must be in good condition.
  • The exhaust must be secure and free from leaks.
  • The vehicle should be unladen at the time of inspection.
  • The vehicle must be clean, especially underneath, so that the examiner can thoroughly inspect it.
  • With tilt-cab vehicles, make sure that the cab can be tilted for inspection of the engine bay (any loose items should be secured).
  • Accredited public passenger vehicles must have a certified fire extinguisher installed in the vehicle.

Important: If your vehicle is over dimension or over mass, it is your responsibility to ensure you travel on an approved road to the inspection site.

TfNSW can refuse to inspect a vehicle that is not presented in an appropriate condition.

A subsequent inspection will be required once the vehicle meets the required conditions and an additional inspection fee will be charged.

Inspection requirements for re-establishing registration

If the registration of a vehicle subject to HVIS is re-established after expiry or cancellation, the vehicle may require an HVIS inspection within 28 days. The HVIS inspection is in addition to the normal requirements for re-establishing registration.

If the vehicle registration is cancelled after it expires, the date of cancellation is used to determine whether a Transport for NSW HVIS inspection is required.

If the vehicle registration is re-established more than three months after cancellation, the inspection requirements for establishing a new registration will apply.

For more information about inspection requirements for re-establishing registration, please contact a service centre.

Type of re-registration for a heavy vehicle

Inspection reports required

NSW registration is cancelled before the expiry date and re-established within three months of cancellation date

HVAIS
HVIS within 28 days

NSW registration is cancelled after the expiry date and re-established within three months of cancellation date

HVAIS
HVIS within 28 days

TfNSW cancelled the NSW registration because it is expired more than three months. The registration is re-established within three months of the cancellation date

HVAIS
HVIS within 28 days

TfNSW cancelled the NSW registration for non-compliance with HVIS or non-clearance of a defect notice. The registration is re-established within three months of the cancellation date

HVAIS
HVIS within 28 days

The vehicle was previously registered interstate and does not fall into any of the above scenarios

HVAIS only – not HVIS inspection

FIRS registration is cancelled and NSW registration established (or vice-versa) within three months of the cancellation date and an HVIS inspection has not been conducted within the previous 365 days

HVAIS
HVIS within 42 days.

The registration is re-established three months or more after the cancellation date and does not fall into any of the above scenarios

HVAIS only – not HVIS inspection.

Heavy Vehicle Authorised Inspection Scheme (HVAIS) station

HVAIS stations are accredited by TfNSW to perform safety, identity and design checks.

Once a HVAIS inspection is complete, an inspection report will be issued which is valid for 42 days.

You can renew your registration within this timeframe.

Vehicles inspected by HVAIS

Vehicles which can be inspected by HVAIS:

  • To establish registration:
    • Buses
    • Licensed tow trucks
    • Prime movers
    • Trailers fitted with breakaway brakes
    • Trailers with an aggregate tare mass exceeding two tonnes
    • Trucks fitted with power-operated brakes
    • Vehicles with a gross vehicle mass exceeding 4.5 tonnes.
       
  • To renew registration:
    • Two-axle rigid trucks with a gross vehicle mass exceeding 12 tonnes (including axle codes R11 and R12) regardless of age and two-axle short combination trucks (in combination up to and including six axles, 42.5 tonnes or less) regardless of age.
      Note that tow truck with TT plates and plant vehicles require a Transport for NSW HVIS inspection
    • B-Double lead trailers and B-Triple lead/middle trailers with an ATM exceeding 9 tonnes with one, two or three axles, and less than 5 years old
    • Converter dolly with an ATM exceeding 9 tonnes with one or two axles, and less than 5 years old
    • Dog Trailer with an ATM exceeding nine tonnes with the following axle configurations: one front – one rear; one front - two rear; one front – three rear; two front – two rear, and less than 5 years old
    • Other rigid trucks with more than two axles, with a gross vehicle mass exceeding 12 tonnes and less than 5 years old. Note that tow trucks with TT plates and plant vehicles over five years require a Transport for NSW HVIS inspection
    • Pig Trailer with an ATM exceeding 9 tonnes with one, two or three axles, and less than 5 years old
    • Private or pensioner registered buses (registered to an individual), that have a gross vehicle mass of 4.5 tonnes or less, seats up to 12 people including the driver
    • Semi Trailer with an ATM exceeding nine tonnes with one, two or three axles, and less than 5 years old (this includes trailers)
    • Short combination prime mover (haul one trailer only) with two axles, and less than 5 years old. Note that tow trucks with TT plates require a Transport for NSW HVIS inspection
    • Short combination trucks with three or more axles (in combination up to six axles, 42.5 tonnes or less) and less than 5 years old.
      Note that tow trucks with TT plates require a Transport for NSW HVIS inspection
    • Trailers fitted with breakaway brakes regardless of age
    • Trailers with an ATM exceeding 4.5 tonnes and under 9 tonnes ATM regardless of age
    • Trailers with an ATM exceeding 2 tonnes but under 4.5 tonnes ATM with breakaway brakes regardless of age
    • Vehicles with a gross vehicle mass exceeding 4.5 tonnes but not exceeding 12 tonnes gross vehicle mass.
       
  • To clear a defect notice:
    • The defect notice will determine if your vehicle is to be cleared by police, HVAIS or HVIS.

Note: Small private buses can be inspected at an HVAIS station, provided:

  • the gross vehicle mass is 4.5 tonnes and less
  • the bus has 12 seats or less
  • the usage type is PRIV, PNSR or PNIC and
  • the customer is an individual (not an organisation).

What happens during an inspection

An HVAIS examiner will perform a series of checks, which will be different depending on the vehicle type, but must include a safety check. The examiner may also perform design and identity checks on the vehicle.

The examiner may need to drive the vehicle, for example to check that the brakes are working properly.

Finding an HVAIS station

If there are no HVAIS stations in your area, or you are unable to book an inspection in the required time, contact the Heavy Vehicle Support Team on 1300 364 847.

Registration & HVIS bookings

Public passenger vehicles require two Heavy Vehicle Inspection Scheme (HVIS) inspections each registration period:

  • The first inspection must be undertaken within three to six months of renewing registration
  • The second inspection must be undertaken no more than three months before the next renewal date

Public passenger vehicles are those accredited by Transport for NSW, or vehicles that provide community or courtesy transport services.

Bookings can be made up to 12 months in advance.

Transport for NSW inspection scheme

Any heavy vehicle that can’t be inspected by an HVAIS station will require inspection at a Transport for NSW Heavy Vehicle Inspection Scheme (HVIS) location in order to establish or renew the registration.

An inspection can take place at any time within the three months before the registration expires.

An inspection report will be issued once the inspection is complete, and is valid for 3 months from the date of inspection.

This includes:

  • All long combination trucks with any number of axles.
  • All medium combination trucks with any number of axles.
  • All other rigid trucks with more than two axles, except:
    • Config. 1R3 and 1R4 less than five years old
    • Config. 2R3 and 2R4 less than five years old.
  • All other short combination trucks, except:
    • Config. SR3 and SR4 less than five years old.
  • All prime movers, except SP2 config code less than 5 years old.
  • All two axle rigid trucks with a gross vehicle mass exceeding 12 tonnes except:
    • Two axle rigid trucks, config. 2R2, of any age
    • Two axle short combination truck, config. SR2, of any age.
  • Certain truck based plant vehicles from 1 July 2007.
  • Public passenger vehicles (except taxis).
  • Tow trucks and tow truck trailers.

Trailers with an ATM exceeding 9 tonnes, except:

    • Config. TD11, TD12, TD13, TD22 less than five years old
    • Config. TL1, TL2, TL3 less than five years old
    • Config. TP1, TP2, TP3 less than five years old
    • Config. TS1, TS2, TS3 less than five years old
    • Config. TY1, TY2 less than five years old.
  • Vehicles with the shape of BUS, SBS, FCV, PVS & PVF, carrying ten or more seated passengers including the driver (regardless of usage, except taxis).

Failed inspections and defect clearance

A heavy vehicle will fail inspection if it does not meet the required vehicle standards at the time of inspection.

If the heavy vehicle has failed the inspection a Defect Notice will be issued, including a time frame for clearing the defects. An Infringement Notice may also be issued for presenting a vehicle with defects for inspection. The Defect Notice will state if your vehicle is to be cleared by police, a HVAIS station or HVIS location.

Until all defects detailed in the Defect Notice are cleared, the heavy vehicle will not pass subsequent inspections and registration cannot be renewed.

Registration renewal can proceed on receipt of the cleared Defect Notice (electronically or in hard copy).

If repairs take longer than the time provided on the Defect Notice, notify Transport for NSW Technical Enquiries on 1300 137 302. Failure to do so may result in your vehicle registration being suspended and possibly cancelled.

Make an HVIS booking

An HVIS inspection must be performed within three months before the registration expires. Bookings can be made up to 12 months in advance

You can book an inspection:

Inspection bookings must be for a specific vehicle and the relating vehicle number plate must be provided.

Please note that an inspection will not be undertaken unless an appointment has been made. If you are late for your appointment, the inspection appointment may be cancelled and you could incur an additional inspection booking fee.

Booking fee

The booking fee for future inspections is included in the registration charge.

It is important to remember the booking fee cannot be carried over to another registration period or to another vehicle. It can however be transferred to another owner within the same registration period.

A refund may be paid if the registration is cancelled and an inspection has not taken place.

Cancelling and rescheduling a HVIS bookings

It is your responsibility to advise TfNSW of changes to your booking. This includes cancelling or rescheduling a booking, and/or changing the vehicle for inspection.

TfNSW require at least 24 hours’ notice to cancel or reschedule a HVIS booking.

Important: TfNSW allocates resources based on the number of bookings. If you do not provide advance notice when cancelling a booking you will lose your inspection credit, and will be required to pay another booking fee.

Payment for additional bookings can be made via credit card by phoning 1300 364 847, or at any Service centre.

No available HVIS booking before the registration expiry date

If there are no bookings available at a Transport for NSW HVIS before the registration expiry date, a HVAIS inspection report is sufficient to renew the registration by the due date.

However, the heavy vehicle will require a HVIS inspection within 28 days of renewing the registration, otherwise the vehicle registration will be suspended and possibly cancelled.

Contact Transport for NSW Heavy Vehicle Support Team on 1300 364 847 for assistance.

Cranes

Purpose-built and truck-based cranes over 12 tonnes GVM with an axle or axle group over mass must be inspected by an Authorised Crane Inspection Station.

Public passenger vehicles

Public passenger vehicles are those accredited by TfNSW, or vehicles that provide community or courtesy transport services.

Public passenger vehicles require two inspections each registration period:

  • The first inspection must be undertaken within three to six months of renewing registration.
  • The second inspection must be undertaken no more than three months before the next renewal date.

Inspection fees

See heavy vehicle registration charges.