Community & Business
27 February, 2022
New requirements for trailers and minibuses
PRIVATE owners of light trailers and minibuses have had their regulatory burden eased by the Department of Transport and Main Roads (DTMR).
DTMR will introduce changes to the inspection requirements for some “low-risk, light vehicles”, from 26 March.
Trailers
Currently, trailers (including caravans) over 3.5t Aggregate Trailer Mass (ATM) must have an annual inspection to obtain a Certifi cate of Inspection (COI).
The changes mean trailers up to and including 4.5t ATM will not need an annual COI.
Light trailers over .75t and up to and including 4.5t ATM will need a safety certificate for registration transactions, such as new or transfer of registration.
A safety certificate is not needed for the renewal of existing registration.
Heavy trailers over 4.5t ATM will continue to need an annual COI, or every two years if the vehicle has a primary producer’s registration concession.
Minibuses
Currently, minibuses up to and including 4.5t GVM, other than those used for private purposes, must have an annual COI.
Under the changes, minibuses that are not used to provide a public passenger transport service will not need an annual COI.
Minibuses that provide public passenger services, as defined under the Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Act 1994, will continue to need an annual COI.
Eligible vehicles with a COI expiry date before the changes take effect will need to get one more COI.
Eligible vehicles that have a COI expiry date after the start date for the changes will not need to get another COI, however they will need a Safety Certificate when first registering in Queensland or transferring registration.
