Is Your Car Safe Enough? Get It Inspected Today!

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An automobile repair shop (also known regionally as a garage or a workshop) is an establishment where automobiles are repaired by auto mechanics and technicians. The customer interface is typically a service advisor, traditionally called a service writer.

Automotive garages and repair shops can be divided into following categories:^[1]

First appearing in the early 1900s,^[2] many filling stations offered vehicle repair services as part of their full service operation. This once popular trend has declined significantly over the years as many locations found it more profitable to exchange vehicle service bays for grocery isles, which ultimately led to the emergence of the quick oil change industry.^[1][3]

Commonly referred to as a quick lube or express service shop, this type of facility specializes in preventive maintenance and safety inspections rather than repairs. Product sales are typically limited to automotive fluids, belts and hoses.^[1] With a focus on basic procedures, labor is often performed by entry-level technicians which simplifies the business overhead resulting in a less expensive service as compared to a traditional automotive workshop.^[4]

In the United States, new car dealerships have service departments that are certified by their respective OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) to perform warranty and recall repairs. Customer-pay repairs can also be completed, however most service departments tend to only work on the vehicle brand of which they are a dealer. Dealership technicians must complete additional training provided by the OEM, and in doing so become specialized and certified for that particular vehicle make.^[1]

Independent auto repair shops are businesses that are independently owned and operated. In states regulating a smog or emission test, often, independent auto repair shops offer these tests as well. These may also include regional or national chains and franchises. It is rather common for a dealership technician to start this type of competing business after leaving the employment of a new car dealership.^[1] Independent automobile repair shops in the US may also achieve OEM certification through manufacturer sponsored programs.^[5] European Union law (The EC Block Exemption Regulation 1400/2002 (October 2003^[6])) permits motorists more flexibility in selecting where their car is serviced. Maintenance and service work does not have to be done by the dealership providing that the independent garage uses Original Equipment 'Matching Quality' parts and follows the manufacturer's service schedules. The Block Exemption Regulation (BER) covers service and maintenance during the warranty period and prohibits vehicle manufacturers' warranties from including restrictive conditions.

A shop that is dedicated to repairing and maintaining a particular group of vehicles is called a fleet shop. Common examples of a fleet include taxi cabs, police cars, mail trucks and rental vehicles. Similar to a lubrication/safety shop, a fleet shop focuses primarily on preventative maintenance and safety inspections, and will often outsource larger or more complex repairs to another repair facility.^[1]

Shops that specialize in cylinder head and cylinder block machining are called engine machine shops. These facilities utilize large electromechanical machines that are not found in the average automotive repair shop. In the US, engine machining is typically performed by an ASE certified machinist in order to correct worn or damaged engine components as an alternative to component replacement.^[1] Performance engine building is another popular service frequently offered by this type of workshop.^{[citation needed]}

Some repair shops specialize in tires and wheels. These businesses usually have a large inventory of tires and aftermarket wheels, some of which may be on display while others require special ordering. In addition to parts, common labor services include tire rotation, balancing and repair as well as wheel alignment which can prevent premature tire wear.^[1]

In the Philippines, roadside tire repair shops are called vulcanizing shops in Philippine English. They specialize in quickly and cheaply repairing flat tires by patching punctures with a rubber compound patch.^[7][8]

A muffler shop, also called an exhaust shop, is a business model that concentrates solely on the engine exhaust system. These facilities utilize large tubing benders which allow a technician to fabricate a new exhaust system out of otherwise straight lengths of pipe.^[1] Welding is often necessary in this line of work.

Automotive repair shops that specialize in bodywork repair are known as body shops. Auto body technicians can perform paintwork repairs to scratches, scuffs and dents, as well as repairs to the bodies of vehicles damaged by collisions. Many body shops now offer paintless dent repair and auto glass replacement. Automotive repair shops that specialize in auto glass repair are known as auto glass repair shops. They offer auto glass repairs to chips, cracks and shattered glass. The types of glass they repair include windshields, car windows, quarter glass and rear windows. This type of damage is often caused by hail, stones, wild animals, fallen trees, automobile theft and vandalism.

Mobile mechanics provide doorstep repair services and home delivery of new and used auto parts of different late model and classic cars whose parts are not widely available in the market.

In countries such as the UK, the mobile car body repair sectors has experienced high growth by way of mobile SMART Repair companies providing mobile car body repair services, such as Bumper Repairs, auto body repair, paintless dent repair and paintwork defect repairs to private and commercial consumers, typically within the industry framework of refinishing vehicle damage on a localised basis, where the area of damage being repaired is not in excess of an A4 sheet of paper.

• Auto mechanic
• Automotive Service Excellence (ASE)
• Breakdown (vehicle)
• Preventive maintenance
• Service Labor Time Standards
• List of automotive tools and equipment

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Roadworthiness^[1] or streetworthiness is a property or ability of a car, bus, truck or any kind of automobile to be in a suitable operating condition or meeting acceptable standards for safe driving and transport of people, baggage or cargo in roads or streets, being therefore street-legal.

In Europe, roadworthy inspection is regulated by:

• Directive 2014/45/EU, on periodic roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers,^[2]
• Directive 2014/46/EU, on the registration documents for vehicles,^[3]
• Directive 2014/47/EU, on the technical roadside inspection of the roadworthiness of commercial vehicles.^[4][5]

A Certificate of Roadworthiness (also known as a ‘roadworthy’ or ‘RWC’) attests that a vehicle is safe enough to be used on public roads. A roadworthy is required in the selling of a vehicle in some countries. It may also be required when the vehicle is re-registered, and to clear some problematic notices.^[6]

"roadworthiness certificate" means a road-worthiness test report issued by the competent authority or a testing centre containing the result of the road-worthiness test

Roadworthy inspection is designed to check the vehicle to make sure that its important auto parts are in a good (not top) condition that is enough for safe road use. It includes:^[6]

• mirrors
• wheels and tires
• vehicle structure
• lights and reflectors
• seats and seat belts
• steering, suspensions and braking systems
• windscreen, and windows including front wipers and washers
• other safety related items on the body, chassis or engine

Roadworthy inspection in Europe

Directive 2014/45/EU regulates the periodic testing for various kind of vehicles:

• transport of people (M1, M2, M3)
• transport of good (N1, N2, N3)
• trailers of more than 3.5 tonnes (O3, O3)
• tractors of category T5
• since January 2022, two- or three-wheel vehicles in categories L3e, L4e, L5e and L7e, with an engine displacement of more than 125 cm3.^[2]

18 of 27 EU member states have required motorcycle owners to have their vehicles checked for road-worthiness. The directive 2014/45/EU defines obligations and responsibilities, minimum requirements concerning road-worthiness tests, administrative provisions and cooperation and exchange of information.

Minimum requirements concerning road-worthiness tests encompass date and frequency of testing, contents and methods of testing, assessment of deficiencies, road-worthiness certificate, follow-up of deficiencies and proof of test.^[2]

Vehicle inspection in Australia is generally done on a state basis (with the exception of Federally Registered Heavy Vehicles, see below). Each state or territory has the authority to set its own laws pertaining to vehicle inspections, all (with the exception of the self-governing territory of Norfolk Island) have some form of inspection, either periodically or before a transfer of ownership.

Vehicles in the following categories must be inspected by an authorised vehicle examiner:^[1]

• When registering a brand new vehicle for the first time (usually the dealer does this prior to delivery)
• Upon transfer of ownership if the vehicle is over six years old
• Before transferring a registration from interstate regardless of the vehicle's age
• Before re-registering a vehicle if the previous registration was canceled or expired more than 12 months ago
• If a defect notice is issued

Once a vehicle is registered, it generally will not need to be inspected again if it remains with the same owner. However, the Australian Capital Territory has a random inspection scheme, vehicles can be spot checked whether occupied or not. If faults are discovered, a defect notice can be issued in which case the owner will be required to have repairs made, and obtain a full inspection from a licensed examiner with 14 days to clear the notice. If egregious safety violations are found, the vehicle's registration can be suspended on the spot and the operator will need to have the vehicle towed.^[2]

Vehicles powered by natural gas or propane must receive a special annual gas inspection.^[3]

Vehicles over five years old are required to obtain an e-Safety Check prior to annual registration renewal or before transferring a registration from interstate.^[4] This was previously known as a "Pink Slip",^[5] and the term is still used colloquially.^[6]

Vehicle Roadworthy Inspections for light vehicles (<4.5 ton GVM/ATM) are required once the vehicle is 5 years old, 10 years old, then annually. Vehicles 5 years or older, seeking registration in the NT for the first time require a Roadworthy Inspection. All vehicles over 10 years old require a roadworthy inspection every year.^[7]

Queensland Transport requires any vehicle to have a safety inspection (and the resulting Safety Certificate prominently displayed) before it can be offered for sale or have its interstate registration transferred.^[8] The inspection checks the general condition of the vehicle itself (suspension, body condition, etc...) and certain items of basic safety equipment such as the tyres, brakes, lights, windshield, etc... The certificate is valid for 1,000 km or 3 months (whichever is sooner) if the vehicle is being offered for sale by a dealer, and for 2,000 km or 2 months if being sold by an individual. There are some exceptions, vehicles being sold in rural parts of the state are exempt if driving to the nearest inspection station would present a hardship, and vehicles that are only being sold for parts likewise do not require a safety inspection. Sellers who are required to have a safety certificate but either do not obtain one or fail to display it properly while the vehicle is advertised for sale are subject to a $500 on the spot fine.

There are no periodic safety inspections in Queensland once a vehicle is registered, however, mobile road teams conduct random emissions inspections through a program called OVERT,^[9] and drivers may be summoned if their vehicles are not within legal guidelines or emits visible smoke.

Vehicles may also be targeted as a group, with Sting operations being conducted by Queensland Police Service, such as "Operation Lift",^[10][11] which targeted recreational Four-Wheel-Drive vehicles that had been extensively modified.

The majority of privately owned vehicles do not need to be inspected to be legally driven or have their interstate registration transferred to South Australia. Vehicles with certain types of modifications, specifically engine, chassis, wheel-base, seating capacity, brakes, steering, or suspension modifications require a certificate of roadworthiness prior to registration (or as a condition of continued registration). Additionally, several other categories of vehicles also require a certificate:^[12]

• Vehicles cited for safety faults by the police.
• Vehicles that were previously written off and/or salvaged.
• Rebuilt, self-constructed or homemade vehicles (such as classic car restorations or kit cars)
• Vehicles transferred from interstate that are over seven years old and weigh more than 4.5 tonnes (10,000 lbs).
• Vehicles that were transferred from left-hand to right-hand drive.
• Buses with a seating capacity of 13 persons or more

A safety inspection is required for:^[13]

• Transferring a mainland (interstate) registration to Tasmania
• Re-registering a vehicle whose previous registration expired or was cancelled more than three months ago
• Re-registering a vehicle that was written off and repaired
• Registering a vehicle converted from left-hand to right-hand drive

Similar to Queensland, VicRoads requires that a vehicle being sold, registered from interstate have a current Certificate of Roadworthiness from a licensed vehicle inspector. Additionally, vehicles that are cited by the police for safety defects must also obtain a certificate.

Victoria does not require an inspection upon transfer of an interstate registration if the vehicle remains with the same owner.

A vehicle inspection is required before a vehicle can be registered for the first time, after a lapse in registration, if a vehicle has received certain modifications, or has been cited for safety faults (a "yellow sticker") by the police. Certain commercial and public transport vehicles must be inspected annually.^[14]

Heavy Vehicles in Australia are governed by the Heavy Vehicle National Law^[15] which is enforced by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator^[16]

Heavy Vehicles in Australia come under the Heavy Vehicle (Registration) National Regulation^[17] and the Heavy Vehicle (Vehicle Standards) National Regulation^[18]

Whilst some vehicles may hold registration within their home state, vehicles that travel interstate can carry National Heavy Vehicle Registration,^[19] allowing them to operate in every state of Australia without concern to legalities to the setup of the vehicle.

Each state in Australia generally has its own rules with regards to vehicle modifications. However, most states are in line utilising the Federal Framework of Vehicle Standards Bulletin 14,^[20] known by its alternative name of "National Code of Practice for Light Vehicle Modifications".

However, the state of Queensland uses the Queensland Code of Practice^[21] which differs slightly from the National Code of Practice.

Queensland is however slowly transitioning to the National Code of Practice as changes are required.

When a vehicle is modified, it is generally required to get inspections and certification done by what is known as an "Approved Person"^[22] to ensure that the modifications to the vehicle are safe to the operator, and that they will not cause a danger to pedestrians, other motorists, or emergency services as per the relevant Code of Practice.

Separate rules exist for the construction of what is known as an "Individually Constructed Vehicle"^[23][24]

Vehicles commonly in the category of Individually Constructed Vehicles include Kit Cars and Trailers

Light Trailers, are covered under Vehicle Standards Bulletin VSB1.^[25] This standard is applicable nationwide, with approval sought on a case-by-case basis for privately constructed trailers.

Primarily, focus on modifications is for categories of:

• Engine Modifications^[26]
• Transmission Modifications^[27]
• Brake Modifications^[28]
• Body Modifications^[29]
• Seating Modifications^[30]
• Fuel Systems^[31]
• Modifications to Older Vehicles^[32]
• Suspension and Steering^[33]
• Electric Vehicle Modifications, Including Conversions to Electric Drive^[34][35][36]

However special provisions are made for:

• Motorcycles^[37][38]
• Trikes^{[39][40][41][42]}

• Automobile safety