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Your car is serviced, so everything is fine, right? Not necessarily! Many motorists assume their car will pass its roadworthiness if they have it serviced beforehand, but these two things are completely different. Even those who take their car to their trusted mechanic in Ferntreegully can be confused when it comes to what a roadworthy actually checks for. A car service doesn’t make it roadworthy, and falling for these common myths can cost you time and money when you go to sell your car or transfer your registration.
Myth #1: If my car just got serviced, it’ll be roadworthy.
While services do include checks for wear and tear, they primarily focus on your vehicle’s performance, fluid levels, and changing your oil/filter as preventive maintenance. However, inspections are specifically looking for items that could affect your safety on the road. Your mechanic may have changed your oil and filters but didn’t mention that your tyre tread was getting low or that your brake pads were worn.
Getting your car failed on inspection after thinking you were already done is what causes many of these rushed appointments. Not only are you now required to pay for another inspection, but you also have to get the repairs done asap which can become costly. When getting your car ready for inspection, leave plenty of time.
Myth #2: They won’t pick up on little things.
This is another big misconception. Things like missing or dim lights, cracked windscreen mirrors, faded stickers, or worn windscreen wipers can cause you to fail the inspection. Just because your car drives fine and runs smoothly doesn’t mean you’re going to pass. One brake light is not working? Unfortunately, that’s enough to fail. Patch these things up before you book your inspection.
Myth #3: My car looks good, it’s got to be roadworthy.
Just because your car is wrapped or recently painted and the interior is tidy as a showroom, doesn’t mean it’s going to pass inspection. People try to trick buyers into thinking their car is perfect when selling their car by getting it detailed. Having a clean car under the hood is helpful, but it won’t guarantee you a roadworthy certificate.
Inspections consist of checking your tyres, brakes, suspension, steering, exhaust and many other things that have nothing to do with how your car looks. Don’t fall into the old trap that if your car looks good, it drives well.
Myth #4: You can be friendly with your inspector.
This is going to cost you a lot more in the long run. Some people think that because they know the guys at the workshop, you can talk your way out of not having things repaired. Mechanics and inspectors are humans too, but they have to adhere to guidelines set to keep us, the people, safe on the road.
Also, if you keep trying to talk your way out of having things fixed, you’ll ultimately be delayed even more in getting that certificate. Once they feel you are being dishonest, they’ll check your car twice as long as well.
Myth #5: I should leave it till the last minute to save time.
People always think they should leave it till the last minute, but this is never a good idea. Say you get to the workshop and your car fails. Now you’re already behind on getting it registered or selling it. You’re now left having to search “where can I get a roadworthy certificate near me?” and then rushing to get it re-passed.
By leaving yourself enough time to get your car inspected, you can avoid these silly mistakes. Not only this, but if your car does fail, you have time to get quotes from different places to get the best price.
Myth #6: Roadworthy means my car is mechanically sound.
When you get your car roadworthy wrapped doesn’t mean your car is mechanically sound. It means that at the time your car is tested, it met all the requirements for being road safe.
Some people think that just because a used car is roadworthy, it means they don’t have to worry about any other mechanical issues. Don’t be that guy.
Myth #7: Tyres and brakes last way longer than they say.
We all know your tyres and brakes aren’t going to last forever, but sometimes it can be hard to notice the wear on your tyres and brakes when you’re driving your car every day. But when it comes to the day you get your car roadworthy test, it is too late.
Keep an eye on your tyres and brakes by regularly checking your tyre tread depth, brake pad thickness and how your steering feels.
Myth #8: The retest fee isn’t too bad.
As we mentioned before, if you don’t leave yourself enough time to get your car inspected, you may need to retest. But along with needing to retest, you now have to pay for the repairs and the retest. These costs can add up much quicker than you think.
Being misled by these myths will only cost you time and money. Being prepared is the best way to avoid preventable extra fees. It is highly recommended to seek the services of a reliable mechanic for car service in Ferntree Gully to make sure your car is not only roadworthy but also road-ready!
