A certificate of fitness (CoF) is a periodic check to ensure that a vehicle meets the required roadworthiness standards on the day. Not keeping your vehicle at CoF standard means you could get a fine. A CoF is required for all heavy vehicles, taxis, shuttles, buses and rental vehicles. The driver is responsible for ensuring that the vehicle is maintained in CoF condition at all times; a CoF does not guarantee the vehicle is roadworthy now, only that it passed on a specific day.
In 2022, over $1m of fines were given to drivers for breaches of certificate of fitness rules. We obtained this breakdown from police using an Official Information Act request.
| Offence description | # of offences | Total fines |
| No evidence of current certificate of fitness | 976 | $585,600 |
| Braking defect | 285 | $42,750 |
| Driveline defect | 2 | $300 |
| Fluid leak | 195 | $29,250 |
| Lighting system defect | 702 | $105,300 |
| Load anchorage defect | 66 | $9,900 |
| Steering system defect | 12 | $1,800 |
| Suspension system defect | 116 | $17,400 |
| Tow coupling defect | 101 | $15,150 |
| Vision glazing defect | 269 | $40,350 |
| Wheels or tyres defect | 529 | $79,350 |
| Cab, chassis or body defect | 238 | $35,700 |
| Vehicle not up to CoF or permit standard | 798 | $119,700 |
| Total | 4,289 | $1,082,550 |
These fines indicate just how important it is to complete a pre-trip inspection every day.
Darren has written over 3000 articles about driving and vehicles, plus almost 500 vehicle reviews and numerous driving courses. Connect with him on LinkedIn by clicking the name above
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