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In South Australia, this is called Vehicle Inspection
SA

Mobile Vehicle Inspection in South Australia

In South Australia, this is officially called a Vehicle Inspection. Browse mobile providers across 1,680 suburbs in SA. South Australia generally does not require an inspection at sale. Required for re-registration of unregistered vehicles, vehicles entering from interstate, or those issued with a defect notice.

Mount Gambier5290Morphett Vale5162Parafield Gardens5107Paralowie5108Adelaide5000Murray Bridge5253Port Lincoln5606Mount Barker5251Mawson Lakes5095Prospect5082Hallett Cove5158Happy Valley5159Woodcroft5162Aberfoyle Park5159Craigmore5114Aldinga Beach5173Seaton5023Golden Grove5125Flagstaff Hill5159Salisbury North5108Athelstone5076Greenwith5125Salisbury East5109Magill5072Ingle Farm5098Salisbury5108Campbelltown5074Andrews Farm5114Hope Valley5090Wynn Vale5127

Top suburbs in SA

SA

Mount Gambier

5290
SA

Morphett Vale

5162
SA

Parafield Gardens

5107
SA

Paralowie

5108
SA

Adelaide

5000
SA

Murray Bridge

5253
SA

Port Lincoln

5606
SA

Mount Barker

5251
SA

Mawson Lakes

5095
SA

Prospect

5082
SA

Hallett Cove

5158
SA

Happy Valley

5159

All suburbs in South Australia

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South Australia Vehicle Inspection guide

Terminology, validity, fees, exemptions and government sources for South Australia.

Read the SA guide →

Before the inspector arrives

Tyres
Tread depth
Minimum legal tread is 1.5 mm across the central three-quarters of each tyre. Use a coin or tread gauge, if a 20-cent coin sits more than halfway in the groove, replace.
Pressure
Set to the placard pressure (usually inside the driver door jamb) when cold. Under-inflated tyres fail for sidewall flex and uneven wear; over-inflated fail for centre wear.
Sidewall condition
Check for bulges, cuts, cracks or exposed cords. Any sidewall damage is an automatic fail and a safety risk, replace before the inspection.
Lights
Headlights (low and high beam)
Both low and high beam must work on left and right. Aim should not be wildly off, a hazy, oxidised lens that cuts output also fails.
Tail lights
Both rear tail lights illuminate when the parking or headlights are on. Check for cracked lenses letting white light show rearward.
Brake lights
All three brake lights (left, right, high-mount) must light when the pedal is pressed. Get a helper to confirm, a dead bulb is the most common single fail.
Indicators
Front, side and rear indicators flash amber at the correct rate (60–120 per minute). Hazard switch must flash all four together.
Reverse lights
White reverse lights come on when reverse gear is selected with ignition on. Check both sides where fitted.
Number plate light
The white lamp over the rear plate must illuminate the entire plate at night. A blown bulb here trips a lot of inspections.
Brakes
Pedal feel
Pedal should be firm with no sponginess. It should not sink toward the floor when held under steady pressure with the engine running.
Parking brake
Hold the vehicle on a moderate slope. Lever or foot brake should engage within its rated travel and not release on its own.
Wipers and washers
Wiper blades
Blades clear the windscreen without streaking, juddering or smearing. Torn rubber is a common fail, blades are cheap to replace.
Washer jets
Both washer jets spray cleanly onto the windscreen. Empty bottle, blocked jet or split hose all fail.
Windscreen
Chips and cracks
No cracks longer than 30 mm or any damage in the driver wiper arc. Repair small chips with a windscreen kit before the inspection, replacements take days.
Suspension
Bounce test
Push down hard on each corner and release. The vehicle should rebound and settle within one or two oscillations. Excessive bounce indicates worn dampers.
Exhaust
Leaks and noise
No blowing sound from joints or holes, no excessive smoke, and noise level reasonable for the vehicle type. Black soot around joints is a leak indicator.
Seatbelts
All belts retract and lock
Every fitted belt must extend smoothly, retract under tension, and lock instantly when jerked. Frayed webbing or a sluggish retractor will fail.
Mirrors
Interior and both exterior
All three mirrors fitted, secure, and free of cracks. Power mirrors must adjust on both axes if originally fitted.
Horn
Horn operates
Horn sounds clearly from a single button press. A weak or intermittent horn fails.
Bodywork
Rust
Structural rust, sills, chassis rails, mounting points, suspension towers, is an automatic fail. Surface rust on panels is usually fine.
Sharp edges and panels
No torn metal, hanging trim or sharp protrusions that could injure pedestrians. Loose bumpers or dragging plastic must be secured.
Fluids
Engine oil
Check on level ground with a warm engine. Level between MIN and MAX, no milky contamination, no major leaks evident under the car.
Coolant
Coolant in the overflow bottle between MIN and MAX with the engine cold. No oily film and no obvious leaks at hoses or radiator.
Brake fluid
Reservoir between MIN and MAX. Fluid that is dark brown indicates age, flush before inspection if it is years old.
Number plates
Legible and securely fitted
Both plates fitted in the original mount points, all characters legible, no missing fasteners or cable-tied plates. A faded plate fails.
SA-specific checks
Vehicle Inspection: validity timing
In South Australia a Vehicle Inspection is event-based rather than annual. Confirm with Service SA, Vehicle inspections which trigger applies before booking.
Fee expectation
Typical mobile inspection fee for a car in South Australia is $90–$160. Quotes well below the low end usually exclude travel; quotes above the high end usually include same-day or after-hours premium.