Check if your vehicle needs an inspection

Changes to light vehicle inspection requirements

On 9 February 2026, light vehicle inspection requirements changed.

For more information, go to the Department of Logistics and Infrastructure website.

Light vehicles are 4.5 tonnes gross vehicle mass (GMA) or less, including:

cars
4WD
mini vans
motorcycles
boat or box trailers over 750 kg aggregated trailer mass (ATM).

Light vehicles will only need roadworthy inspections when the vehicle is over 7 years old and one of the following applies:

transferring ownership, which can be completed by the seller or the buyer
re-establishing NT registration after a vehicle has not been registered in the NT for more than 12 months
first registering in the NT, before a compliance inspection for interstate transfers.

Schedule of vehicle inspections

The following tables shows when your type of vehicle needs an inspection to be registered.

Transfer of ownership

Vehicle category	Roadworthy inspection
Light motor vehicle: up to and including 4.5 tonnes GVM less than 7 years old	No
Light motor vehicle: up to and including 4.5 tonnes GVM 7 years or older	Yes
Light trailer: not more than and including 750 kg ATM less than 7 years old	No
Light trailer up to 4.5 tonne ATM: more than 750 kg and including 4.5 tonne ATM less than 7 years old	No
Light trailer up to 4.5 tonne ATM: more than 750 kg and including 4.5 tonne ATM 7 years or older	Yes
Commercial passenger vehicles: taxi minibus private hire cars limousine vehicles registered as tourist vehicles (TV) passenger buses registered as moto omnibus (MO) special function vehicles rideshare vehicles Courtesy vehicles come under 'light motor vehicles' as above.	No, but required if the vehicle will also be used for private use.
Conditionally registered light motor vehicles: club vehicles rally vehicles ride-on mowers forklifts (if subject to the conditions)	Yes
Modified vehicles	Yes, if subject to the conditions
Heavy motor vehicle or heavy trailer above 4.5 tonnes GMA or ATM	No

Renew NT registration

This includes vehicles previously registered in the NT.

Vehicle category	Compliance inspection	Roadworthy inspection
Light motor vehicle: up to and including 4.5 tonnes GVM less than 7 years old	No, but required if vehicle details don't match	No
Light motor vehicle: up to and including 4.5 tonnes GVM 7 years or older	No, but required if vehicle details don't match	No, but required if the vehicle has been unregistered for more than 12 months.
Light trailer: not more than and including 750 kg ATM less than 7 years old	No, but required if vehicle details don't match	No
Light trailer up to 4.5 tonne ATM: more than 750 kg and including 4.5 tonne ATM less than 7 years old	No, but required if vehicle details don't match	No
Light trailer up to 4.5 tonne ATM: more than 750 kg and including 4.5 tonne ATM 7 years or older	No, but required if vehicle details don't match	No, but required if the vehicle has been unregistered for more than 12 months.
Commercial passenger vehicles: taxi minibus private hire cars limousine vehicles registered as tourist vehicles (TV) passenger buses registered as moto omnibus (MO) special function vehicles rideshare vehicles Courtesy vehicles come under 'light motor vehicles' as above.	No, but required if vehicle details don't match	Yes, unless exempted under an approved National Vehicle Accreditation Scheme.
Conditionally registered light motor vehicles: club vehicles rally vehicles ride-on mowers forklifts (if subject to the conditions)	No, but required if vehicle details don't match	No
Modified vehicles	Yes, subject to the conditions	Yes, if subject to the conditions
Heavy motor vehicle or heavy trailer above 4.5 tonnes GMA or ATM	No, but required if vehicle details don't match	Yes, unless exempted under an approved National Vehicle Accreditation Scheme.

Establish NT registration

Vehicle category	Compliance inspection	Roadworthy inspection
Light motor vehicle: up to and including 4.5 tonnes GVM less than 7 years old	Yes	No
Light motor vehicle: up to and including 4.5 tonnes GVM 7 years or older	Yes	Yes
Light trailer: not more than and including 750 kg ATM less than 7 years old	Yes	No
Light trailer up to 4.5 tonne ATM: more than 750 kg and including 4.5 tonne ATM less than 7 years old	Yes	No
Light trailer up to 4.5 tonne ATM: more than 750 kg and including 4.5 tonne ATM 7 years or older	Yes	Yes
Commercial passenger vehicles: taxi minibus private hire cars limousine vehicles registered as tourist vehicles (TV) passenger buses registered as moto omnibus (MO) special function vehicles rideshare vehicles Courtesy vehicles come under 'light motor vehicles' as above.	Yes	Yes
Conditionally registered light motor vehicles: club vehicles rally vehicles ride-on mowers forklifts (if subject to the conditions)	Yes	Yes
Modified vehicles	Yes	Yes
Heavy motor vehicle or heavy trailer above 4.5 tonnes GMA or ATM	Yes	Yes, but not required when establishing first registration on a factory new rigid vehicle (greater than 4.5 tonne GVM up to and including 24 tonne GVM) , like if the vehicle has never been previously registered.

How to get an inspection

If your light vehicle needs an inspection for any of the reasons above, you must go to an authorised vehicle inspector.

If you light vehicle needs a compliance inspection or inspection by a government transport inspector, go to you nearest vehicle inspection facility.

For more information, read the vehicle inspection types bulletin PDF (105.9 KB).

Contact

If you have any questions, contact 08 8999 3133 or email mvrtestshed.darwin@nt.gov.au

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