Average cost of a RWC test ?

[Mike_S]

I'm about to book the wife's classic car in for a RWC test, prior to it then going for a VASS inspection. Can anyone give me an idea what it costs on average for a roadworthy test ? I see from Vic Roads it's not stipulated, so could be absolutely anything. Do I need to bend over or are they relatively painless ?
Cheers
Mike

[steveG]

Last couple of RWC's I've had done were around the $90 mark.
That's just for the inspection, and then you have 7 days to get any defects fixed and have those things re-checked by whoever did the initial inspection and the RWC issued. Longer than 7 days and you have to pay for another inspection.

Some mechanics are happy to do the initial inspection without it getting onto the Vicroads paperwork - and they'll just give you a list of things to fix.

This can be good and bad. If the mechanic is reasonable then it can give you a bit longer to fix things before having to fork out for another inspection charge.
On the other hand, if he's just writing up a list of defects hoping that you will give him the OK to proceed to fix it (together with the associated wallet rape) and that Vicroads will never see his BS list, then its not so good.

Have a good read of the RWC requirements so that you are informed, and if there's something that you dont think is a RWC issue then discuss it politely with the mechanic. Especially with older vehicles they can sometimes forget that particular requirements dont apply to them.

Steve

[Landover]

If the mechanic come back with a huge list of issues trying to drum up some business and you think it is Bull Shi. it is often cheaper to try somewhere else and paying for a new inspection than doing the repairs. I had this happen with one place and the next place passed it with flying colours.

[Mike_S]

Cheers guys

I've no intention of letting them do any work to the car at all, I need a list off them of things it requires and I'll sort them out myself, same goes for the VASS inspection chappie next door. Haven't got myself a job yet so I'm sure this thing will fill the time over Christmas quite adequately ! Reading the RWC test details on VicRoads I've got a good idea what they should be checking for, but as mentioned, making sure they apply the right criteria to a 32 year old car is more important. It'll never pass the handbrake test, it wouldn't have done that when it was new, the handbrake's rubbish (putting it mildly) so I'll just have to adjust up the brake shoes and hope it works well enough.

[superquag]

"... making sure they apply the right criteria to a 32 year old car is more important. It'll never pass the handbrake test, it wouldn't have done that when it was new..."

Very relevant IMHO, as it will have no effect on the car's safety in the real world

It would be interesting to compare the statistics... as to what % of crashes are caused by vehicle defects, and do it on a country by country and state by state basis, comparing 'which' areas require a yearly examination and which don't.

My nasty suspicious mind tells me that the heinousness of Vehicle Defects will be markedly higher where the Powers That Be insist on a yearly (PAID) inspection...


The figures would need to be relevant, like bald tyres cannot be blamed for a driver (not the vehicle...) failing to give way at a roundabout, or T-boning / killing another driver by running a red light at inappropriate speed...

$90 per year, well, add your time etc, which would make it around $300 to $400 means about $1 per day JUST to keep your car inspected....

Great little money-spinner and means of keeping the populace trained to be compliant to every possible regulation...

[Siska]

Just had a road worthy done on my Defender last month. Cost me $200 for the test with 7 days to fix any defects. I asked why so expensive and my mechanic told me that they now have to take photos of things they are doing while they are inspecting the car and make a log of everything they do/find on it.
I rang a couple of other places and they were around the same price mark. I went with Russel as I've known and used him for 10 years, he used to own a Rangie, and know that he is reasonable.

[Mike_S]

We have a yearly test in the UK, I don't mind it as it'll often find things that you wouldn't normally notice. This car had an MOT in August and has only done ~200 miles since. Doesn't cost much though, the set figure is just over £50 but it's often available for much less. Takes an hour to do officially.

[Hall]

When I got my ute road worthy done it was a fee of $90 and about $1500 in repairs. Not bad for a vehicle that was meant to be road worthy :mad: ahh well you live and learn. As already said some mechanics need to be a bit flexible. Some years ago another ute I had got a road worthy for, was at the first place I took the ute told that the missing chrome strip along the side was a road worthy item. :confused: The old truck I sold at the time I brought the ute. The place that did ute road worthy did not want to look at the truck. Was not happy as they said yes at first and charged me the $90 then picked things like a minor dent under a rear side window. I tried to question what they picked and they got all stand offish and huffy so went else were and had no problems.
Cheers Hall

[d2dave]

Mike. What is a VASS.

Dave.

[dungarover]

I had my Rangie roadworthied by one of the local workshpos in Ballarat who was recomended by someone. They wern't too bad, cost me $140 but the one that baffled me was the auto slider film was torn (common for most old Rangie classics) was a roadworthy fail point. When I asked why they said 'you don't know what gear it's in', duh it's PRND321 :mad:. The other stuff was fair enough (one brake rotor was undersized, front radius arm bushes were worn, that sort of thing).

The roadies are much harder here than in QLD I will say but the rego being a ****load cheaper is the trade-off :D

Trav

[rovercare]

Vicroads have changes the regs in regards to RWC's, $200 for a check with 30 days to fix is a VERY nice business owner these days, expect $220 with 7 days to rectify now, there has been a couple I know, refuse to comply and no longer are a licensed tester, the workload and profit is hardly viable unless you get the repairs, the local dude whom did my last was talking of pricing himself out of the market and only doing them for local customers, as they now have to take photographs of VIN, ODO and all failure points, then again upon reasessment to show the failure points comply, with a large report to finish off

[Homestar]

Mike. What is a VASS.

Dave.

Vehicle Assesment Signatory Scheme - it applies to modified, imported and individually constructed vehicles. - http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/Registration/WhatHasToBeRegistered/OtherVehiclesBoatsAndRegistrationIssues/VehicleAssessmentSignatoryScheme.htm




...but the rego being a ****load cheaper is the trade-off :D

Trav

Wait a while - Vicroads confirmed this week that rego's will go up in the new year to pay for thier new half finished, half shagged data base. Average increase next year will be $35, but they haven't ruled out further increases beyond that.

[dungarover]

Wait a while - Vicroads confirmed this week that rego's will go up in the new year to pay for thier new half finished, half shagged data base. Average increase next year will be $35, but they haven't ruled out further increases beyond that.

Still, I can handle $35 increase compared to forking out $1K annualy for rego on a V8 in QLD. How do I know this...I lived there for 16 years til recently :D

Still, the goverment ****s up, we all pay. Nobody said they'res common sense in running a state :(

Trav

[Mike_S]

Vicroads have changes the regs in regards to RWC's, $200 for a check with 30 days to fix is a VERY nice business owner these days, expect $220 with 7 days to rectify now, there has been a couple I know, refuse to comply and no longer are a licensed tester, the workload and profit is hardly viable unless you get the repairs, the local dude whom did my last was talking of pricing himself out of the market and only doing them for local customers, as they now have to take photographs of VIN, ODO and all failure points, then again upon reasessment to show the failure points comply, with a large report to finish off


Jesus wept. Officialdom gone mad. :mad:

[George130]

??????
$200 for an inspection !!

NSW last year was $35 for the inspection.
VIC roads are insane. or are the rego costs that much cheaper that it's fine to pay so much for the inspection.

[Homestar]

??????
$200 for an inspection !!

NSW last year was $35 for the inspection.
VIC roads are insane. or are the rego costs that much cheaper that it's fine to pay so much for the inspection.

Remember though, that it is a one off inspection that you need only when you transfer the rego on a vehicle - no messing around each year like there is in NSW. Not sure what you pay for rego, so can't comment on that bit, but depending where you live, rego here can be over $600 if you live in the city, but a bit cheaper in the country.

[George130]

OK. rego worked out at $800 for the 130 last year so over all you guys win then.

[d2dave]

Last RWC I had done was about 13 months ago and it cost $120. I did phone around and most were around this price, although one wanted an extra $20 because it was on gas. This was before all the new regulations having to photograph things.

There are other new regulations too. The tester has to do a course and become accredited on checking for the structural integrity of any crash repair work that the vehicle might have had.

There is a new brake testing device which has to be mounted under the pedal which measures pedal pressure. The list goes on.

RWC testers have to pay for this equipment and courses and want return for investment, along with all the extra time involved with paperwork.

Dave.

[d2dave]

My Son booked his car in for a RWC today. $130. We/He was pleased.

Dave.

[Tombie]

Blessed by those of us living in SA

No RWC and reasonably cheap rego which includes CTP...


"Where the Desert meets the Sea"
'Did I mention some great 4WDriving is just 5 minutes from home?'

[d2dave]

What are your electricity prices like? I might have to retire in SA as the cost increases for this Nanny state are well and truly going up faster than my superannuation.

Dave.

[Mike_S]

My Son booked his car in for a RWC today. $130. We/He was pleased.

Dave.

Yep, booked it in today for a test on Thursday. $150.

[superquag]

What are your electricity prices like? I might have to retire in SA as the cost increases for this Nanny state are well and truly going up faster than my superannuation.

Dave.

WA power price is 20 cents in metro area. (ok, 19.875cents for the pedants...) Plus GST.

- But going up soon... around 10% is the popular rumour...

Check here if you're familiar with differant rates for differant times... http://www.synergy.net.au/at_home/prices.xhtml

- And we don't have yearly vehicle inspections for private cars.

Yet...

[Mike_S]

RWC passed :cool:

VASS inspection done :cool:

Bulkhead chassis plate applied for :cool:

Custom registration bought :cool:

VicRoads inspection booked for next week :cool:

Pockets and wallet raped and pillaged :(

All told, that wasn't as painful as I'd expected, but the VASS inspection, talk about money for old rope. If that's all it takes to earn $275 then I think I want that job !!

Thanks to all the help from here though, much appreciated :twobeers:

[boofdtl]

RWC passed :cool:

VASS inspection done :cool:

Bulkhead chassis plate applied for :cool:

Custom registration bought :cool:

VicRoads inspection booked for next week :cool:

Pockets and wallet raped and pillaged :(

All told, that wasn't as painful as I'd expected, but the VASS inspection, talk about money for old rope. If that's all it takes to earn $275 then I think I want that job !!

Thanks to all the help from here though, much appreciated :twobeers:
Well done mate..