Vehicle Testing

Light goods vehicles (LGVs)

LGVs are required to take a commercial vehicle test every year to renew their commercial vehicle certificate of roadworthiness. Vehicles that fail must have failure items repaired before they can be re-tested.

Regular vehicle testing to ensure roadworthiness in an integral part of owning or operating a light goods vehicle (LGV).

The LGV commercial vehicle test (CVT) is for all small goods vehicles with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 3,500 kg or less.

Testing of LGVs is conducted in 140 test centres throughout the country which are appointed and supervised by local authorities.

No reminders are sent when a test is due; it is the responsibility of the owner to ensure the vehicle is tested on time.

Benefits of testing

  • Safer, more reliable vehicles
  • Longer vehicle service life
  • Avoids penalty points: since 1 May 2009, penalty points have been in place for a number of commercial vehicle roadworthiness offences.

Test process

  • Customers show the vehicle registration documents at the test centre. The tester matches the vehicle registration with the make and model of the vehicle.
  • Tests take between 30 and 60 minutes.
  • Following the test, either a pass or fail statement is issued by the centre, depending on the test result.
  • If the vehicle passes, the driver takes the pass statement to the motor tax office where a roadworthiness certificate is issued for an additional fee.
  • If a vehicle fails and returns for testing within 21 days and has travelled fewer than 4,000km since it was tested, the vehicle does not have to repeat the full test. Rather, it is tested only on the failure points from the first test. A re-test costs approximately 50% of the full test.
  • The roadworthiness certificate is not displayed on the vehicle, but it must accompany the motor tax application form for a tax disc to be issued. It is a condition of taxing a vehicle over one year old that it has a valid certificate of roadworthiness.