Defect notices

You may get a defect notice if your vehicle isn’t safe or doesn’t meet vehicle standards.

For example, you can get a defect notice if your vehicle:

is too noisy, drips oil or blows too much smoke
has bald tires
has broken lights or indicators
has illegal modifications
has a bull bar that’s not safe or does not meet standards.

A defect notice may be issued if the vehicle does not comply with:

Random vehicle inspections

Any vehicle on ACT roads and road related areas is subject to random inspections by:

ACT Government Vehicle Inspectors
a member of the Australian Federal Police (AFP)
a National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) Safety Compliance Officer.

If you get a defect notice interstate it will be forwarded to Access Canberra.

The vehicle can be occupied or empty, parked or pulled over by the police or an Authorised Officer.

If any faults are found, you may get:

a warning notice: this is for defects that need to be addressed but don’t present a safety risk
a minor defect notice: this is for defects that may become a safety risk if left as they are or to continue after the time specified in the notice
a major defect notice: this is for defects will be a serious safety risk if left as they are or to continue after the time specified in the notice
a heavy vehicle self-clearing defect notice: issued to heavy vehicles with faults that don’t pose a safety risk but still need to be rectified as soon as practicable.

Read about heavy vehicle standards on the NHVR website.

If the defects are so severe your vehicle shouldn’t be used further, the issuing authorised or AFP officer will indicate on the defect notice that it needs to be towed or transported away.

If you’re not the registered operator at the time the notice is issued, you need to give it to the person who is as soon as possible.

Defect notices must be cleared within 14 days of the date of issue, unless stated otherwise.

Interstate registrations

If your vehicle is registered in another state or territory, Access Canberra will send the defect notice details to the appropriate registering authority in that jurisdiction.

You will need to follow the defect notice process for that state or territory.

Clearing a defect notice

The moment you’re issued a defect notice, you have limited time to address it and clear it.

You have 14 days from the day you got the defect notice to fix the defects and have the vehicle inspected and the notice cleared by Access Canberra.
If after 14 days, you haven’t fixed the defect and provided Access Canberra with the clearance you will get a letter telling you your vehicle’s registration will be suspended in 21 days.
If after 35 days, you haven’t fixed the defect and provided Access Canberra with the clearance your registration will be suspended.
On the same day your registration is suspended you’ll be sent a letter notifying you the vehicle’s registration will be cancelled in 21 days.
If after 56 days, you haven’t fixed the defect and provided Access Canberra with the clearance your registration will be cancelled.

Fix the problem

Your defect notice will list the defects you need to fix; light vehicles must be inspected in full.

You must fix the problems in the notice by either getting repairs or installing replacement parts.

Get the vehicle inspected

Your defect notice will tell you where you can have your vehicle inspected. The ACT completes full inspections only for the purpose of defect clearance.

Some vehicles, including heavy vehicle and public vehicles can only get inspected at Access Canberra Motor Vehicle Inspection Station (MVIS) in Hume.

If the notice tells you to go to the MVIS but you have it inspected somewhere else, Access Canberra won’t accept the inspection certificate and won’t clear the defect notice.

Depending on the age, type and use of the vehicle, other inspection requirements may apply.

Read about roadworthy inspections.

If the original defect notice was issued outside the ACT, you can have the vehicle inspected in either the ACT or the jurisdiction where the defect was issued.

Vehicles that are interstate and unable to return to the ACT for clearance can provide an equivalent inspection from that jurisdiction.

If the inspection finds more defects, you will not get extra time to clear the additional defects.

Notify Access Canberra

Once you receive a passed inspection certificate, visit an Access Canberra Service Centre or call 13 22 81.

They will clear the defect from the system and end the defect notice process.

Taking the vehicle for repair or inspection

If your registration is suspended, you can’t drive it for any reason other than getting it repaired or inspected.

Driving recently registered vehicles to get repairs or inspections

If the vehicle is registered, you can drive it to get repairs or inspections unless the defect notice indicates you can’t.

Driving unregistered vehicles to get repairs or inspections

If the vehicle was unregistered before the suspension, or the registration expired more than 14 days before the notice, you will need an unregistered vehicle permit (UVP).

UVPs allow you to drive vehicles somewhere for repair or inspection.

You must follow the conditions of the UVP and only use it for clearing the defect notice.

You can’t drive the vehicle for any other reason.

Read about unregistered vehicle permits.

If the vehicle isn’t eligible for a UVP, it may need to be towed or transported to be inspected.

Cancelled registrations

If Access Canberra cancels the registration, that is the end of the defect notice process.

You must surrender your registration certificate and numberplates to an Access Canberra Service Centre.

You will not receive a refund of registration, but you can apply for a refund of the remaining Motor Accidents Injuries Insurance.

If you want to re-establish the registration, you will need to fix the defects, have the vehicle inspected, and apply to establish registration.

Vehicle registration and transfer guide

Use the Vehicle registration and transfer guide to work out:

what you need to do
what paperwork you’ll need to complete
which fees apply to your situation.

Reporting a defective vehicle

If you see vehicle that you think is unroadworthy, tell us by using the Access Canberra feedback form.

Report a defective vehicle