Approved Inspection Station premises, inspection area and equipment

An Approved Inspection Station (AIS) approval holder must have:

• a premises used as a fixed Approved Inspection Station, such as a mechanical workshop
• a dedicated and suitably sized inspection area for conducting vehicle inspections
• the required equipment that allows an approved examiner to conduct a thorough inspection of the vehicles listed in the Approved Inspection Station approval.

Fixed premises requirements

If you are applying to be an Approved Inspection Station, you must have a fixed premises which allows an approved examiner to conduct vehicle inspections for the inspection types you are applying for. If your fixed premises is not located in a commercial or industrial zoned area, you must have evidence of council approval to operate.

If you want to include a mobile Approved Inspection Station with your Approved Inspection Station application, you must still meet the above fixed premises requirements. If you don't provide details of your fixed premises, we may refuse your Approved Inspection Station application. Learn more about making a mobile Approved Inspection Station application.

Inspection area requirements

The Business Rules for Approved Inspection Stations (business rules) requires an Approved Inspection Station approval holder to ensure that the fixed Approved Inspection Station premises has a dedicated and suitably sized inspection area. The inspection area must allow an approved examiner to thoroughly inspect all types of vehicles the Approved Inspection Station approval holder is approved to inspect.

To comply with the business rules, we recommend the following inspection area dimensions:

Vehicle type	Recommended inspection area dimensions
Motorbikes (MC and CM)	2.4m wide x 3m long
Light Vehicles (LV and CL) and Light trailers (LT)	2.5m wide x 6m long
Heavy Vehicles (HV) and Heavy Trailers (HT)	3m wide x 15m long x 4.5m high

If you are inspecting larger heavy vehicles, for example, cattle crate heavy trailers, you may need a larger inspection area.

Required equipment

An Approved Inspection Station approval holder must have the required equipment that allows an approved examiner to conduct a thorough inspection of the types of vehicles listed on the Approved Inspection Station approval. Review the Business Rules for Approved Inspection Stations for more information.

Component removal, inspection and test equipment

An Approved Inspection Station approval holder must have equipment to allow an approved examiner to remove, test and refit vehicle components as needed, including underbody inspection.

Equipment may include, for example:

• measuring equipment and gauges for disc rotors, brake drums, brake pads and brake linings for all vehicle types
• hoist, pit, ramps, vehicle jacks or stands for LV, LT, CL, HV, HT vehicle type
• kingpin gauges for HT vehicle type
• turntable locking tester for HV vehicle type.

Window tint meter

An Approved Inspection Station approval holder must have a calibrated light transmittance device or tint meter that comes with 2 main components—light source and receiver. It must also have a digital display that shows the light transmittance result as a percentage for LV, CL, HV vehicle type.

Headlight direction test equipment

An Approved Inspection Station approval holder must have equipment to check a vehicle’s headlamp aim. This may include a graduated headlight testing screen or headlight testing machine for LV, CL, HV, MC, and CM vehicle types.

Read more in the Queensland Light Vehicle Inspection Manual (QLVIM) or the National Heavy Vehicle Inspection Manual (NHVIM).

Brake testing equipment

An AIS approval holder must have accurately functioning equipment to test a vehicle’s brake system. This includes a decelerometer, roller brake testing machine or other equipment for testing brakes for LV, CL, HV, MC and CM vehicle types.

Brake testing equipment must be able to provide a digital reading of the brake test result, including the date and time of the successful brake test. The brake test result must be able to be printed, electronically saved, or uploaded to ICO. Read more in the Queensland Light Vehicle Inspection Manual or National Heavy Vehicle Inspection Manual.

Additional brake testing equipment requirement for mobile Approved Inspection Station

Brake testing equipment used by a mobile Approved Inspection Station must also produce the GPS location coordinates of where the successful brake test was conducted for LV, CL, MC, CM and HV vehicle types.

Additional equipment for trailers for LT and HT vehicle types only

When a towing unit is not available, an Approved Inspection Station approval holder must have the following equipment capable of:

• testing the operation of the lighting system and any electric brakes via the trailer plug or socket
• compressing the tow coupling to test the function of any override braking system
• creating a vacuum source for testing the function of any vacuum braking system
• creating a compressed air source to test the function of any full air or air assisted braking system.

Contact us

Email:	ais@tmr.qld.gov.au
Phone:	13 23 80 (ask for AIS Administrator)
Post:	AIS Administrator Approved Inspection Station Scheme Department of Transport and Main Roads PO Box 673 FORTITUDE VALLEY QLD 4006