Five things to check to avoid a Defect notice

As the festive season rolls in, days are filled with the hustle of celebrations and the hit of holiday expenses. The last thing anyone wants during this bustling period is the unwelcome surprise of a hefty fine.

Recently, Victoria Police ramped up efforts to target unsafe vehicles in Melbourne’s South East, issuing defect notices for cars that fail to meet roadworthiness requirements and registration standards over a two-day blitz.

To dodge the unwanted gift of a defect notice and ensure your holiday travels are smooth and safe, here’s a rundown of five crucial checks you can perform on your vehicle. By following these tips, you can help improve your chances of enjoying your end-of-year journeys without any unexpected bumps on the road.

What is a defect notice?

A defect notice, issued by traffic or road safety authorities, is a formal notification given to a vehicle owner when their vehicle is found not to meet certain roadworthiness requirements or registration standards.

This notice typically indicates that the vehicle has been inspected and found to have deficiencies or faults that could make it unsafe or unsuitable for use on public roads. Essentially, the car is not roadworthy.

You'll be given a date that the vehicle defects must be fixed. If not obliged you can be given a hefty fine, and in some cases even have your registration cancelled.

5

Wheels and tyres

Wheelie good times should not be compromised by dodgy wheels.

Your wheels should be free from cracks, damage, or imbalance, with spare wheels securely retained if carried. Replacement wheels must also comply with specific standards of your state.

While you're down there, it’s important to inspect your tyres thoroughly, ensuring all have a minimum tread depth of 1.5mm in principal grooves and check for uneven wear (except at the tread wear indicators). Tyres must match the rim sizes and be free from deep cuts, cracks, bulges, or other defects.

Brakes

5

Make sure all your brake components are working properly, are firmly attached and correctly positioned, and free from any damage that could cause them to fail or wear unevenly beyond the manufacturer's guidelines. if you can't assess that alone, it's best to check in with a mechanic.

The brake hoses and pipes must also meet safety standards. For brake linings, the material should not be worn down to the wear indicators.

If there aren't indicators, the lining material should not be thinner than the manufacturer's recommended minimum thickness, or less than 1.0mm if no recommendation is provided.

Lights

Ensure all car lights (headlamps, stop lamps, position lamps, number plate lamps, turn signals, hazard warning lights etc.) are functional, emit the correct colour and are securely mounted.

This isn't Bizzaro World. No red light should be visible at the front of your car or white light at the rear while driving (with the exception of a reversing light, of course).

All lamps should meet registration standards and ADRs, have glare-preventing, colour-correct, clean, and undamaged lenses, and headlamp reflectors should be in good condition.

Lamp defects can sometimes be a quick fix, so this should be an easier one to keep an eye on.

Glass

5

When it comes to your windscreen, take a look for any damage that would impair the drivers vision and have it fixed. A windscreen should be replaced if it's badly scratched, fractured, or has cracks penetrating more than one layer of glass.

Side windows with extensive damage impairing the driver’s vision should also be replaced.

While you're inspecting your windows, check out the laws in your local state to make sure they are within the legal tint limit percentages.

Registration

While rushing around buying gifts for loved ones it's easy to miss that registration reminder e-mail in your inbox.

Whether you're paying your registration yearly, bi-yearly or quarterly, it's best to take a look and confirm your car is registered over the silly season.

If your vehicle is unregistered, there are several legal and practical implications including significant fines and penalties. Your car will be illegal to drive, may be seized, and it will actually be likely no longer covered by your insurance. This is something you most certainly don't want to be caught out by.

5

In states like NSW, you can also receive defect notices if your car:

• Emits excessive noise, leaks oil, or produces too much smoke
• Features a bull bar that fails to comply with safety standards or regulations, such as having pointed corners or sharp edges.
• Includes accessories that are improperly installed, like fishing rod holders, spotlight mounts, or winches.

While these checks can significantly reduce the risk of getting a defect notice, they are not exhaustive. Because if they were, we'd be here for a long time.

If you're off on a long journey and have some concerns, you can have a mechanic take a look at your vehicle, or jump onto your local state government transportation departments website for more details.

Remember, these checks not only contribute to avoiding fines but are crucial for your safety and that of others on the road.

Safe travels and happy holidays!