How it works in Brisbane
The rules are the same in Brisbane as anywhere else in Queensland. You don't need a certificate to advertise a registered car, but you do need one before it goes to anyone other than a dealer, and getting it is the seller's job, not the buyer's.
The kilometre half of the limit is the one that catches people out. A daily commute in from Ipswich or the Logan fringe adds up quickly, so leave the inspection until close to listing and write down the odometer reading on the day.
What Brisbane sellers and newcomers run into
Finding a station
The transport department's Find an AIS tool searches by suburb or postcode, and can show only the stations offering a mobile inspection. It warns that its results rely on third-party information, so ring the station before you count on it.
Moving here from interstate
A car coming onto Queensland registration from another state or territory needs a safety certificate. If you've moved to Brisbane with your car, plan the inspection alongside the transfer, not after it.
Storm season and the windscreen
Thunderstorms are common from November to March, and severe ones bring large, damaging hail. The windscreen is on the inspection list, so check the glass after a storm and before the car goes in.
Handing it over
Give the buyer the current certificate with the car. When a car's bought privately in Queensland, the registration has to be transferred within 14 days.
What the certificate doesn't cover
It's a check of basic safety items, not a full mechanical inspection. If you're the one buying, a pre-purchase inspection in Brisbane is the look at the engine, gearbox and history.
What we'd do
We'd get the known faults fixed first, walk around the car checking lights, tyres and the windscreen, then have the inspection done the week the car is listed. If it's still the daily driver, we'd watch the odometer, because the 2,000 km can run out well before the 2 months does.