There are consequences if your vehicle is not roadworthy, such as it being confiscated. However, how often must a vehicle actually be taken for a roadworthiness test?

• As a general rule, a roadworthiness test must be conducted every time a vehicle changes ownership. The roadworthiness test is a legal requirement to ensure that a vehicle meets the safety standards set by the South African Bureau of Standards (“SABS”).
• There are certain instances where a licence disc for a vehicle will not be issued if a valid certificate of roadworthiness was not issued within 60 days before the renewal of the licence disc. For example, a minibus that is used to convey 12 or more persons must do a yearly roadworthiness test, and a vehicle used to convey people for reward.
• Another exception to the general rule relates to buses, which must do a roadworthiness test every six months.