Pre-purchase inspection vs roadworthy: what's the difference?

A roadworthy (or safety) certificate confirms a vehicle meets the minimum legal safety standard for registration. It is a pass or fail check against a defined list of items.

A pre-purchase inspection goes much further. It is a condition assessment carried out for the buyer, covering mechanical health, signs of past damage, wear and likely upcoming costs. It does not just ask is this car legal, it asks is this car a good buy.

If you are selling or transferring registration you may need a roadworthy. If you are buying and want to avoid an expensive surprise, a pre-purchase inspection is the one that protects you.