Caravan gas certificates in Queensland: what sellers and buyers need to know
In Queensland, a caravan, motorhome, camper trailer or boat with gas on board can’t be offered for sale or change hands without a current gas compliance certificate. Here’s how the rule works and how to get through the inspection.
Written by Cassel’s Plumbing & Gas, Bli Bli. Facts checked against the official sources listed at the end. Updated 11 October 2026.
The rule
Resources Safety & Health Queensland (RSHQ) states that caravans and boats with a gas system must not be offered for sale, new or used, or change ownership in Queensland without a current gas compliance certificate. RSHQ describes this as a provision unique to Queensland law, so advice from other states doesn’t necessarily apply here.
The rule covers the whole gas system, from the cylinders and regulator to every appliance: cooktop, oven, fridge, hot water unit and heater. RSHQ’s guidance is aimed at private owners and buyers as well as brokers and sales yards.
How long a certificate stays current
Queensland Government guidance sets the window at three months. RSHQ’s caravan guideline says the seller must give the new owner a gas compliance certificate that is less than three months old, and the Queensland Government’s registration transfer page says the certificate must be less than three months old when the registration is transferred, with caravans and motorhomes not exempt.
If the sale drags on past three months, have the van re-inspected before the transfer.
What the gasfitter checks
The inspection is done by a licensed gas worker against the edition of the caravan and boat gas standard (AS/NZS 5601.2) that applied when the system was installed or last altered. Expect checks of:
Cylinder location and restraint, and the regulator
Pipework and hoses, including leak testing
The gas locker: sealing from the living area and its drains
Each appliance: operation, flame-failure safety, clearances and flues
Ventilation, which must be the right size and unobstructed
The annex: with no annex, the certificate is noted and a warning label goes by the door
Labels and the gas compliance plate
Caravans are the exception to RSHQ’s July 2025 change that removed physical compliance plates for most gas installations. Caravans still need one, now the national plate type set out in AS/NZS 5601.2.
Certificate or defect notice
If the system complies, the gasfitter issues a gas compliance certificate to the owner. If it doesn’t, RSHQ requires a gas system defect notice listing the work that must be done before a certificate can be issued. Small defects, like a perished hose or a leaking fitting, can often be fixed on the spot; bigger ones may need a second visit.
From 1 January 2026, Queensland gas certificates and notices are issued online through the RSHQ Portal, so you’ll get an electronic certificate rather than a carbon copy.
Why so many vans fail
RSHQ’s Recreational Vehicle Gas System project inspected RVs built by Queensland manufacturers before they were sold (63 manufacturers took part) and found 92% of the gas systems inspected were non-compliant. A smaller sample of interstate-built vans showed similar problems. Common defects included:
Cylinders too close to ignition sources or openings
Poorly sealed gas lockers and undersized drains
Slide-out kitchens and lidded cooktops with no way to stop gas flowing when stowed
Aftermarket covers blocking flues, air intakes or vents
Missing labels and incomplete certificates
If a brand-new van can fail, an older one that has been modified or used hard can too.
Gas certificate vs safety certificate
These are two different documents from two different people:
Gas compliance certificateIssued by a licensed gas worker. Covers the gas system only. Needed before the van or boat is offered for sale.
Safety certificate (roadworthy)Issued only by an approved inspection station. Covers items such as tyres, brakes, suspension, body and lights, not the gas. Needed for caravans and trailers between 750 kg and 4,500 kg ATM before ownership is transferred (it is no longer required before advertising), and valid for 2 months or 2,000 km for private sellers.
A motorhome needs both: a safety certificate as a vehicle, and a gas certificate for its gas system.
Seller’s checklist
Book the inspection close to when you plan to list, so the certificate is still current at handover.
Check each cylinder’s test stamp. A cylinder needs a valid 10-year test date to be refilled.
Leave some gas in the cylinders so every appliance can be lit and tested.
Clear access to the gas locker, appliances, flues and vents, and remove any aftermarket vent covers.
Have appliance manuals and earlier certificates on hand, and mention any modifications.
Check for appliance recalls on the ACCC’s Product Safety Australia website.
If you get a defect notice, have the work done and the certificate issued before you advertise.
Buyer’s checklist
Ask to see the gas compliance certificate before you pay. A van advertised without one doesn’t meet the Queensland rule.
Check it is less than three months old at the time of transfer.
Check its details match the van, and look for the compliance plate.
Ask whether a defect notice was issued and how the defects were fixed.
Buying from interstate? RSHQ’s guideline accepts certificates from licensed installers in other states, within the same three months.
Once it’s yours, have a gasfitter check yellow flames, a gas smell or an appliance that won’t stay lit.
Boats too
The same rule covers boats with a gas system for cooking, heating or refrigeration, which fall under the same standard as caravans (AS/NZS 5601.2). An engine or fuel system that runs on gas is a separate matter and needs a gas inspection certificate.
Thanks Clayton for coming out to our residence and completing the Swift 500 recall service in our caravan. Much appreciated. A number of other larger caravan repair centres were “too busy” to do the work, but thanks to you we are safe to use our caravan appliance again.
Do I need a gas certificate to sell a caravan in Queensland?
Yes. A caravan, motorhome, camper trailer or boat with a gas system must not be offered for sale or change ownership in Queensland without a current gas compliance certificate from a licensed gas worker.
How long is a caravan gas certificate valid for a sale?
Queensland Government guidance says the certificate must be less than three months old when ownership and registration are transferred. If your sale takes longer, have the van re-inspected.
Is the gas certificate part of the roadworthy?
No. The safety certificate (roadworthy) comes from an approved inspection station and doesn’t cover the gas system. The gas certificate comes from a licensed gas worker.
What happens if my caravan fails the gas inspection?
You receive a gas system defect notice listing what must be fixed. Once the work is done and the system complies, the certificate can be issued.
