Business rules for approved inspection stations

The business rules for approved inspection stations provide the administrative requirements to operate an Approved Inspection Station (AIS).

The AIS approval holder must comply with these business rules as a condition of your AIS approval.

If you fail to comply with the business rules, we may:

• amend, suspend, or cancel your AIS approval
• issue infringement notices
• commence court action.

We have simplified the business rules for AIS

In February 2026 we made changes to the business rules to remove rules that weren’t contributing to critical safety outcomes. These changes simplified requirements and ensure Approved Inspection Stations are focussing on what matters - safe vehicles.

What’s changed?

The business rules now reflect a modernised approach, removing unnecessary obligations and consolidating critical requirements. Here are the highlights:

• Inspection area requirements removed: The mandate for a minimum inspection area has been removed. Instead, recommendations are available on our website to guide scheme members. Approval holders remain responsible for ensuring a safe and appropriate space.
  • Note: This change only relates to the inspection area requirements for a fixed AIS. It does not remove the requirement to have a fixed AIS. All AIS approval holders must have an approved fixed AIS premises, even if they only conduct mobile AIS inspections.
  • Visit Approved Inspection Station premises, inspection area and equipment to read more about the premises and inspection area guidance.


• Other government references removed: References to local, state, and Commonwealth requirements have been deleted. These obligations are managed by the relevant agencies and do not need duplication in the business rules.


• Signage requirements removed: Fixed AIS premises are no longer required to display specific signage.


• Holding paper-based certificate books removed: Approval holders may choose whether to have paper-based inspection books on hand for use during ICO outages.


• Equipment rules consolidated (Rule 18): Requirements for the use and maintenance of equipment have been streamlined for clarity.


• Brake testing rules consolidated (Rule 22): Expectations around brake testing, including recording results and ensuring tests apply to the inspected vehicle, are now clearer and more consistent.


• Record keeping modernised (Rules 9 – 13): Rules on record keeping have been updated and clarified.


• New response time requirement (Rule 17): Approval holders must respond to authorised officer requests within 7 days, ensuring timely compliance.

Download the current AIS business rules.