Caravan gas certificate: when you need one
In Queensland, you must give the buyer a gas compliance certificate when you sell a registered caravan with gas.
It must be issued no earlier than 3 months before the buyer takes the van.
New South Wales and Tasmania have a sale rule about a gas compliance plate.
Published . 6 min read • Buying Guide
- Queensland: issued no earlier than 3 months before handover.
- Queensland: ask the fitter whether their licence covers certifying a caravan.
- New South Wales and Tasmania: a sale rule about a gas compliance plate.
What each state says
Each state uses its own words: certificate, plate or badge. Each card below reports what that state's law or regulator says.
Queensland
- •The Petroleum and Gas (Safety) Regulation 2018 says a person who sells or transfers a currently registered vehicle to a buyer "other than a dealer" must give the buyer a copy of a gas compliance certificate before the buyer takes possession.
- •The certificate must be "issued no earlier than 3 months before the buyer takes possession".
Petroleum and Gas (Safety) Regulation 2018, sections 111 to 117Business Queensland: caravans and recreational vehicles
New South Wales
- •The regulation says: "A person must not sell any gas installation unless a compliance plate is attached to the installation."
- •Its clause 55A sets the plate for installations under AS/NZS 5601.2, the standard for LP gas in caravans and boats.
- •Building Commission NSW says gas in recreational vehicles must meet AS/NZS 5601.2:2020.
NSW regulation, clauses 55A to 58Building Commission NSW: gas in recreational vehicles
Victoria
- •Energy Safe Victoria lists private caravans as standard gas installations.
- •It says the gasfitter lodges a compliance certificate with the Building and Plumbing Commission within five days of finishing the work, and gives a copy to the person the work was done for. Ask for your copy.
- •Ask Energy Safe Victoria what applies when you sell a caravan.
Energy Safe Victoria: gas installation notificationEnergy Safe Victoria: gas acceptance scheme
South Australia
- •The SA Government says "All gas installations should have been fitted and certified by a licensed gas fitter."
- •It tells caravan buyers to ask the dealer for the Certificate of Compliance from the person who did the installation.
- •Ask the SA Government what applies when you sell a caravan.
Western Australia
- •Building and Energy says only a licensed gas fitter may do gas work on a caravan, including replacing the regulator and pigtail.
- •It says a compliance badge should be fixed to the caravan where it can be seen, with the fitter's details, the Notice of Completion number and the installation date.
- •Ask Building and Energy what applies when you sell a caravan.
Tasmania
- •The regulations say: "A person must not sell or register a caravan on which a gas installation or gas storage system is installed unless a gas-fitting work compliance plate is securely attached".
- •They also treat a plate that complies with another state's or territory's laws as valid.
Northern Territory
- •NT WorkSafe says all gas work needs a licensed gas fitter, including gas systems on caravans.
- •It says the gas fitter should give you a certificate of compliance when the work is finished.
- •Ask NT WorkSafe what applies when you sell a caravan.
Australian Capital Territory
- •Access Canberra's page lists the public registers where you can check a gasfitter's licence.
- •Ask Access Canberra what applies when you sell a caravan.
Rules change, so ask your state's regulator before you sell. If the buyer lives in another state, ask there too. We read every source on this page on 8 November 2026.
What a gas certificate is
In Queensland, a gas compliance certificate records that an authorised installer inspected the van's gas system and found it met the safety requirements that apply to it. In Victoria, South Australia and the Northern Territory, the regulators describe a certificate given for gas work a fitter has done. The system means the pipes and appliances, such as a gas cooker, water heater or fridge.
People also call it a gas certificate or a gas inspection certificate. In the Queensland regulation, a gas inspection certificate is a separate paper for gas used as vehicle fuel.
A gas compliance plate is a separate plate from the one that shows the van's weights. See our compliance plate guide for that one.
Selling a caravan in Queensland
- •Book close to the sale. The certificate must be issued no earlier than 3 months before the buyer takes the van.
- •If the inspection finds a fault. The installer gives you notice of the work needed. They issue the certificate after inspecting that work.
- •Who the rule covers. It covers anyone who "sells or otherwise transfers ownership", so it reaches a van you give to family. A sale or trade-in to a licensed motor dealer is outside the rule.
- •Sold as is, or the buyer agrees to go without. Section 116 lists no exception for either.
- •A van registered in another state. The rule also covers a van registered interstate.
- •Motorhomes, campervans and camper trailers. The regulation covers gas systems in vehicles and names a caravan, mobile home or food van. Business Queensland's caravan page also covers motorhomes, campervans and camper trailers. If yours has only a portable cooker, ask the Petroleum and Gas Inspectorate whether it counts.
- •An interstate certificate. It counts if it was issued under the other state's law and says the system meets the equivalent requirements.
- •An unregistered van. This section speaks of a currently registered vehicle. Ask the Petroleum and Gas Inspectorate what applies to yours.
- •A van used for hire or in a business. Its owner must have the gas system inspected and certified at least once a year.
- •The penalty. The regulation sets a maximum of 20 penalty units for not giving the buyer a copy. Queensland sets the dollar value of a penalty unit and can change it. Check the current value.
The safety certificate is a separate paper
Queensland also needs a safety certificate for caravans with an ATM (aggregate trailer mass) between 750kg and 4,500kg. Sellers other than licensed motor dealers get 2 months or 2,000km from the date of issue, whichever comes first. The two time limits differ, so book each one with its own limit in mind.
Buying a van with gas
Ask for the gas certificate, and look for the gas compliance plate or badge on the van. A certificate or plate records what was checked or done on its date. It does not show the gas is safe today.
In Queensland, a new van needs a certificate before it is offered for sale, and you get a copy before you take the van. The seller of a used registered van must also give you a copy before you take it, so ask a dealer for one too.
See our used caravan buying guide for the other checks.
What regulators say to check
Queensland judges a gas system against the safety requirements that applied when it was installed or altered. For a system installed before 31 December 2004, the regulation names AS 5601 (2004).
WA Building and Energy lists these for caravans:
- •Gas compartments sealed and vented to the outside.
- •Warning labels by the cylinder and appliances.
- •A gas fridge sealed from the room, with its back outside the caravan.
- •Appliances approved for use in Australia, and permanent ventilation.
- •Servicing to the maker's instructions, after long trips, or at least annually.
WA Building and Energy: camping safely
Building Commission NSW found these faults in its audits of recreational vehicle makers:
- •Work done by unqualified people.
- •Low pressure pipe that was not fully annealed copper (copper softened by heat), and joins made by pressing a fitting onto the pipe.
- •Less than 25mm between a gas pipe and electrical wiring.
- •Pipes without enough support, and a fridge not in a sealed recess.
Building Commission NSW, May 2023
An annex can restrict the air supply
Business Queensland warns that an annex enclosing a gas appliance, such as a slide-out kitchen, may restrict its air supply. Too little air can produce carbon monoxide.
How much it costs
Ask a licensed fitter for a quote before you book.
- •Does the price cover travel to the van?
- •Does it include the certificate and any plate?
- •How are repairs priced if the van needs work first?
Finding a licensed gas fitter
To find a fitter, ask a caravan service centre or search for a gas fitter near you, and ask whether they work on caravans. Ask for the fitter's licence number, then check it with your state. Gas work on a caravan is for licensed people only.
In Queensland, the licence must say the holder may inspect and certify the gas system. The regulation names a "servicing and caravan certification" licence, so ask whether theirs covers certifying a caravan.
- Queensland gas licence registers
- NSW Government: using a gasfitter
- Victoria: find and check a practitioner
- SA Government: licence check
- WA licence and registration search
- Tasmania: search licensed occupations
- NT WorkSafe: ask how to check a gas fitter's licence
- Access Canberra: public registers
If you smell gas
NT WorkSafe says:
- •Turn off pilot lights and appliances.
- •Open the windows and doors.
- •Leave, and call 000.
- •Turn the gas off at the cylinder if it is safe to do so.
- •Call your gas supplier.
Common questions
Do I need a gas certificate to sell my caravan in Queensland?
Yes, if the van is registered and has gas fitted. You give the buyer a copy before they take the van. A sale to a licensed motor dealer is the exception.
How long does a caravan gas certificate last?
For a Queensland sale, it must be issued no earlier than 3 months before the buyer takes the van. For a van used for hire or in a business, Queensland needs a new one at least once a year.
Who can issue a caravan gas certificate?
In Queensland, a person whose gas work licence says they may inspect and certify the gas system. Ask whether the licence covers certifying a caravan. In other states, ask a licensed gas fitter.
How much does a caravan gas certificate cost?
Ask a licensed fitter for a quote. Ask whether it covers travel, the certificate and any repairs the van needs.
Do I need a gas certificate to sell a caravan in NSW?
The NSW regulation says you must not sell a gas installation unless a compliance plate is attached. It names the caravan gas standard in clause 55A. Ask a licensed gasfitter to check the plate on your van.
Does the Queensland rule apply if I sell to a dealer?
No. The rule covers a sale or transfer to a buyer other than a licensed motor dealer, so a trade-in is outside it. If you buy a used van from a dealer, ask for a copy.