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FAQs

Q. Why is my vehicle weightcompliance important?

A. Ensuring your vehicle is weight compliant is crucial due to:

Road safety
Weight compliance helps to maintain your vehicle’s stability, handling, and on-road accident risk reduction.

Driver & passenger safety

Overloaded and weight imbalanced vehicles increase the risks of dangerous situations for the driver, passengers, and others on the road.

Insurance coverage
If your vehicle is found to be non-compliant with regulations, insurance claims may be denied.

Legal compliance
Vehicle weight non-compliance can result in fines, penalties, and even vehicle impoundment.

Accident liability
Overloaded vehicles increase your liability risk in the event of an accident if it is seen as contributing to the severity of damage.

Q. How much does vehicle weighing cost?

A. The cost of weighing your caravan, campervan, motorhome, vehicle, trailer, or boat will vary based on factors such as your location and setup.

The below prices can be used as a rough guide to determine your weight assessment’s costs:

Private Booking

  • Mobile weigh in at convenient location
  • Safety inspection
  • 3-page assessment report (provided after initial appointment)
  • Professional consultation
  • Standard price is $350.00 inc gst


Group Booking (special discount available)

  • Mobile weigh in at convenient location
  • Multiple vehicle and trailer individual weight assessments
  • Safety inspections
  • 3-page assessment reports (provided after initial appointment)
  • Professional consultation
  • Group booking price (4 or more) receive 10% discount each

Q.What do I need to prepare for my weigh?

A. To get the most accurate and insightful results at your weight assessment, we recommend you make these preparations:

  • Ensure the vehicle, caravan and/or trailer are accessible and ready for our team
  • Have your vehicle’s information ready
  • Lock up any pets you may have in the area
  • Load your vehicle, caravan and/or trailer to your ‘worst-case scenario’ capacity
  • Fill all water tanks and fuel tanks
  • Pack your typical holiday belongings and accessories
  • Sit back with a cuppa and let us do the rest

Q. What happens at my weigh?

A.

  1. Once we arrive, we’ll set up our equipment and get to work promptly.
  2. We’ll ask you a series of questions about your vehicle and trailer, including compliance ratings and plate location.
  3. We’ll take a series of measurements in various scenarios and check all seven-compliance metrics between your vehicle and trailer.
  4. We’ll conduct a thorough safety inspection including checks and tests on your break away systems, shackles, and chains to ensure their compliance.  
  5. We’ll sit down with you to go over the results, answer questions, and provide our feedback and recommendations for any changes or modifications you may need to be compliant and safe.
  6. We’ll provide you with a comprehensive 3-page report that contains all our measurements, data, and recommendations for your setup in an easy-to-read format.

Q. What happens if my vehicle is overweight?

A.  Overweight vehicles come with a big list of potential risks that aren’t worth taking. These include:

  • Reduced braking efficiency
  • Premature tyre wear and increased tyre failures
  • Poor vehicle performance and fuel efficiency
  • Increased risk of on-road accidents
  • Fines for non-compliance
  • Risk of voided warranties
  • Risk of accident liability
  • Risk of insurance claim rejections

      Don’t risk it. Weigh it.

Q. What areas do Weigh Station service?

A.

Victoria
We service all metropolitan, regional, and rural areas in Victoria.

New South Wales
Check our list of partners for NSW weighing services

South Australia
Check our list of partners for SA weighing services

Western Australia
Check our list of partners for WA weighing services

Queensland
Check our list of partners for QLD weighing services

Northern Territory
Check our list of partners for NT weighing services

Tasmania
Check our list of partners for TAS weighing services

Australian Capital Territory
Check our list of partners for ACT weighing services

Q. Do Weigh Station provide weigh bridge tickets or certifications?

A.  Weigh Station’s expertise and accuracy means our weigh bridge tickets are accepted by Road Transport Authorities and VASS Engineers. Once your setup is up to code, we’ll vouch for its safety and compliance on our roads.

Q. What do GVM, GCM, ATM, GTM, TBM, and BTC mean?

A. Well, first thing’s first, they’re not crypto currencies!

The terms used in vehicle and trailer tow weights and measurements can seem like a crash course in advanced engineering. We’ve broken the most commonly used measurements down for you:

GVM – Gross Vehicle Mass

Your GVM is the total maximum weight your vehicle should be when it’s fully loaded.
This weight is set by the vehicle manufacturer and cannot be exceeded by law.
It includes your:

  • Driver and passengers
  • Fuel
  • Cargo
  • Aftermarket accessories (including your towball mass)

GCM – Gross Combined Mass

The combined weight of your vehicle and trailer/caravan when they’re hitched on and loaded to capacity. Your specified GCM can often be much less than your actual combined mass, and many people get caught out towing far more than the GCM limit for their setup.

ATM – Aggregate Trailer Mass

Your ATM is the total weight of your fully loaded caravan, campervan, or trailer when it’s unhitched from your vehicle. It includes the TARE weight and provides you with an idea of your leftover payload for your cargo, water tanks, fuel, etc.  

GTM – Gross Trailer Mass

Your GTM is the total allowable weight demand your trailer/caravan can put on its wheels and axles when it’s fully loaded and hitched to your vehicle (doesn’t include your towball mass which becomes part of your GVM when hitched).

TBM – Towball Mass

Your towball mass is the total maximum weight your trailer/caravan can load onto your vehicle. Your TBM will vary with how loaded your caravan/trailer is and can’t exceed your vehicle’s legal limit. Your TBM will also be included in your vehicle’s GVM when weighing.

 BTC – Braked Towing Capacity

Your BTC sets the maximum weight your vehicle can tow legally and is set by your vehicle’s manufacturer. Your BTC is generally the same weight limit as your ATM and cannot be exceeded.

Q. What kind of vehicles can Weigh Station provide a weight assessment for?

A. In short, most of them! Here’s a quick list of what we can weigh:
  • Cars
  • 4WDs
  • Trade vehicles
  • Caravans
  • Campervans
  • Camper
  • trailers
  • Motor homes
  • Boats
  • Boat trailers
  • Jet Skis
  •  Pontoons
  •  Houseboats
  •  Horse floats
  • Trade trailers
  • Horse floats
  • Tiny homes

Q. How do I keep my vehicle and towing setup safe and compliant?

A. The responsibility of safety and compliance always belongs to you. Here are our top tips for keeping your vehicle and towing setup safe and compliant:

Regular maintenance
Always keep your vehicle maintenance up to date and check critical components such as your brakes, tyres, suspension, and safety equipment.

Obey road laws
Always obey the law on our roads and adhere to the speed limit, cornering limits, and other road signs.

Don’t overload
Never overload your vehicle, trailer, or boat, or exceed its weight capacity.

Safety equipment
Always ensure you’re equipped with the proper safety equipment that is maintained and operational such as seatbelts, airbags, and child restraints.

Stay informed
Stay informed of any changes in regulations, requirements, or safety guidelines relating to your vehicle type.

Regular vehicle inspections
Regularly inspect your vehicle and its attachments for wear and tear, compliance issues, or safety concerns (Weigh Station can do this for you!)

Professional weighing services
Don’t try to guess your own weight and risk your safety and compliance. Call Weigh Station to accurately measure, inspect, and improve your weight distribution.

Driver training
You’re never too new or too experienced to learn more. Consider taking a driver refresher course or specific vehicle driving course to enhance your skills and brush up on road safety.

Emergency preparedness
Always carry a fully stocked first aid kit, emergency contact information, remote communication devices, and consider first aid training before you travel.

Environmental and cultural impact
Be aware of the different environmental and cultural regulations of the areas you’re travelling to and through, and your vehicle’s impact on the environment.