Motor vehicle inspections

Regular inspections encourage vehicle safety by checking key equipment such as brakes and steering, so that critical maintenance issues may be addressed.

• personal passenger vehicles that pass inspection will only require re-inspection every two years
• the required two-year inspection interval will apply to personal passenger vehicles, family motor coaches, antique vehicles, light commercial vehicles and farm trucks with an unladen curb mass of 3,000 kilograms or less
• the cost of inspecting a vehicle is $45 new two-year inspection stickers will be issued to vehicles passing inspection
• dealers selling a new vehicle with an unladen curb mass of 3,000 kilograms or less will issue an initial inspection that will be valid for three years
• inspection stickers for taxis will be valid for one year
• homemade trailers with a registered mass of 1,499 kilograms or less will require one-time inspection
• manufactured trailers with a registered mass of 1,499 kilograms or less will be exempt from inspection
• all other trailers will continue to require annual inspection

Listed below are the parts of a vehicle that should be inspected by the mechanic during an inspection on a passenger vehicle: 

• body, and seat belt assemblies
• windshield and windows
• horn
• windshield wipers
• rear-view mirror
• lighting systems
• exhaust system
• brake system
• steering system
• suspension system
• wheels and tires
• coupling system

Listed below are the areas of a vehicle that are inspected by a mechanic during an inspection on a bus, truck and/or tractor-trailer vehicles:

• power train
• suspension
• hydraulic brakes
• air brakes
• steering
• instruments and auxiliary equipment (i.e. windshield wipers)
• lamps
• electric system
• body
• tire and wheels
• couplers and hitches

Displaying a fraudulent or stolen inspection sticker is a violation of the Motor Vehicle Act, Section 250(4). An individual doing so would be subject to a fine of $292, and depending on the circumstances, police may lay additional charges under the Criminal Code of Canada related to theft or fraud, which would result in more serious penalties.

The rejection sticker issued by garages extends the period of inspection to 14 days but does not exempt the owner of the vehicle from equipment violations, such as faulty lights, during that period. The intent is to provide time to make repairs and have the vehicle re-inspected (at no extra cost). 
 
The rejection sticker does not indicate the vehicle is safe and does not exempt a driver from penalties if the vehicle is in a state of disrepair that jeopardizes safety.