Registration for First time in British Columbia Inspections and Out of Province Inspection BC
If you’re moving a private vehicle to British Columbia from outside the province, you’ve probably heard that you must pass a safety check before you can register your vehicle here. The government gives you 30 days to do this. Commercial vehicles must be inspected immediately.
Safety inspections are done by private mechanics at designated inspection facilities authorized by the B.C. Ministry of Transportation.
If your vehicle fails, your mechanic will recommend fixes to allow you to pass on re-inspection.
What we check during a private vehicle inspection:
Here’s a full list so you know what to expect: Form MV-3199 is now online as a PDF
Types of commercial vehicles mandated for inspection:
- Commercial Vehicles with a licensed gross vehicle weight greater than 8,200 kg
- Commercial Trailers
- Vehicles operating under the authority of the Passenger Transportation Act (limousine, bus, taxi)
- Emergency vehicles with a licensed gross vehicle weight greater than 8,200 kg
- Industrial machines (X-plated) with a licensed gross vehicle weight greater than 17,300 kg
- Farm vehicles
- Farm vehicles with a licensed gross vehicle weight greater than 17,300 kg
- Buses
- School Buses
- Vehicles issued a Notice and Order for Inspection
**Inspections done in British Columbia are recognized in jurisdictions across Canada and in some jurisdictions outside of Canada.
What we check in a commercial vehicle safety inspection:
- Power Train
- Suspension
- Brakes (Hydraulic or Air)
- Steering
- Instruments, Auxiliary Equipment
- Lamps
- Electrical System
- Body and Frame
- Tires and Wheels
- Couplers and Hitches
- Special Use Vehicle Components
Not All “Certified” Facilities Are Equal
The way our system in BC is meant to work, your mechanic is supposed to inspect your vehicle for safety and tell you what to fix to pass the inspection. Because the program is done by private garages, it’s tough to regulate. Unfortunately, some garages may take advantage of this fact. Some will recommend expensive and unnecessary “repairs” to “help” you pass safety when all you actually needed to pass was a small fix.
A “certified” inspection facility isn’t enough: You need a trustworthy certified inspection facility to inspect your vehicle when you move to BC!
We use the Vehicle Inspection Manual (also known as the Standards of Safety and Repair) to guide us in measuring the safety of your vehicle during our inspection.
Bottom line: We are a certified inspection facility, and we take our duty seriously. We’ll give your vehicle a thorough inspection. We won’t tell you to fix anything that’s not broken.
We’ll do your first-time-registered-in-BC inspection right! We’re a Transport Canada authorized, NSM-compliant shop. Contact us NOW to schedule your inspection!