If this is your first time owning a commercial vehicle, you may have many questions about commercial vehicle inspections. Commercial vehicle inspections are required by law in order to operate your vehicle. If you fail to have the proper vehicle inspection sticker, a police officer can remove your vehicle from the road. This means that you lose out on the money your commercial vehicle makes for you, and you may have to pay towing and impound fees as well. Getting answers to the questions you have about commercial vehicle inspections can help you to better understand the process and learn what you can expect. Here are a few frequently asked questions about this topic.
How Often Does My Commercial Vehicle Need to Be Inspected?
The type and weight of the commercial vehicle you have dictates how often the vehicle needs to be inspected. If you operate a bus that is designed to hold 10 or more passengers for anything other than commercial use, the vehicle must be inspected on a bi-yearly basis. If you own a truck, trailer or combination of the two, and they weigh more than 4,500 kg when operating extra-provincially or 11,794 when operating intra-provincially, your vehicles and trailers must be inspected yearly.
What Does a Commercial Vehicle Inspection Consist of?
When your commercial vehicle is due for an inspection, you must find an approved commercial vehicle inspection facility. You can find this information through the transportation website for the province in which you reside. The inspection facility has a lengthy vehicle inspection manual that it must follow when it comes to inspecting your commercial vehicle. The manual details what should be inspected, what is expected when that item is being inspected and what happens if it is incorrect. Based on the results of the inspection, your vehicle will either be deemed safe or unsafe. If deemed safe, you will receive your inspection sticker. During the inspection, some of the things that the mechanic will be looking at include the following:
- The condition of the vehicle's body
- The mirrors
- The headlights, taillights and any amber or emergency lights
- The brake system
- The wheels
- The engine
- The exhaust system
What Happens if My Vehicle Does Not Pass the Inspection?
If your commercial vehicle has been modified, improperly repaired or does not otherwise meet safety regulations, you will fail the safety inspection. If you fail your safety inspection, you may wonder what to do next. It is important that you understand that if you fail the inspection, you are not legally allowed to operate your vehicle, even if your current inspection sticker is not outdated. This means that you cannot drive it back to your home or even to a mechanic's shop to have repairs made. It must be towed wherever it is going.
A copy of the report stating your vehicle has failed inspection will be submitted to the transportation in your province for review and investigation. If you do not feel the report is fair or wish to dispute the report, the issue will need to be addressed with the transportation department, not the inspection station. If you agree with the inspection, you will need to have the repairs made quickly and have your vehicle reinspected. Once your vehicle passes inspection, you will be given a new sticker.
If you own a commercial vehicle, it is important that you understand when your vehicle needs to be inspected and what an inspector is looking for. If you fail to have your vehicle inspected, or it fails, you can lose out on the use of the vehicle, which can cost you money. First-time commercial vehicle owners should acquaint themselves with the vehicle inspection manual and get answers to any questions they may have about the process.
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