What’s Checked In A Vehicle Certified Safety Inspection Check
What needs to be checked to safety certify a car? It’s time to get your vehicle safetied, and you want to know what your mechanic will look for during the inspection.
Having this information will help you prepare for what costs to expect and if you’re mechanically inclined, fix things yourself so you can save a bit of money.
You need to get your vehicle safety certified if:
- Transferring ownership of the vehicle to someone else.
- You want to register a rebuilt or salvaged vehicle.
- The vehicle was originally registered in another province in Canada or outside Canada.
- You need to upgrade the vehicle from unfit to fit.
The following are the major parts of your vehicle that will be inspected to see if it meets the minimum safety standards and passes the inspection:
- The body of the vehicle
- The frame of the vehicle
- Seats and seatbelts
- Condition of tires, wheel mounts and rims
- Condition of the powertrain
- Condition of the suspension
- Fuel system and exhaust system
- Accelerator linkage
- Fluid leakages
- Brake System
- Steering
- Auxiliary equipment
- Electrical system
- Coupling devices
- Windshield wipers and horn
- Mirrors, lamps and reflectors
- Speedometer and starting switch
If the vehicle doesn’t pass the safety inspection, your mechanic will provide you with a report indicating which areas are of concern and need to be fixed before passing the test. You cannot legally drive the vehicle until these repairs are done.
Where Can You Get Your Vehicle Certified in Brantford?
In The Shop Auto Repairs & Sales. We will provide a vehicle safety and certification service for you at a competitive price. If you do not live in Brantford, you can search for a local mechanic that does vehicle safety checks.
Just make sure to call a few mechanics to get the best price because the price is not set by the Ontario government.
What if My Vehicle is Under Warranty?
You can still get your vehicle certified at the mechanic that you’ve been regularly using. There is also a good chance that you can get your vehicle regularly serviced at your usual mechanic even if it is under warranty. Read more here.
Browse through your manufacturer’s warranty and find out if it explicitly states you must have your vehicle maintained at the dealership your purchased it. It’s likely that there is no clause and as long as you bring your vehicle into maintenance on schedule, everything will be fine. Just let your dealership know so they’re duly notified.
Frequently Asked Questions about Vehicle Certification
How Long Does My Vehicle Certification Last?
You have 36 days to use your safety certification record before it becomes invalid. Within this timeframe you should be able to sell your vehicle, but If you pass the allotted time, you’ll have to do the inspection again.
How Long Does The Inspection Take?
Each mechanic does things a bit differently. Generally, the safety inspection will take approximately 1 to 2 hours to complete. During the inspection, your mechanic may find things that need to be fixed before certification. Any issues found could also prolong how long it takes to get the vehicle certified and of course increase the cost.
How Much Does Vehicle Certification Cost?
At In The Shop Auto Repair and Sales, the cost for a vehicle certification inspection is $150.00 plus HST. That is the base cost that doesn’t include any repairs are needed to certify the vehicle. After the inspection, if safety issues are found you will be given a detailed quote by your mechanic on what needs to be done and the costs of parts and labour.
Can I Sell My Car Without Being Certified?
You can sell a used vehicle without it being safety certified but potential buyers may be reluctant to buy or test drive it. This could mean it takes longer to sell the vehicle, and you’ll get less than what the vehicle could be worth.
What Are The Safety Exemptions?
If you are transferring the ownership of the vehicle to your spouse, you don’t need to get the vehicle safety certified. This also applies if you register a used motorized snow vehicle, off-road vehicle, trailer or moped.
How To Avoid a Costly Vehicle Certification
Get Regular Oil Changes & Maintain Your Vehicle
There’s a few things you can do to ensure your vehicle certification is less costly at the time you decide to sell your car. To start with, always make sure to stay up to date on your oil changes, and practice these maintenance tips. These are things you can do on your own on a regular basis which will keep your vehicle in good condition. You’ll also always know what’s going on with your vehicle which will reduce any expensive surprises when you go to certify it for selling.
Visit Your Mechanic Regularly
Even though your car may currently be driving smoothly and doesn’t have any problems, it’s always a good idea to make regular maintenance appointments with your mechanic to make sure everything is order.
When you go in for an oil change, or just to change your tires, you can ask your mechanic to look for any issues. This way you can always be on top of things as they happen and get them fixed before they get worse.
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