Periodic vehicle inspections - Alberta

Application

The vehicle inspection requirements apply to a vehicle or combination of commercial vehicles that are registered for a gross weight of 11,794 kilograms or more, a converter dolly, or a bus.

The regulation does not apply to an off-highway vehicle, a transit bus, or a two- or three-axle vehicle that is used for the transportation of primary products of a forest, lake, or river, where the driver of the vehicle or the driver’s employer is the producer of those primary products.

Procedure

A commercial vehicle shall not be driven unless it has been inspected according to the Vehicle Inspection Regulations within the preceding 12 months. An inspection certificate and decal must have been issued.

Registered owners are responsible for ensuring that each bus, truck, or trailer owned by them receives the required annual inspection. All registered buses designed to carry 11 or more passengers, including the driver, must be inspected semi-annually.

The inspection certificate must be located within the vehicle. A converter dolly’s inspection certificate can be located in either the vehicle towing the converter dolly or located at the principal place of business of the converter dolly’s owner. The inspection decal must be securely affixed to the outside lower left-hand corner of the side window ensuring it doesn’t obscure visibility of mirror on a truck or truck-tractor, and to the outside lower left front corner of a trailer or semitrailer.

The inspection must take place at a licensed inspection station by or under the supervision of a licensed inspection mechanic.

Non-Alberta certificates

Certificates and/or decals issued by an inspection program in another jurisdiction whose inspection program is similar to Alberta’s inspection program, would be considered in compliance.

Law

Traffic Safety Act

Regulation

Vehicle Inspection Regulation AR 211/2006