Periodic vehicle inspections - Ontario

Application

Under Ontario Regulation 611, Safety Inspections, commercial vehicles, trucks, trailers, and buses are required to undergo periodic safety inspections. Ontario has adopted the provisions of National Safety Code (NSC) Standard 11B, Periodic Motor Vehicle Inspections, into its regulations (with amendments) (NSC Standard 11B is part of NSC Standard 11, Maintenance and Periodic Inspection Standards, dated October 2014, as amended from time to time).

Commercial vehicles are those that have a combined gross weight exceeding 4,500 kilograms. The combined gross weight of a commercial vehicle is the total of the gross weight, registered gross weight, or manufacturer’s gross vehicle weight rating of each commercial motor vehicle, trailer, or trailer converter dolly included within the commercial vehicle.

NSC Standard 11B applies to buses that are designed, constructed, and used for the transportation of passengers with a designated seating capacity of more than 10, including the driver, but excluding the operation for personal use.

Buses require inspections semi-annually.

Procedure — commercial vehicles

Commercial vehicles must be inspected in accordance with the inspection requirements NSC Standard 11B, as modified by Ontario, for commercial motor vehicles.

If a commercial vehicle has been inspected in accordance with the inspection requirements and complies with the performance standards, the licensee of the station in which the vehicle was inspected, a person authorized in writing by the licensee, or the motor vehicle inspection mechanic who inspected the vehicle will:

• Complete the annual inspection certificate and annual inspection report and provide copies of them to the owner or lessee;
• Indicate the month and year of inspection and the vehicle type on the annual inspection sticker corresponding to the certificate; and
• Remove or cover any annual inspection sticker relating to a previous inspection and affix the current annual inspection sticker as follows:
  • For a commercial motor vehicle, to the outer surface of the lower left hand corner of the windshield, or to a conspicuous position on the left side of the truck cab; or
  • For a trailer or trailer converter dolly, to its outer surface, on the left side and as close as possible to the front of it.

An annual inspection sticker is valid until the end of the 12th month after the month of inspection indicated on the sticker.

The Ontario-specific modifications to inspection requirements and performance standards for commercial vehicles are set out in Ontario Regulation 611, Schedule 3. Schedule 3 is available at www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/regs/english/elaws_regs_900611_e.htm.

Exemptions

The periodic inspection requirements do not apply to the following classes of vehicles:

• A motor vehicle commonly known as a recreational vehicle or as a motor home, other than a motor vehicle that is carrying commercial cargo or tools or equipment of a type normally used for commercial purposes, or carrying animals or non-commercial tools, equipment, or vehicles that occupy one-half or more of its floor space; or
• A house trailer, other than a house trailer owned or leased by an employer to house the employer’s employee, carrying commercial cargo or tools or equipment of a type normally used for commercial purposes, or carrying animals or non-commercial tools, equipment, or vehicles that occupy one-half or more of its floor space.
• A pick-up truck and a trailer if it is being used for personal purposes without compensation, and the pick-up truck and trailer is not carrying commercial cargo or tools or equipment of a type normally used for commercial purposes.
• A self-propelled concrete pump or a mobile crane (until July 1, 2020).

An unladen commercial vehicle is exempt from the requirements while being operated under the terms of a special permit issued to a manufacturer or dealer under Regulation 628 of the Revised Regulations of Ontario, 1990 (Vehicle Permits) or under the terms of a dealer number plate or a service number plate issued under that regulation.

A commercial vehicle, bus, school purposes vehicle, or accessible vehicle displaying or carrying valid evidence of compliance with the periodic inspection requirements of any Canadian jurisdiction other than Ontario is exempt from the requirements.

A commercial vehicle, bus, school purposes vehicle, or accessible vehicle displaying or carrying valid evidence of compliance with the periodic inspection requirements contained in Part 396, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations based on an inspection carried out in the United States is exempt from the requirements.

Law

Highway Traffic Act, Section 85

Regulation

Ontario Regulation 611, Safety Inspections