What a provincial inspection is
BC’s vehicle inspection program is run by the province’s Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement branch, known as CVSE. The inspections are done by Authorized Inspectors, who are trade-qualified mechanics authorized through CVSE. They work at shops the province has licensed as Designated Inspection Facilities.
A provincial inspection checks a vehicle against BC’s safety standards. A vehicle that passes gets a passed inspection report.
Which vehicles need one
The province keeps a list of the vehicles that must be inspected. For most drivers, what matters is bringing a vehicle in from another province or country (see below), or a Notice and Order for Inspection from a peace officer.
The rest of the list is mostly commercial and passenger-carrying vehicles. It includes commercial vehicles and trucks over 8,200 kg licensed gross vehicle weight, commercial trailers, buses, taxis and limousines, and vehicles owned by a driver training school.
Each inspection facility is licensed for certain types of vehicles, so call us at 604-853-2352 to check before you book.
Bringing a vehicle into BC
Unless they are exempt, vehicles coming from another province or country have to pass an inspection at a BC designated inspection facility before they can be registered in BC.
Qualified private vehicles from Alberta, Saskatchewan or Manitoba can be exempt, under the New West Partnership Trade Agreement. That exemption has conditions, so check before you assume it applies.
Call us at 604-853-2352 to see if your vehicle needs an out-of-province inspection.
At Hub Motor Service
We are a provincially licensed automotive repair and inspection facility. Myron Warkentin, Michael Warkentin and Corey Polson are all fully licensed Red Seal Automotive Technicians and vehicle inspectors. Myron started at the shop in 1983, and Michael in 2016. You can meet the rest of the team on our team page.
Our services page lists the rest of the work we do, including brakes, tires, and steering and suspension.