Vehicle inspections in Maritime Canada
 

Hello All,

Just wanted to comment on something that came up in another thread WRT vehicle inspections in NB and NS. In these provinces vehicle inspections are conducted annually on ALL cars and trucks licensed and insured in these provinces. There was a comment made that there was no way a car can go from safe to unsafe in 1 yr. Well, I'm here to tell you it can. Having lived in NB for 6yrs, I saw it in both a law enforcement capacity as well as with my own vehicles.

These inspections, take about an hour to complete and at the time I left in 06 cost about $25. There was a move then to get the price increased as garages were loosing money on each inspection as the average hourly labour rate was at the $65 mark.

So, the real question is, are they required. Well, living here in Manitoba where the province is trying to improve the safety of all vehicles on the road, I think yearly inspections by qualified mechanics is the way to go. In the maritimes, where the highways in the spring are white from all the salt used through the winter and cars ooz salt until owners get it all washed off..(If they even bother) this over time takes it's toll on the vehicle. Add to this the normal wear an tear on brakes, tires, halogen lights, etc then yes these inspections are a good thing. It brings any shortcoming of your vehicle to your attention and, should your car fail, they give you 2 weeks to get it to pass. If all owners/drivers thuroughly checked over their vehicles before driving, then perhaps these inspections would not be required. But, not many people do check all these things, so they become a required necessity in NB and NS.

It was also noted be one author, that these inspections should be done every 2 years with thier emmissions testing. Well, as far as I know the only provinces with manditory emmissions testing are ON and BC, so...this would not work due to neither NB or NS having manditory emmissions testing..nor do I see that happening any time soon there.

So..comments....??

Shoulda posted this with the original thread - I missed that one, so there's no way to compare what you're saying to the original comments.

The one side will say , yes, inspections are a good thing, and considering some of the death traps out there. (Not related 100%, but you want to talk scary vehicles on the road, drive through Detroit sometime) The other side will say it's just another cash grab by the government. If you're driving a car that's less than five years old, you've got nothing to worry about - the lower income drivers that have to be a little more careful with thier money will be the ones hit by these inspections, as it's the older vehicles that will require the most attention.

Besides that, a case of beer under the table can get you that inspection sticker no?

Ok - just caught the reason you posted in a new thread, the other one got locked down for the whole daytime running lights thing and you wanted to be heard. Let's see how long this one lasts - I still maintain it's a cash grab for any vehicle less than five years old. And, if garages are only getting paid $25, do you really think they're spending a full hour doing the inspection? Can you say "rubber stamp"? lol

Actually,

Anywhere I took my cars in Fredericton did take about an hour..as I stayed and watched them get done. Also, I have seen cars there, 1 in fact was 1 year old and had to have the engine replaced (A Toyota no less) due to zero servicing. So yes, I do believe that after the first year of ownership inspections are a good thing. A brand new car is "inspected" as part of the pdi process. You have to understand how fast vehicles deteriorate in the maritimes, esp if they are not maintained. Plus at $25 per inspection...the government is not getting much if anything from them other than piece of mind that there is at least a minimum standard for safety with the veh's on the road.

Exception, not the rule. If you buy a brand new car and do not perform the service required and need an engine after only one year, you're an idiot and pretty much got what you deserved. Not only are you an idiot, not performing the basic scheduled maintenance in the owner's manual also voids the factory warranty, so you'll be a broke idiot! :chacha:

Numbers wise, I would still say that any car less than five years old is not going to have a problem passing the vehicle inspection, regardless if it's in the Maritimes or not. Cash grab, $25 at a time.:LOL: I'm not disputing the logic on safe vehicles, I agree with you 100% on that - Ontario had a rash of truck tires that flew off on the highway and killed some folks. The OPP usually picks the long weekends to harass and annoy for thier big safety blitzes, and there are some good ones there that might have been caught by yearly inspections,but I will dispute the logic on anything less than five years old, because I don't think the proof is there.

Well,

until you live in the maritimes and actually see the crap on the roads, which even with inspections it is astounding what you'll see, you really don't understand why the system was brought in. I've seen one and two year old vehicles with burnt out lights, cracked windshields..etc, etc..so from a law enforcement point of view...inspections are a good thing..and I wish Manitoba would bring them in.

Sorry dude - didn't realize you were only looking for comments that agreed with your own point of view. You seem to be unwilling to look at any side of the discussion other than your own, or even acknowledge another opinion, which doesn't really surprise me a great deal. :lol

Not at all..

I welcome your input..however until you live there..or at least spend some time there in the winter..and see what goes on, it makes it difficult to truely understand the situation is all I am saying...I haven't lived in ON in over 20yrs so I wouldn't dare comment on how or why things are done like say emmissions testing..I think that's a huge money grab as well...esp when they think older cars cannot and will not pass. I've proven with an old 89 Buick I used to have that they could pass if properly maintained. DO I agree with the program..no..esp if the program is in place simply as an excuse to get old cars off the road. I've heard of cars about 5 yrs old not passing emmissions testing as well..so....I guess I'll shut up now...LoL..cause I guess I kinda did comment on things in Ontario...oh well...LoL

Thank God we do not have them here and I am a perfect example of why they should not be done to all cars. My car will be 2 in Jan and have 2200 kms 200+ coats of polish/wax and never been driven on a wet road or washed for that matter. I guess if I lived out east (did in 83) I would be lumped in with the retards that do not take care of their cars so I suppose all must pay.

When I moved there in 2000, I had my 98 Mustang and it bothered me more that they had to drill holes in the front bumper for the front licence plate. Coming from Edmonton and no front plates...it was very traumatic!!