Alberta - Out of Province Vehicle Inspection

[RoadRunner]

Anyone from Edmonton in here that may or may not have been through this process and can offer any tips or recommendations on where do get this done where I'm not going to get "scamed"?

I've got a late model vehicle that has nothing wrong with it and has been regularly dealer maintainted. I've heard prices for this inspection can range from $50.00 to $200.00.

Since I believe that anything more than $50.00 is a rip-off for a late model vehicle, any tips on where to get this done at the low end of that range are most welcome.

Thanks.

[euphoria18_79]

Hi there,
I am not in edmonton, so i cannot comment on the prices there. However, here in a small town 2 hours from edmonton, for the Out of Province inspection, normally the price is between $150 and $300. A regular insurance inspection normally runs about 1 hours labour, but the Out of Province goes into a much greater detail, which means it will cost more. One thing to watch out for.. is part of the Out of Province inspection, it requires an allignment to be done. I have heard of shops charging for it, and not doing it. When i spoke to a garage here, the owner said that if the allignment looks to be proper, they check off that it is good.. but they are supposed to actually do one.

[canadiantofu]

I noticed a dealer call AutoWest .... 178 street and about 104 ave... is advertising out of province inspections for $79 or something like that...

Cann't speak on quality etc...

[BuildBuyBreed]

I moved from Toronto to Alberta 3 years ago, and the inspection for my car (2001 Hyundai Elantra GT) cost me around $50, and this was at a dealership, not a small garage or anything.

But the total cost came around $200 because I had to buy and install a block heater ($100), otherwise I wouldn't have passed.

It gets really cold out there.

[rc51]

I moved from Toronto to Alberta 3 years ago, and the inspection for my car (2001 Hyundai Elantra GT) cost me around $50, and this was at a dealership, not a small garage or anything.

But the total cost came around $200 because I had to buy and install a block heater ($100), otherwise I wouldn't have passed.

It gets really cold out there.

That's strange..that you 'had' to get a block heater..I don't think that's right as how can they sell brand new cars w/o block heaters...they're sold as an option. Maybe someone told you a little 'fib'.

(You think it gets cold here...try Winnipeg!! :D, that's COLD!!! )

We moved here last Sept. Got my truck and my wife's car done for about $80 each, wife's car passed with no issues, truck needed new brake pads up front, they were probably due, but I had forgotten.

Just got my bike done, and that cost $90 +GST, no issues whatsoever but I'm still puzzled how it passed inspection with all the mods I've done, I have no fender, have removed all the stock turn signals and brake lights and they've been replaced with after market versions which I didn't think were 100% legal...but I've got the inspection sheet marked as passed, got it registered and insured, so what do I care. Sometimes I think this Out of Province inspection thing is somewhat of a scam.

[Spidey]

When I moved I got out of it for my one vehicle as I had just a checkup done at the VW dealership. I just brought down all my records, etc and I didnt have to do it.

My van I did though as my records weren't as thourough as my cars

[rideboarder]

It sucks looking and calling all of these places cause most are trying to scam you! Anyone know off hand the best place to get an inspection done with honest people?

[west55]

I'm moving to alberta and shipping my car around the same time my nova scotia MVI expires. Should I wait and get an MVI done in alberta? or is my Nova Scotia MVI + Alberta out of province vehicle inspection good enough?

thanks,

[TrevorK]

It sucks looking and calling all of these places cause most are trying to scam you! Anyone know off hand the best place to get an inspection done with honest people?

Why not just go with Canadian Tire?

Because the out of province is regulated by the province there are strict standards and shop are more keen to follow them in comparison to an insurance inspection which has no standards.

Canadian Tire does these everyday and contrary to what some believe, they aren't out to rip people off. Maybe they aren't always the most qualified, but when it comes to an inspection that would typically be in your favour. A corporation stands behind them, unlike most other shops, and you have recourse because of that.


http://www2.infratrans.gov.ab.ca/vis/production/vishome.asp

You can find all the licensed facilities on the website above. Locate some near your residence and give them a call.

[Drizzt]

My girlfriend just moved from Vancouver to Calgary, and has brought her suzuki swift, which has seen a lot of miles. We're looking for any good/bad experiences you've had with inspection garages too.

When I first moved here, I learned one thing... The shop I took my car to (I don't recall the name, as it was a long time ago), said I needed 2 new tires, and if I got them from them (not for a good RFD price), the car would pass inspection, but if I got them installed elsewhere, then I'd have to pay for a full inspection again.

I've also heard bad stories about Canadian tire requiring work done that wasn't really needed, but for the most part, I'd agree that it would seem like a big corp like CT would be a good choice.

[whitecastle003]

If you plan on moving to Alberta, get an SAFETY inspection in your local jurisdiction while the vehicle is registered and operational. While it's not easy to find, the province will accept inspections from other jurisdictions provided they were performed within the last 90 days, in the province the vehicle is currently, or was last registered in.

You're less apt to get taken advantage of if you are already registered and licensed, and can just drive away if they fail you.


http://www.canlii.org/en/ab/laws/regu/alta-reg-211-2006/latest/alta-reg-211-2006.html

Recognition of other certificates

36(1) If the Registrar is satisfied that a jurisdiction outside Alberta operates a vehicle inspection program for salvage motor vehicles or out of province motor vehicles that is substantially similar to the vehicle inspection program established under this Regulation and the applicable Vehicle Inspection Manual for the type of motor vehicle being inspected, a subsisting document issued in the other jurisdiction that is substantially similar to a salvage motor vehicle inspection certificate or an out of province motor vehicle inspection certificate is deemed to be a certificate issued under this Regulation for the same type of vehicle, subject to any terms and conditions that the Registrar considers appropriate.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a document issued by another jurisdiction if that jurisdiction is not the jurisdiction in which the vehicle is registered.

(3) The Registrar may deem a subsisting certificate issued under this Regulation, subject to any terms and conditions that the Registrar considers appropriate, to be an out of province motor vehicle inspection certificate issued under this Regulation for the same type of vehicle.

(4) For the purposes of this Regulation, a document that is deemed to be a certificate under subsection (1) or (3) expires on the earlier of

(a) 90 days from the date on which the document was originally issued, and

(b) the date on which the document is scheduled to expire.

[Drizzt]

As a followup for anyone interested, I took the car to the Canadian Tire in Somerset, and they were pretty good. Only issues were the rear windshield wiper motor, sprayer, and blade.... So I fixed those myself and brought it back in for a no-charge final writeoff.

[orfila]

Hey there thanks for the posts they were real helpful. I recently moved from another province and needed an OPI

I called around a few places and had a rough average of $200 (including tax) for an OPI with some garages being able to fit me in anything from same day to next day to next week.

Went to one garage with an appointment: Montgomery Certigard on 16th and on arrival had a seriously dirty look from one of their mechanics as I pulled up and some violent hand gestures to pull out of their garage (OK so I wasn't meant to drive straight in but the doors were open and my last garages always told me to drive straight in - he could have asked nicely geez).

So I asked the receptionist whether they treated all their clients like that and they kinda shyed away from the question - the guy in question had walked out to the back so didn't even stay in the front to tell me why he had acted so badly to me (typical spineless bully)- I then saw him in the workshop area and he shot me another real nasty look for no god damn reason and was being seriously shifty - the type of look that turns your insides so ya know what - I wasn't going to have that dirtbag touch my vehicle AND pay him $200 so I left. I wonder whether he just hated women or other non-white skinned people because if he did I fitted both categories. My suggestion - avoid this garage

[rf134a]

Why not just go with Canadian Tire?

Because the out of province is regulated by the province there are strict standards and shop are more keen to follow them in comparison to an insurance inspection which has no standards.

Canadian Tire does these everyday and contrary to what some believe, they aren't out to rip people off. Maybe they aren't always the most qualified, but when it comes to an inspection that would typically be in your favour. A corporation stands behind them, unlike most other shops, and you have recourse because of that.


http://www2.infratrans.gov.ab.ca/vis/production/vishome.asp

You can find all the licensed facilities on the website above. Locate some near your residence and give them a call.

:arrowu: +1. I had to get my car inspected when I imported it. Brand new with 2000 miles. CT charges $176 including GST.

The inspection is actually quite intensive. None of this drive in, drive out thing. They actually clicked in EVERY seat belt, tested every light, etc, etc. No block heater is required since my car didn't have it. CT will FAIL your car if it has a DRL off button, so whip out that electrical tape!

I wouldn't trust CT to do repairs, but they're fine for inspections since all inspectors must be provincially certified and trained. The guy who can barely change the oil isn't the same person who signs off on the inspection certificate.

[mukhtarahmad]

For information of those interested, I recommend AutoRX Repair Centres Ltd (6532 104 St
Edmonton, T6H 2L2).

They did the OPI on my 2001 Honda CRV today morning in 1hrs & 45 mins for a total cost of $101. They were pretty quick and accurate on recommendation on issues that require future attention such as T-belt and cracked external belts while providing a competitive quote in case I need to get them fixed later. Midas, VW & Dodge dealers and Canadian Tire were all charging between $145 to $300.

Wish you all good luck!

[uglyguy]

great thread ...

I have a 2009 Land Rover LR3 on route from Montreal to Edmonton. I have to find a place for its OPI too. I think I will take it to Canadian Tire. I hope and cross my fingers/toes no big issue.