News release

Changes to Motor Vehicle Inspection Program

Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations (Oct. 2000 - March 2014)

Less frequent motor vehicle inspections for passenger vehicles and light trucks is one of the changes to the inspection program announced today, Feb. 26, by Richard Hurlburt, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations.

The re-designed program will be implemented in two stages, the first to begin April 1 with the final changes after June 1.

"We are making changes that will reduce the burden on vehicle owners without compromising road safety or consumer protection," said Mr. Hurlburt. "These are the foundation of our program and too important not to get right."

Effective April 1, new passenger vehicles that have had a dealer pre-delivery inspection will not require an inspection for the first three years. Other passenger vehicles will require an inspection every two years.

A process will be added to allow vehicle owners with valid inspection stickers to get a second opinion if their vehicle fails an inspection. There will also be a change to the complaint process that will make it easier for Nova Scotians to have their complaint reviewed by government.

Effective June 1, there will be a reduction in the number of elements to be inspected once an initial inspection has been completed, and there will be more road-side vehicle checks.

The program will still require motor vehicle inspections when vehicle ownership is transferred and when a vehicle transfers into the province.

Mr. Hurlburt added that, "the program's re-design brings it more in line with national and international programs."

Government heard concerns from many vehicle owners and industry representatives about the passenger and light truck motor vehicle inspection program. As a result, the province called for a full program review in December 2008.

The first phase in the process was to evaluate program effectiveness and conduct a jurisdictional and literature review. Once this phase was completed and findings analyzed, it was clear that a program re-design was needed.

"We listened to Nova Scotians, we reviewed our program and those in place across Canada and around the globe," said Mr. Hurlburt. "From this, there was no doubt that our program needed to change."

Industry training sessions on the new inspection program will be held between March and May to ensure a consistent application of the program.

The re-designed program applies to Type 1 vehicles, which include passenger vehicles, trucks or trailers with 4,500 kilogram registered gross weight and under, motorcycles or motor-driven cycles, and recreation vehicles such as motor-homes and travel trailers.

Nova Scotia's commercial motor vehicle inspection program remains unchanged.

For more information visit www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr .