4.10.02 Vehicle Inspections / Vehicle Inspection Certificate

Policy

To register an out of province vehicle (this includes antiques, imports and vehicles purchased from dealerships), the vehicle must:   

  • Be in Alberta.
  • Have one of the following inspections completed on it:
    • Out of Province Vehicle Inspection.
    • Salvage Vehicle Inspection.
    • Commercial Vehicle Inspection.

Vehicles currently registered, cancelled and/or expired on MOVES, that have left the province, been registered elsewhere, and are returning to Alberta will require an out of province vehicle inspection.

All vehicle inspections must be completed at an Alberta Vehicle Inspection Facility. A list is available on www.alberta.ca. 

Exceptions:

  • The following vehicles do not require an out of province inspection:
    • New vehicles with a NVIS from any Canadian jurisdiction.
    • Off-highway vehicles.
    • International Registration Plan (IRP) Prorate vehicles.
    • Trailers.

Vehicles that may be Exempt from an Alberta Vehicle Inspection

The following vehicles may be exempt from an Alberta vehicle inspection if the vehicle history does not indicate salvage, rebuilt or non-repairable and it meets the following criteria:

New Vehicles Purchased/Leased from another Canadian Jurisdiction

A client must provide:

  • Acceptable identification; see 2.05.02 Acceptable Identification / Enrolment.
  • A bill of sale or lease agreement from a factory authorized dealer. The bill of sale or lease agreement must be: 
    • Dated within the last 90 days.
    • In the name of the person requesting the exemption.

A registry agent must:

New vehicles from the United States 

A client must provide:

  • Acceptable identification; see 2.05.02 Acceptable Identification / Enrolment.
  •  A bill of sale or lease agreement from a factory authorized dealer. The bill of sale or lease agreement must be: 
    • Dated within the last 90 days.
    • In the name of the person requesting the exemption.
  • Vehicle Import Form issued by Transport Canada completed and displaying two stamps.
  • Original Certificate of Origin or State Issued Title in the name of the client requesting to register the vehicle, or the name of the dealership the vehicle was purchased from.

A registry agent must:

Used Vehicles from British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba being Registered to the Same Person in Alberta

BC, SK, or MB Motor Vehicles Newer Than Four Years 

Four years means current year plus the previous three model years. Applies to vehicles with an “active” status that are being registered by individuals moving from BC, SK, or MB. Does not apply to vehicles registered to organizations or vehicles being imported from BC, SK, or MB by an Alberta resident.

A client must provide:

A registry agent must:

BC, SK, or MB Motor Vehicles, Older Than Four Years with Government Issued Vehicle Inspection within 90 Days 

This exemption does not apply to vehicles registered to organizations or vehicles being imported from BC, SK, or MB by an Alberta resident.

A client must provide:

  • Acceptable identification; see 2.05.02 Acceptable Identification / Enrolment.
  • Proof of BC, SK, or MB registration in the name of the person requesting the exemption.
  • BC, SK, or MB government inspection certificate issued in the past 90 days.

A registry agent must:

Pre-MOVES Alberta Used Vehicles

When a client previously had a vehicle registered in their name in Alberta, but the vehicle cannot be located on MOVES or through a CCMTA IRE search (explosive – AC), the vehicle may be exempt from requiring an out of province inspection.

To be exempt from an out of province inspection, a client must provide:

A registry agent must:

  • Complete a CCMTA IRE search.
    • If the vehicle shows as last registered in another jurisdiction, an out of province inspection is required. 
  • Complete a Vehicle Identification Number Inspection Certificate (REG3044) (xdp). 
    • The REG3044 may be completed by law enforcement as well. For inspection exemptions, a REG3044 completed by the client requesting the exemption is not acceptable.
  • Create the vehicle on MOVES with a status of oop-exempt.
  • Change the status of the vehicle from oop-exempt to active; see QR 4.9 - Out of Province CCMTA Vehicle Status Chart (pdf).
    • Enter another copy of the vehicle registration certificate to the VIR-DOC field in MOVES.
Commercial Vehicles

See 4.15.01 Alberta Transportation Certificates.
 

CCMTA IRE Search

Effective April 13, 2010, all new and used vehicles imported into Canada (14 years and newer) will be reflected in the across Canada CCMTA IRE search (explosive - AC). Canada Customs will provide the Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) with information, including the vehicle status, recorded on one of the following Transport Canada Vehicle Import Forms: Vehicle Import Form – Form 1, Vehicle Import Form – RIV, Vehicle Import Form – RIV Exempt, or Vehicle Imported for Parts – Form 3. All imported vehicles will display an "RV" code in the province field on the CCMTA IRE screen.

A vehicle’s status must be confirmed on the CCMTA IRE system for all out of province and imported vehicles. A registry agent must complete an across Canada CCMTA IRE search (explosive - AC) for each vehicle. The status determines the type of inspection required; see QR 4.9 - Out of Province CCMTA Vehicle Status Chart (pdf).

Note:
If a vehicle newer than 15 years does not display on the Canada CCMTA IRE search (explosive - AC) a registry agent must contact Transportation and Economic Corridors (TEC) for status confirmation by emailing tec.adminvip@gov.ab.ca.

Vehicles 15 years and older will not display on the Canada CCMTA IRE search (explosive - AC). Vehicles must be created using the documents provided by the vehicle owner.

Out of Province Vehicles

A registry agent must:

  • Wait for all provinces to respond when the vehicle’s originating province is unknown.
    • When a vehicle match is displayed for multiple provinces, the vehicle must be created on MOVES using the last reported status provided this status is the next allowable status; see QR 4.9 - Out of Province CCMTA Vehicle Status Chart.
      • When the last reported status is not the next allowable status, a registry agent must contact TEC to determine how to enter the vehicle status on MOVES (e.g. the last reported status is showing as active but a previous status shows as rebuilt/salvage).
  • Ensure that when a client provides a valid registration from another province, a response from that province must be obtained.
    • A registry agent is not required to wait on delayed responses or an N24 error code (system down) for other jurisdictions. 

Stolen Status - Out of Province Vehicles

When a CCMTA IRE search identifies an out of province vehicle with a stolen status:

  • Create the vehicle record on MOVES with an out-of- province stolen status (oop-stolen).
  • The client must contact the jurisdiction with the stolen status, as no further action may be taken until that status has been updated by the former jurisdiction; see 4.00.01 Vehicle Ownership, Creation & Registration Documents.

Duplicate VINs - Out of Province Vehicles

When a CCMTA IRE search identifies an out of province vehicle with a duplicate VIN message, use the record that displays the vehicle status. When a duplicate VIN message appears for British Columbia, if you have the BC licence plate number, use it to complete another CCMTA IRE search to confirm the vehicle status.

Vehicle Not Found - Out of Province

When the out of province vehicle is not found using the CCMTA IRE search a registry agent must:

  • Request proof of origin documentation (previous registration, bill of sale, etc.).
    • Review the proof of origin documentation for vehicle status.
      • If no vehicle status is indicated, an out of province vehicle inspection is required.
      • If a salvage status is indicated, a salvage vehicle inspection is required.
  • Record the proof of origin documentation on the registration application and submit a photocopy of the documentation for imaging as a support document.

Unsafe Status - Quebec

Commercial vehicles from Quebec with a:

  • CCMTA status code of 2 and a MOVES code of oop-unsafe, a commercial vehicle inspection is required.
    • Create the vehicle on MOVES with an oop-active status, using the Quebec screen print as your support document. The status will be updated to an active status with a valid commercial vehicle inspection.
  • CCMTA status code of 4 and a MOVES code of oop-unsafe, a salvage vehicle inspection is required.
    • Create the vehicle on MOVES with an oop-unsafe status, the vehicle status will be updated to rebuilt with a valid salvage vehicle inspection.

If a registry agent has any questions regarding a Quebec unsafe status contact TEC at (780) 427-8901.

Salvage Status – Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV)

When a CCMTA IRE search identifies an out of province vehicle with a:

  • CCMTA status code of 2 and a MOVES code of oop-salvage, the vehicle must be created on MOVES with an oop-active status.
  • CCMTA status code of 4 or 8 and a MOVES code of oop-salvage, the vehicle must be created on MOVES with an oop-salvage status.

New/Used Vehicles Imported from a Jurisdiction Outside of Canada

Vehicles imported from a jurisdiction outside of Canada will display one of the following three statuses on the CCMTA IRE screen:

  • oop-active
  • oop-salvage
  • oop-nonrepairable
    • When the vehicle status on the CCMTA IRE screen indicates oop-nonrepairable a registry agent must select the extended client information and review the comments entered under the Client 2 field.
      • When the comment indicates flood damage, no vehicle inspection is required and the vehicle cannot be registered in Alberta. The registry agent must contact TEC at (780) 427-8901 or send the CCMTA IRE screen print to tec.vipadmin@gov.ab.ca.

A registry agent must contact TEC at (780) 427-8901 for all vehicles imported from a jurisdiction outside of Canada when:

  • A client presents a Transport Canada Import Form and no results are displayed on the across Canada CCMTA IRE search.
  • A client is disputing the vehicle status recorded on the across Canada CCMTA IRE search.
    • E.g. Manufacturer buybacks/lemons are displayed as salvage. This may be an error; a registry agent must contact TEC (780) 427-8901 for status confirmation.
    or
  • There is a discrepancy between the vehicle status displayed on the across Canada CCMTA IRE search and the information recorded on the Transport Canada Import Form.
    • When the vehicle status on the Transport Canada Import Form is recorded as rebuilt and the RV search indicates salvage, a salvage inspection is required and the registry agent is not required to contact TEC.

Alberta Vehicle Inspection Certificate

The inspection certificate must:
  • Be the original.
  • Be the appropriate inspection for the status of the vehicle.
  • Have the correct VIN recorded.
  • Be dated within the last 14 days.
    • When the certificate is more than 14 days old, a new inspection is required. There are no exceptions.
  • Be from an approved Alberta Vehicle Inspection Facility and signed by a licensed journeyman/technician.

Change or Error on a Vehicle Inspection Certificate

When a change or error has been made on a vehicle inspection certificate the client must:

  • Return to the inspection facility to have a new inspection certificate issued.
    • The licensed journeyman/technician who completed the initial certificate must issue a new inspection certificate.

Note:
The Alberta issued Government Vehicle Inspection Certificate must not be accepted if changes or corrections have been made to any of the vehicle information or dates.

Invalid Out of Province/Salvage Vehicle Inspection Certificate

When MOTRIS indicates the Out of Province/Salvage Vehicle Inspection Certificate is invalid, MOVES will display the following error message 'SEE MOTRIS MSG IN SM'. A registry agent must:

  • Contact TEC at (780) 427-8901 if this occurs during their regular office hours. 
    • TEC will provide the registry agent with further instructions.

or

  • Email a copy of the inspection certificate along with the MOVES screen print displaying the error message to Vehicle Safety at trans.adminvip@gov.ab.ca when this error message occurs outside of their office hours. Ensure the following additional information is noted on the MOVES screen print. 
    • Owner's name and telephone number.
    • Registry agent's name and telephone number.

All copies of the invalid Out of Province/Salvage Vehicle Inspection Certificates must be forwarded to Motor Vehicles. Motor Vehicles will then forward the certificates to TEC.

Imaging

 All Supporting documents must be sent for imaging; see the appropriate sub section in 1.15 Imaging.


Date Originally Issued: Mar 12, 1997
Date Last Revised: Dec 16, 2024