Canadian Tire no longer inspecting RHD's

[SnowSlide]

because of the tightening regulations here in Canada, Canadian Tire doesn't want to take the risk of losing their inspection license. As a result, they no longer inspect any right hand drive vehicles. A current (July 2006) list of registered inspection facilities is here:

http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/CVSE/vehicle_in ... F/DIFs.pdf

[mark]

I would recommend Axle Alley Auto Repair (south end of Cambie Street bridge in Vancouver).

While the Delica initially failed on account of front brake rotors, exhaust pipe and lack of DRLs, they do have great service (and are much cheaper than Canadian Tire).

[BCDelica]

I wonder where you heard this information? I called our Canadian tire twice and informed them I have a RHD Japanese vehicle that needs inspection and they made me an appointment. I inquired if they inspect RHD vehicles and the service manger said sure, I ask him to look into what they can do for certain and call me back. Well, a week later, he called today and said that CT can't install a BC VIN, otherwise they just do the Federal inspection.

So now in Powell River I have to have a federal inspection at CT and provincial inspection at my usual shop.

[mark]

Just wondering Kevin why you need a federal inspection -- I've imported two vehicles so far from Japan (one which you know very well), and a provincial inspection was the only requirement in both instances.

[BCDelica]

Hi Mark,

You know that's what I thought, and up till this week ICBC told me different. But a good case in point is that my Autoplan broker called ICBC three times and received three different answers. And I trust my local shop not Crappy tire.

[SnowSlide]

I've called 3 or 4 Canadian Tire shops in Vancouver and gotten different responses each time, so I don't really trust them in the first place. They may be able to do the federal inspections still. The last guy I talked to I believe was a manager, and he said that the CT corporate office sent a memo around recently to all branches instructing them to quit doing the safety inspetions for any RHD vehicles. Given that one of the branches told me they could do the inspetion, however, leads me to believe that they just don't really have their s**t together.

[Breadman]

i have brought two delicas into bc and only had to do provincial. it saves a couple hundred dollars in the process. i find the best way to deal with icbc is to use the jedi mind trick and tell them what you need, they tend to follow along because they are usually so confused with rhd vehicles.
paul

[hutch]

You do NOT need federal inspection as long as the vehicle is 15 years to the month of manufacturer date and when it arrives at the port of entry. If under this, even by a few days, vehicle is impounded and either destroyed or you pay for it to be sent back. Feds only get involved in the Food Inspection Agency end of things (besides customs and duty). If you fail that, you have to get it steam cleaned by a certified federal cleaner and get this, have it towed via a covered trailer to that cleaner - no other way around this. This happened to me on my first vehicle and it cost me dearly especially since I took the day off work, got the one day insurance and had the major run-around etc. I had to repeat the process another day when that was finally done. It tacked on quite a bit to that first vehicle price! I know better now. Incidently, the dirt was mud in the tyre treads since someone in Japan drove from a field to the ship for a RORO delivery.
BC inspection is the same for any new vehicle to B.C. regardless, unless you're taking it through to another province.
Cheers,
Hutch