Bypassing OOP in Alberta with recent gov't inspection

[jaggedfish]

Hey all!

I am just in the process of getting my L400 registered in Alberta after picking it up from Mardy on Xmas Eve and happened to mention to the people at the registration office that I thought it was a little crazy that we have to re-inspect a vehicle (out of province inspection) that was just inspected in BC when I purchased it. I was a little shocked to learn that after purchasing an inspected vehicle in another province, you have 90 days from the date of inspection to apply through the registration office in Alberta for acceptance of the government inspection previously done in the province of purchase.

There is an approval process which I am about to embark upon but this could certainly save a few bucks (and probably some hassles) for those bringing a vehicle into Alberta.

I will update again very soon once I have gone through the process but wanted to give any new owners the heads-up. Fingers crossed!

[William]

Someone on IVOAC had the same encounter, only to learn from Alberta transportation that Japanese and other imported vehicles are not exempt from inspection

[solanoid]

Interesting,

That sounds too good to be true,

g'luck

[mararmeisto]

Good luck: it would be great if you could not have to go through another OOP inspection.

[jaggedfish]

Someone on IVOAC had the same encounter, only to learn from Alberta transportation that Japanese and other imported vehicles are not exempt from inspection

I have a suspicion that is what will happen but I am going to try anyway just to see what they say. I know my van would pass an inspection with ease and I use the same shop as others on here do - Kirkham Automotive in Calgary SW - a shop that has made a point of knowing Delicas well. Could save me the cost of the inspection for a little time invested. They say the process is relatively quick so once I have done the paperwork this evening, I should know by Monday or Tuesday.

Will see how it goes and report back.

[jaggedfish]

Soooo... it is confirmed. Alberta will not recognize recent government inspections on any right-hand-drive vehicle. The reason?... because it's a right-hand-drive vehicle. I can't help but feel this is absolutely ludicrous given an inspection from another province is as strict as any found in Alberta. Anyway... disappointed but wanted to try just to see if it was possible.

I kept my appointment with Kirkham Auto just in case and dropped her off this evening. She will be treated to a little spa time as well which I know will give her a "lift"... if ya know what I mean...

[William]

It is justifiable really given the different requirements from province to province for compliance.

[mararmeisto]

It is justifiable really given the different requirements from province to province for compliance.

But the point of the inspection is NOT to determine the location of the steering wheel. I really don't think it's justifiable at all, most especially since another province had just signed off on the vehicle (the federally mandated requirements, mind you).

[drrod]

Unless AB has specific legislation regarding OPP and RHD (which I doubt) I would suspect that your contact with AB Trans is blowing smoke. Why not ask to see where it is written that only RHD vehicles do not qualify for the 90 day exemption. I would be curious to see that. I have gone over the AB OPP rules that I can find and don't see where any road going vehicle is exemp let alone the 90 day rule for vehicles from other provinces. It does state you have 90 days to register it after importation. Rewriting the regulations, to specifically prohibit RHD from the exemption, would be an expensive and time consuming. Hardly worthwhile given the relatively small number of vehicles involved.

Rod

[jaggedfish]

The contact at AB Trans is not mine. The registration office was the one who suggested the process and the one who actually did the application for me. The rule is - and they read it to me - that if a vehicle has been inspected by a gov't agent in another province, you have 90 days to apply to AB Trans for acceptance of that inspection in place of the OOP inspection. This is written by AB Trans and separate from the other 90 day rule. It was the registration office who had to inform me the application was declined and it was them who relayed the information that RHD vehicles will not be approved by AB Trans - a blanket statement.
I would highly doubt there would be legislation related to RHD and OOP... I think they are just exercising their ability to refuse - couldn't tell you what I think this would be based on but it's just the fact as it stands. Would be a good one to challenge but the cost might over-run the $130 cost of the OOP itself. If I was worried my vehicle was not going to pass OOP then they would have reason to not approve and I might have reason to persue the challenge.
I think it's just the gov't justiying it's existence in it's own retarded way. Not saying it's right.

[drrod]

Interesting! I will see if I can track down the ruling. Very strange that something would be written explicity for RHD in Alberta. So far, I have found nothing but will continue digging. Not for any other reason than curiosity. You are right. For the $130 inspection cost, it really is a non issue. My real concern is that if they did indeed write a rule specifically for RHD, it would not be that difficult to continue to do it if unopposed.
Rod

[jaggedfish]

Hey Rod!

I would be curious about how the decision is being made too.

Just to be clear... the 90 day inspection rule is supposed to apply to all vehicles (domestic, imported or otherwise) and not specifically RHD or JDM. The statement made regarding RHD's never getting approved was verbal only and came from someone at AB Trans. I suspect this would never be found in writing.

In some senses I understand that there could be issues with these vehicles having been inspected in another province as there are those that I have been aware of that were (maybe not any more) taking shortcuts with respect to vehicle inspections primarily to do with e-code headlights. It could open the door to liability if AB Trans accepted an inspection certificate from their perspective. Realistically this liability would fall on the vehicle owner should they get checked for whatever reason.

So, the only hassle (minimal, really) is the time it takes to inspect a vehicle we know will pass anyway and the $130 cost that I could've spent on some sort of gadget. if you find out anything I would certainly be curious to know just for the sake of knowledge... mine's now inspected, fully insured and registered without issue (of course).

Cheers!
Ian

[drrod]

Ian,

I checked with AMA (where I got my paperwork to get an OPP done) regarding this discussion. They could not find anything to do with a 90 day exemption in general nor could they find anything pertaining to RHD in particular. The only thing they could come up with that corresponded to 90 days was this:

Importing a Vehicle into Alberta
When a vehicle is brought into Alberta, legislation requires that it is registered in the province within three months. As the vehicle you are registering in Alberta was last registered in another jurisdiction, it must pass an Out of Province (OOP) Vehicle Inspection.

Which comes from AB Trans website http://www.transportation.alberta.ca/2826.htm
The person I talked to said they would do some inquiring and let me know if they found anything. So far I haven't heard anything and I kinda doubt that I will since they are not involved with OPP other than issuing the initial paperwork.

My gut feeling is that someone in AB Trans was/is making up rules as they went along for whatever reason and if you talk to someone else, you would get a different story. Sure would be nice to know what your contact was reading from.

If I get any further info, I will post it.