All registered motor vehicles and trailers must undergo a yearly safety inspection at an official inspection station. These stations, which are found throughout the province, will conduct a safety inspection according to the Motor Vehicle Inspection Regulations. The inspection must be carried out by an authorized inspection mechanic. You will receive a motor vehicle inspection report form for your records.

Approval stickers issued for the month in which a vehicle was inspected will normally be valid until the end of that month in the following year. You cannot register a vehicle that you have bought from another person unless it bears a valid approval sticker in that person's name.

The Registrar or any peace officer may order a vehicle to be re-inspected at any time.

A period of 10 days is allowed so that an out-of-province vehicle can be inspected after it is registered in Nova Scotia. A letter of authorization must be obtained from the Registry of Motor Vehicles at the time of registration.

The owner or operator of a "rejected vehicle" has 10 days from the date of rejection to have defects corrected and the vehicle re-inspected. This does not permit the operation of an unsafe vehicle during this time. The original inspection station may not charge an additional inspection fee for re-inspection of rejected items.

An inspection sticker that has become defaced may be replaced for a nominal fee at any inspection station. The motor vehicle inspection report must be produced for this purpose.

Official Inspection Station Manual, Passenger and Light Commercial Vehicles, 4500 kg or Less Revised February 2007  [PDF - 695 KB]

Improved Motor Vehicle Inspection Procedures

Vehicle Registration and Plates Information Index