Salvage vehicle inspections

A salvage vehicle must be inspected by a licensed technician and registered before it can be re-registered in Alberta.

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Overview

Journeyperson technicians, licensed by the Vehicle Inspection Program, perform Salvage Vehicle (SV) inspections. The inspection can take up to 4 hours to perform.

Inspection facilities determine the cost of an inspection and re-inspection and are required to post those costs in plain sight.

Vehicles declared salvage by an insurance company must undergo a Salvage Vehicle Inspection performed within a licensed Inspection Facility by a licensed Inspection Technician.

When a vehicle passes the inspection, the status changes from ‘salvage’ to ‘rebuilt’ and the vehicle can be re-registered. This status will follow the vehicle for the rest of its useful life.

Inspection guidelines

You should discuss your vehicle’s overall condition with the inspection technician before entering into an agreement to have the vehicle inspected.

Any collision damage affecting the occupant protection, collision management, or structural integrity must be repaired using repair methods, standards, and specifications published by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or the Inter-industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR). Both the structural integrity as well as the mechanical fitness will be verified during the Salvage Vehicle Inspection.

Technicians will follow the inspection criteria outlined in the Automotive & Light Truck Inspection Manual.

Process

Visit any Alberta Registry agent and purchase a ‘Request for Vehicle Inspection form’ to verify the status of the vehicle.

Contact the Inspection Facility you intend to have re-certify the vehicle to discuss your intended method of repair.

Complete a Rebuilt Vehicle Work Plan.

When the repairs are complete, present the vehicle, the Request for Inspection, and the Rebuilt Vehicle Work Plan to the Inspection Facility of your choice.

Inspection deadlines

Inspection certificates must be presented to any Alberta registry within 14 days from the date of issue. If you do not present the certificate within 14 days, the vehicle will be required to undergo a full Salvage Vehicle Inspection.

Contact

Connect with the Carrier and Vehicle Safety:

Phone: 780-427-8901
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Email: [email protected]

Address:
Vehicle Safety
Room 109
Main Floor, Twin Atria Building
4999 98 Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta T6B 2X3