Pre-purchase inspection vs safety standards certificate in Ontario
They sound similar and sellers often mix them up. They answer two different questions.
What a safety standards certificate checks
A safety standards certificate (often called a "safety") checks the items a vehicle needs in order to be considered safe to drive on the road. Its purpose is narrow: it is there so the car can be registered and driven legally, and that is all it is designed to answer.
What it may not look at
A safety inspection is not a mechanical health check. The way the engine and transmission have been running, small leaks, hidden rust, signs of accident repair, worn suspension parts and the condition of the electronics may not be looked at at all, because they are outside what the certificate is meant to cover. A car can pass a safety and still have expensive problems waiting for its next owner.
What we do instead
InspectMyCar does not issue safety standards certificates. We do one thing: the pre-purchase inspection, and it is much more complete. A licensed technician goes over every area of the car, including the engine, transmission, brakes, suspension, steering, tires, underbody and rust, fluids and leaks, electrical systems, interior and body. The car is taken for a road test, and we run a full diagnostic scan of every electronic module and sensor the car has, looking at stored and pending fault codes, even small ones. On older vehicles that do not have some of these systems, those items are checked by hand. You get a full written report with photos, so you can negotiate the price, ask the seller to fix things or walk away.
Do you still need a safety standards certificate?
In Ontario a safety standards certificate is generally needed to register a used vehicle, and that is a separate step from deciding whether to buy the car. A car that has a certificate, or is about to get one, still may not be a good purchase. Our inspection does not replace the certificate and the certificate does not replace our inspection. What we do is for you, the buyer: to know exactly what you are buying and to reduce the risk of unexpected repair costs after you own it.
Which one do you need?
They answer different questions. A safety standards certificate says the car meets the safety items it was checked for. A pre-purchase inspection tells you what condition the whole car is really in and what it may cost you. If you are the buyer, the second question is the one that protects your money, and an independent inspection is done for you, not for the seller.
Why a Carfax is not enough either
A vehicle history report shows reported events such as registrations, claims and ownership changes. It cannot show a worn suspension, a leaking transmission or rust under the car. The history report tells you where the car has been and the inspection tells you what condition it is in today.
Not sure about a car you are looking at?
Send us the listing and the Carfax and we will give you a quick first impression at no charge. If you like the car, we come to it anywhere in the Greater Toronto Area for a flat $179, HST included.