Annual Truck and Trailer Safety Inspections

An annual safety inspection is required:

1. on a truck, which does not tow a trailer if:
   • the truck's actual weight, registered gross weight or gross vehicle weight rating exceeds 4,500 kilograms (9,920 lbs).
2. on both the truck and the towed trailer if:
   • the truck's actual weight, registered gross weight or gross vehicle weight rating exceeds 4,500 kilograms, or
   • the actual weight of the truck, when added to the actual weight of the towed trailer or trailers exceeds 4,500 kilograms, or
   • the gross vehicle weight rating of the truck, when added to the gross vehicle weight rating of the towed trailer or trailers exceeds 4,500 kilograms.
3. on a transport trailer converter dolly, whether the dolly is carrying a trailer or not.

An explanation of weight terms follows.

"Truck"

includes, but is not limited to:

1. truck tractors, straight trucks, pickup trucks, curb side/cube vans, business use trade vans/panel trucks, and
2. passenger vans and two and four wheel drive sport utility vehicles while being used to transport cargo, other than personal effects, with one or more of the vehicle's rear seats removed. This applies regardless of how the vehicle is plated, e.g., car, truck or farm plated.

"Trailer"

includes, but is not limited to, boat, snowmobile, livestock, and general purpose utility trailers. "Trailer" does not include devices such as tar pots, portable welders, cement mixers, compressors, farm implements such as farm wagons, etc.

Weight Terms

1. Actual weight of a truck

   Means the physical weight of the truck, when loaded or empty. This includes any weight transmitted to the truck by an attached trailer. The empty weight of a truck may be found on the vehicle portion of the truck's permit (ownership) beside the VEH WT heading and is in kilograms. Note: VEH WT may have been determined prior to the installation of the truck's cargo body, equipment, fuel, etc.

2. Registered gross weight for a truck

   The registered gross weight (RGW) determines the fee paid for the truck's licence plates. RGW is based on, and must be at least equal to the actual weight of the truck and its heaviest load. Generally the weight of a towed trailer and its heaviest load are added to the RGW of the truck. Load includes the driver, passengers, fuel, equipment, tools, etc. A trailer does not have a RGW.

   The RGW is indicated on the right portion (plate portion) of a truck's ownership, to the right of "REG. GROSS WT" and is in kilograms. One kilogram equals 2.204 pounds and one pound equals 0.4536 kilograms.

   For complete details on how to determine the correct amount of RGW for a truck see:
   Determining Registered Gross Weights for Trucks Towing Light Duty Trailers.

3. Gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or vehicle weight rating (VWR) of a truck

   The vehicle weight rating is the amount stated by the truck manufacturer to be the loaded weight of the single truck. The GVWR or VWR is usually located on the driver's door, driver's door post or in the glove compartment.

4. Actual weight of a trailer

   The amount of weight, loaded or empty that is transmitted to the road by the trailer's axle or axles when the trailer is attached to the truck. Some trailer ownerships may indicate the trailer's empty weight.

5. Gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or vehicle weight rating (VWR) for a trailer

   The vehicle weight rating is the amount stated by the trailer manufacturer to be the loaded weight of the single trailer. The GVWR or VWR is usually located on the trailer's tongue, frame or body. Some small trailers may not have a gross vehicle weight rating or a vehicle weight rating. In this case the rating would not apply.

   Older trailers may have a plate that states the "MAXIMUM CAPACITY" and "EMPTY WEIGHT". In this case, both figures are added together to obtain the vehicle weight rating.

Vehicles and Trailers That Do Not Require Annual Inspections

1. Motor homes. A truck while carrying a slide-in camper is a motor home.
2. Camper trailers and house trailers. A livestock trailer with living accommodations is not a house trailer.
3. Mobile homes or office trailers wider than 2.6 m (8.6") or longer than 11 m (36 ft).
4. Devices such as tar pots, portable welders, cement mixers, compressors, farm implements such as farm wagons, etc.

When determining if a truck requires an annual inspection:

• the tongue weight of a towed house trailer, device or farm implement is not included in the truck's actual weight,
• the gross vehicle weight rating of a towed house trailer, device or farm implement is not added to the truck's gross vehicle weight rating.

When determining RGW, only the tongue weight of a towed device or farm implement is included in the truck's RGW.

Temporary Exemptions for Moving and Towing

1. A truck being towed to a garage does not require a sticker if it weighs 4,500 kilograms or less.
2. A truck or trailer, regardless of weight, may be driven or towed to a garage to obtain a valid inspection sticker if it is not loaded and is bearing a dealer/service plate that belongs to the garage that will be issuing the sticker.
3. A truck or trailer while being moved from a manufacturer with an "In Transit Permit".

Buses, physically-disabled-passenger vehicles and school purpose vehicles are inspected under a separate program.

Annual safety inspections are conducted by many of the garages licensed by the Ministry of Transportation. When the vehicle passes inspection the garage will place a sticker on the vehicle and provide an inspection certificate. The certificate should be carried in the vehicle when travelling outside Ontario. The inspection is valid in any Province or State for 12 months after the month of inspection.

A vehicle may be operated in Ontario if it is displaying or carrying valid proof of compliance with the inspection requirements of any Canadian jurisdiction or the applicable United States Regulations.

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This is an unofficial version of Government of Ontario legal materials. For accurate reference refer to the official volumes. The Highway Traffic Act, Section 85 and the Safety Inspections Regulation, may be viewed on the Internet at www.e-laws.gov.on.ca.