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The safety standard Certificate is a document designed to protect the consumer by forcing the inspection of a vehicle to be sold, by a competent licensed mechanic . The SSC also ensures that only safe, roadworthy vehicles are on the roads in Ontario.

The safety standard Certificate is composed by three copies designated:

- "MTO copy" (to be surrendered to a licence issuer at the moment of the transfer)

- "Purchaser's copy" A yellow carbon copy (for the vehicle purchasers personal records).

- A copy which remain in the "Mechanics book" for his records.

BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT SAFETY STANDARD CERTIFICATE (SSC)

The following information is a guide for any person, who by reason of purchase or sale of a used motor vehicle, is required to have their passenger vehicle, light commercial vehicle or van inspected to obtain an SSC.

The Safety Standard Certificate is valid for 36 days (including saturdays, sundays and holidays), day one being the day following the day of the inspection.

When certification of a motor vehicle is required, the following should be noted:

The Ministry does not make recommendations regarding the choice of Motor Vehicle Inspection Stations (MVIS) to perform inspections. The choice is yours.

The Ministry does not govern the cost of either inspection or repairs required to bring the vehicle to the standards set down in the regulations. It might, therefore, be beneficial to "shop around" and compare prices.

You are not compelled to have your vehicle repaired at the MVIS where the initial inspection was completed. However, you must return the vehicle to the station for re-inspection of the repaired items and issuance of the SSC. In this case, no additional fee will be charged for re-inspection providing the wheel brake assemblies do not have to be inspected a second time.

NOTE: THE VEHICLE MUST BE RETURNED TO THE MVIS WITHIN 10 CALENDAR DAYS WITH THE SPECIFIED DEFECTS REPAIRED TO QUALIFY FOR RE-INSPECTION AT NO CHARGE.

The Highway Traffic Act provides for the revocation of the Inspection Station licence where it can be proven that the station has oversold the amount of repairs required (i.e. forcing repairs or replacement of parts that are worn but still meet the inspection requirements), or where the station has conducted an improper inspection.

The Highway Traffic Act also provides penalties of $50. to $500. for those convicted of performing sub-standard inspections.

The safety standard certificate is issued on a special form available to Licensed Safety Inspection Stations from the Ministry of Transportation. When issued it must be a "clean" document. The Licensing Offices can not accept a SSC with corrections or amendments

Hint: Before you leave the Inspection Garage check out your SSC. Verify that there are not "blank spaces", match the Vehicle Identification Number or VIN (serial number) with the number on your permit, verify year, color and mileage and make sure the Year, Month and Day are correct.

For Information on the scope and areas covered by a SSC click here

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Disclaimer: This web page is published as a free public information service. The authors and publishers assume no liability for any direct or consequential damages that the use of this information may cause. This site is not supported nor sponsored by the Ontario government or any of its Ministries. The information published is only a guide. For official information refer to the Highway Traffic Act and Regulations.