Halifax, Nova Scotia — The Nova Scotia government is reviewing the requirements for motor vehicle inspections (MVI), CBC News has reported.
A spokesperson for the Public Works Department told CBC News in a statement that the provincial government started looking at MVI fees at the beginning of this year.
Currently, in Nova Scotia, MVIs are required to be renewed every two years, although a new vehicle purchased in the province from a licensed dealer comes with a sticker that’s good for three years. Comparatively, in provinces such as Alberta and Quebec, inspections are not required unless a vehicle is brought in from another province.
In Nova Scotia, the fee for an inspection ranges from $16 for motorcycles and trailers that do not have brakes to $98 for trucks, buses or motorhomes that weigh more than 4,500 kilograms. For vehicles with a single rear axle designed for two wheels, including passenger cars and trucks, the rate is $29.15.
In February, New Democratic Party (NDP) Leader Claudia Chender called on the government to extend the renewal period for MVIs to five years.
According to data from CBC News, as provided by the Public Works Department, the sale of sticker booklets to MVI stations produced about $1.6 million in 2023 and almost $1.7 million in 2022. Additionally, the fee for licensing MVI stations generated almost $122,000 in 2023.
However, despite potential consumer savings, Liberal Party Leader Zach Churchill said he’s concerned that the savings people would get from not renewing their MVI sticker are not great enough to offset potential safety concerns.
Churchill specifically told CBC News that “this isn’t going to save people a lot of money. I think the cost for these things are fairly low and the benefits could actually be pretty good because it ensures we have safer vehicles on the road and reduces the risk to drivers.”
