Volvo Safety Inspection Costs

RIV has no say or authority over manufacturers' methods

Communication between concerned importer and RIV follows:

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From: RD
Sent: July 3, 2008 2:30 PM
To: RIV Info
Subject: safety inspection gouging by Canadian dealerships

Dear Sir/Madam

I’m sure I am not the first to write to you on this subject but I thought I would add my name to the list of those concerned. The Canadian retailers of specific European manufactured cars are using the RIV’s importation programme to legitimize an artificial monopoly by requiring that the safety inspection of US imported vehicles be run through their service departments rather than by any generally qualified inspection centre. One retailer is charging as much as $2495.00 for a 2-3 hour inspection that, prior to March 2008, was charging roughly $250 for the same service. In speaking with individuals at retail stores associated with that car manufacturer, no one can reasonably justify the exorbitant increase except to say they are trying to re-coup the sales losses they are experiencing due to the increased importation of vehicles. It has NOTHING to do with a change in the inspection service.

Please take this seriously and consider mandating any approved inspection agency as qualified to perform inspections on passenger cars rather than allowing the original manufacturer to dictate who can inspect the cars. In my opinion, this is likely to get far worse before it gets better if it’s not managed.

For a change, we in Canada have a strong dollar and as a result we have many benefits we haven’t had the pleasure of experiencing for a very long time. Please don’t allow these car dealerships to use the RIV to take away one of those benefits.

Kind regards
RD

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From: Gray, Cameron
Sent: Thursday, July 03, 2008 12:57 PM
To: RD
Subject: RE: safety inspection gouging by Canadian dealerships

I sympathise with the frustration you must feel with the difficulties you are having in getting your vehicle inspected and registered. Please note that the RIV's processes and requirements for issuing an inspection form are independent of the manufacturer's methods or conditions for issuing certifications of admissibility and recall clearance.

The RIV has always required that acceptable recall documentation come from the manufacturer in order to ensure that a vehicle will meet Canadian safety compliance. Furthermore, the issuance of an inspection form has also been dependent on vehicle admissibility. The www.riv.ca website shows that these requirements are applicable to passenger cars and multipurpose vehicles made by all manufacturers.

The RIV's mandate is to merely certify that US specification vehicles being imported into Canada meet all applicable Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, through inspection, proof of recall clearance, and proof of modification. Unfortunately, it has no say or authority over the methods a manufacturer chooses to provide proof of recall clearance or admissibility.

I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this has caused.

Respectfully,

Cameron Gray
Registrar of Imported Vehicles

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UCanimport advises that there is currently a way to bypass the "safety inspection" fee, but cautions that manufacturers may dream up new ways to stall importations from the US.

What is critical is that manufacturers' representative dealerships charge fair prices for their work. In our opinion $2,450 for an inspection constitutes unfair pricing and extortion, and a violation of importers' rights.

While Transport Canada won't step in to resolve this money-grab, we fear that other manufacturers' will sense an opportunity and want to join in.

Continue to seek fair treatment and keep the limelight on these unfair practices.