Certificate of Inspection
You require a valid safety Certificate of Inspection (COI) to register a newly acquired vehicle in Manitoba. A COI confirms that, at the time of inspection, a vehicle met basic standards for operation in Manitoba, which are set out in the Vehicle Inspection Handbook.
A COI doesn't include a detailed inspection of the engine or transmission and is not a guarantee of the overall quality of the vehicle. A COI provides a snapshot of the vehicle condition at the time of inspection. This condition can change over time and it is a good idea to have your vehicle fully inspected by a trusted mechanic before purchase.
When do you need a COI
A COI is required:
When ownership of a vehicle is transferred.
When bringing any vehicle into Manitoba. This includes vehicles owned by people moving to Manitoba.
The COI inspection
An inspector at one of Manitoba's registered vehicle inspection stations signs a COI after a vehicle passes an inspection of components and systems, including:
Brakes
Suspension
Tires
Lights
Exhaust system
Seat belts
Steering
Other components and systems
View the COI form to see all the inspected components. The inspection costs up to $55.
There are three possible outcomes to the COI inspection:
Pass: The vehicle passes the inspection and receives a COI.
Advisement: The vehicle currently meets all minimum safety standards and receives a COI. However, the advisement notes that specified components will soon require servicing or repair.
Fail: The vehicle does not meet certain standards. The vehicle must undergo specified repairs and pass a reinspection before a COI can be issued. There is no charge for a reinspection that is completed within 30 days at the same station, with the exception of a $20 fee if the wheels must be removed. If the vehicle is not reinspected within 30 days, it is subject to a new inspection that can cost up to $55.
Where to get a COI inspection
Approved inspection stations are located throughout Manitoba. An approved station will display a sign designating it as a Vehicle Inspection Safety Station and displaying the logos of Manitoba Public Insurance and the Province of Manitoba. Call Vehicle Standards and Inspections at 204-985-0920 or toll-free 1-866-323-0542 for an inspection station near you.
Exemptions
Certain transfers of ownership are exempt from the COI requirements. These are:
A vehicle registered in Manitoba in the name of the owner, which is being transferred:
to a spouse or common-law partner
to a child or step-child
to a parent
as an inheritance to the beneficiary of an estate
A new vehicle that is not subject to periodic mandatory inspections.
Any transfer from a dealer to another dealer.
Any transfer from a dealer to a recycler.
Any transfer from a dealer if the vehicle has an irreparable status.
Any vehicle registered as a remote area vehicle.
Any transfer involving a vehicle to be registered as an antique motor vehicle.
A lease vehicle when there is a change of lessor, but no change of lessee.
A lease vehicle when there is a change of lessee on a lease agreement, providing that an amended lease agreement is provided by the lessor and the new lessee would have qualified for a COI exemption if they had actually owned the vehicle (e.g., spouse to spouse, child to parent, parent to child).
A lease vehicle when the ownership is transferred from the lessor to the lessee but only if the lessor is not a dealer. If a dealer is the agent for the lessor, a COI is required.
A bus designed for carrying 11 or more people (including the driver) and owned and operated on behalf of the City of Winnipeg or the City of Brandon.