A pre-purchase inspection and a safety certificate are different things

A safety certificate tells you whether the vehicle meets minimum safety requirements. We help you understand what you're actually buying.

What a safety certificate is

In Ontario, a Safety Standards Certificate is issued by a licensed inspection station after a set inspection. In the province's own words, it confirms that the vehicle met the minimum safety standards on the date the certificate was issued. It's valid for 36 days, and you need one to put a plate on a used car you've bought.

What it covers is the items on the safety inspection list, on that day. It says nothing about how the engine has been treated, whether the car has been in an accident, or how much life is left in the parts that wear.

What a pre-purchase inspection is

A pre-purchase inspection is an independent look at the whole car, done for the buyer, before money changes hands. Nobody is certifying anything. The mechanic is telling you what the car is: what's worn, what's been repaired, what's leaking, what the computer has logged, and what it will cost to put right.

The Straightrac Buyer Report opens with a plain condition rating, covers the car section by section with 40 to 60 photographs, and ends with the repair priorities in order. It's yours, and you decide what to share.

Ontario tells buyers to have a mechanic inspect the car.

Ontario's guide to buying a used vehicle tells buyers to check the vehicle's history, get the Used Vehicle Information Package from the seller, have a mechanic inspect the vehicle, and take it for a test drive before buying. A safety certificate is what the seller provides so the car can be plated. An inspection is what you get for yourself.

So which one do you need?

In a private sale, the seller usually provides the safety certificate, because the car can't be registered without one. That certificate is about the plate. If you want to know what you're buying, get the car inspected too.

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