Facts to Know About Alberta Out of Province Inspection

0 Comments
car inspection

Any vehicle owner moving to Alberta is required must know certain things. First, you need a local license plate as long as your vehicle is registered outside the province. Like with most car plate issuance processes, you should expect some inspection. In this case, you need an Alberta Out of Province Inspection, which specifically applies to vehicles used in this province.

What is an Out Of Province Inspection?

car engine

Like with any car inspection process, Alberta Out of Province inspection essentially serves to ensure that your car does not pose any threat to other road users. It is also worth noting that not every other mechanic or machine shop can handle this process. Only a certified journeyman mechanic licensed by Alberta Transportation’s Vehicle Inspection Program (VIP) is mandated to handle this job. The major objectives being that all cars driven in Alberta are safe, have genuine parts and are not stolen.

What is Included In an Out Of Province Inspection?

brake inspection

An Out of Province Inspection covers almost every aspect of your automobile. While this process takes a few hours to complete, be sure that the journeyman technician will check everything in your vehicle, including the steering, power train, engine controls, electrical systems, lighting, brakes, exhaust system, wipers defrosters, the body condition, and more. Moreover, the technician will also examine whether the car has had major repairs or whether it has been declared salvage in another province. Any issue detected during the inspection must be addressed before the vehicle can be registered in Alberta.

What Should You Do to Prepare Your Car for Inspection?

Now that you have an idea of what is being tested, you might know what you need to do as you prepare for the Alberta Out of Province Inspection. Most cars fail this inspection for mechanical issues. Be sure to ensure that you tick all boxes in the following areas:

  • Wiper blades are in optimal working condition
  • Headlamps, indicator, hazard, and brake lights are working
  • Windshields should not have any cracks
  • Tires should have any signs of wear
  • Brakes pads or shoes should not be worn out too far
  • The engine light should not be onnew car

If your vehicle passes the Alberta Out of Province Inspection, you will be issued an inspection certificate valid for 14 days. This means that you should ensure the car is registered with two weeks. Else, you will be required to undergo yet another inspection.

 …


How to maintain your car

0 Comments
man under a car

Owning a car comes with the responsibility of maintaining it. You have to ensure that the car is always in good condition and roadworthy, for the purposes of your safety as well as to ensure that the car will serve you for a long time. Keep in mind that you should not wait until you notice some damage on your ride for you to take it for maintenance. It should be done on a regular basis, probably on a given schedule. Doing so will reduce your overall cost of maintenance. You do not have to take the car to a mechanic for every type of maintenance. There are a few minor things, which you can do on your own. Some of them are highlighted below.

Easy maintenance tips

Engine

Failure to carry out maintenance on the engine might result in very costly losses. For the technical type of maintenance, ensure that only a qualified expert handles it. Among the few things that you can do on your own includes checking the oil level. Make sure that it is within the required limit to ensure optimum performance. You can also check the coolant and add as appropriate.
You can also check the rubber belts, which run the pulleys that in turn run the AC compressor and alternator. The belt, being made of rubber, usually wears off over time. You should thus ensure that they are still in good condition, especially before going on a long journey. Make sure you replace them after covering 25000 miles.

Tires

TiresYou need to ensure that the tires are always in good condition. The first tip in relation to this is that you should rotate them after covering about 5000 miles. The process is as simple as swapping the front tires with the back ones. It is important to do this as it ensures that the tires wear off uniformly.
You should also check the pressure in all the tires at least once each week. Make sure that the tires have the correct pressure to optimize the car handling, comfort, and fuel consumption. The depth of the tire threads also matters. Bad tread depth is considered a risk, which might result in an accident.

Body

How good your car looks also counts. You should thus make sure that you clean the car on a regular basis. Cleaning should be for both the exterior and interior.…