Your vehicle for the road test

By the end of this topic you can

• You can check a vehicle's lights, horn, wipers, tires and seatbelts before a test.
• You can gather the registration and insurance documents the examiner needs.
• You can spot common faults that get a car refused.
• You can prepare a borrowed, rental or driving-school car for a test.
• You can describe what happens to your fee if the car fails the check.

What you need to know and understand

• Every province requires a safe, registered and insured vehicle with valid plates.
• In Ontario, if the car does not meet standards, the test is declared out of order and you lose 50% of the road test fee.
• Manitoba cancels the test with no refund if the car does not qualify.
• Nova Scotia requires a valid safety inspection sticker on the test vehicle.
• ICBC refuses cars with cracked or illegally tinted glass, safety warning lights such as the airbag light, unsafe tires or a temporary spare.
• In Quebec, a Quebec-registered car must have winter tires from 1 December to 15 March.
• The examiner needs a working passenger door and seat, and in Manitoba a working passenger headrest.

The check the examiner does

• Lights: headlights, brake lights including the centre high one, turn signals and hazard lights.
• Horn, wipers, washer fluid and defroster.
• Windshield and windows: no cracks blocking the view, no illegal tint.
• Seatbelts working in every seat.
• No dashboard warning lights that affect safety.
• Tires in safe condition, with no temporary spare.
• Doors that open from inside and out, and a proper seat for the examiner.
• Valid plates, enough fuel or charge, and a clean interior with nothing loose.

Paperwork that must be in the car

Bring the vehicle's registration and proof of insurance, both current on the day. An expired insurance card is one of the most common, avoidable cancellations. Some provinces ask for more: Nova Scotia lists the vehicle permit, an insurance liability card and your road test receipt, Quebec asks for a paper copy of proof of insurance and the signed registration certificate, and Manitoba asks for the vehicle registration certificate. Your booking confirmation is the final word, so read it the day before.

Borrowed, rental and driving-school cars

A driving-school car is the easiest choice: the school keeps it test-ready and has the papers. Agree the price for test day in advance.

If you borrow a parent's or friend's car, make sure you are allowed to drive it under the owner's policy, and practise in that car so you know where every control is. With a rental, check the agreement lets a learner drive it for a road test and that the documents are in the car. Many newer cars have driver aids: Ontario does not allow them on road tests, and ICBC asks you to turn them off where possible.

1. The night before, walk around the car with someone to check every light and signal.
2. Test the horn, wipers and washer fluid.
3. Start the engine and make sure no warning lights stay on.
4. Click every seatbelt in and out, and open both front doors from inside.
5. Clear rubbish and loose items, and check the registration and insurance dates.

Common mistakes

• Not checking brake lights. You cannot see them yourself; ask someone to watch while you press the pedal.
• Bringing expired insurance papers. Check the dates the night before.
• Using a car with a dashboard warning light on. Have it checked before test day.
• Turning up on a temporary spare tire. Fit a proper tire first.
• Practising in one car and testing in another. Practise in the car you will use.

Test yourself: Your vehicle for the road test

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Road test car checklist for Canada