VEHICLE INSPECTIONS IN PARKSVILLE, BC
Bringing a vehicle in from another province, or about to buy something used from a private seller? Either way you need a proper inspection, done by someone who will give you a straight answer about what they find.
FTP Services is a BC designated inspection facility at 1130 Fair Rd in Parksville. We do the provincial inspection ICBC needs before it will register an out-of-province vehicle, and pre-purchase inspections before you hand over your money. You get the report, a clear list of anything that needs work, and a written estimate before anything gets touched.
When You Need a Vehicle Inspection
A few of the most common reasons to book one:
Moving to BC With Your Vehicle: Most vehicles registered in another province need a passed BC inspection before ICBC will register them here.
Bought a Vehicle Out of Province: Picked one up in Alberta or the U.S.? It needs a passed BC inspection before you can register it here.
Buying Used From a Private Seller: No dealer and no warranty. A pre-purchase inspection tells you what you are actually buying.
A Price That Seems Too Good: Sometimes it is a deal. Sometimes it is a frame full of rust. An inspection tells you which.
Warning Lights on a Car For Sale: A dash light on a vehicle you are about to buy is a question worth answering before you pay, not after.
Coming From Alberta, Saskatchewan or Manitoba: Qualifying vehicles can skip the BC inspection. Check with your Autoplan broker before you book.
Failed an Inspection Somewhere Else: Bring the report. We will go through what failed and give you a written estimate for the repairs.
Buying a First Car for a New Driver: Brakes, tires and steering deserve a proper look before a new driver takes it on the road.
Registering an Out-of-Province Vehicle in BC
Before ICBC will register a vehicle from another province or country, it has to pass a safety inspection at a BC designated inspection facility. FTP is one, so you can get it done right here in Parksville. Pass, and you leave with the signed report your Autoplan broker needs. Fail, and you leave with a clear list of what failed and a written estimate to fix it.
Coming from Alberta, Saskatchewan or Manitoba? Under the New West Partnership, qualifying privately owned vehicles from those provinces can skip the BC inspection. Vehicles under five years old qualify on their own. Older ones need a passed inspection from the province they came from, done within the last 90 days. Rebuilt and salvage vehicles don't qualify, and your Autoplan broker makes the final call.
Brand-new vehicles, motorcycles, non-commercial trailers and vehicles with a net weight of 3,501 kg or more are also exempt. Everyone else brings the broker their ID, the registration from the previous province, the bill of sale if the vehicle isn't in their name, and the signed passed inspection report from us. Coming up from the U.S.? You'll also need your CBSA import paperwork and the original title.
How an Inspection Works at FTP
Here's what happens from the time you call to the time you leave with a report.
Step 1:
Text or call to book. Tell us the year, make and model and which inspection you need, and we'll tell you what to bring.
Step 2:
Bring the vehicle and your paperwork. For an out-of-province inspection, that's your old registration and the bill of sale.
Step 3:
We go over the vehicle on the hoist and check it against the BC inspection standard. For a pre-purchase, we check what you need to know before you buy.
Step 4:
You get a straight answer. If it passes, you get the signed report. If it doesn't, you get a list of exactly what failed.
Step 5:
Nothing gets fixed without your OK. You get a written estimate for any repairs before any work starts.
What Happens If It Doesn't Pass
A failed inspection comes with a list, and most of what shows up on it is work we do every day: brakes, suspension, steering and tires. We go through the list with you and separate what has to be fixed to pass from what's just worth keeping an eye on.
You get a written estimate before anything gets touched. If you want us to do the repairs, we do them and re-inspect. If you'd rather think it over, that's fine too.
Pre-Purchase Inspections Before You Buy Used
The seller says it runs great. Maybe it does. Bring the vehicle in, or have the seller drop it off, and we'll put it on the hoist and go over it properly: brakes, suspension and steering, tires, leaks, rust and the frame, plus a diagnostic scan for stored codes.
Then we tell you what we found in plain English: what's fine, what needs work now, and what can wait. If it needs a few thousand dollars of work, you'll know that before you agree on a price. Before you book, here's what to check on a used vehicle yourself.
Inspection Questions We Get Asked
Does my vehicle need an out-of-province inspection?
Most vehicles coming from another province or country do before ICBC will register them in BC. The main exceptions are brand-new vehicles, motorcycles, non-commercial trailers, vehicles with a net weight of 3,501 kg or more, and qualifying private vehicles from Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
How do I drive my vehicle here before it's registered?
Get temporary insurance, called a binder, from an Autoplan broker, plus an in-transit permit from the province or state where you bought it. Then you can drive it to us for the inspection and to the broker to register it.
How much does an inspection cost?
It depends on the inspection and the vehicle. Text us the year, make and model and we'll give you a straight quote.
What if my vehicle fails?
You get a list of what failed and a written estimate to fix it. We do most of those repairs in-house, and nothing gets touched without your OK.
Can I get a pre-purchase inspection on a private sale?
Yes. You'll need the seller's OK to bring the vehicle in. We'll go over it and tell you what it needs before you buy.
Straight Answer, Straight Price
Every job starts with a free estimate. If we find something else while we are in there, we call you before we touch it. The number we quote is the number you pay, and if a repair can safely wait, we will tell you that instead of selling it to you today.
Straight forward, honest, old school. That is how the shop has run since 2012.
Call or text 250-720-9841, or drop by 1130 Fair Rd in Parksville.