The Ministry of Works and Transport wishes to advise the general public of relevant information regarding the inspection of motor vehicles as stipulated by the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, Chapter 48:50.

Many families these days own multiple cars and commute either to work, school and places of recreation on a daily basis. Getting your vehicle inspected on a scheduled basis is an important way to ensure that it continues to run as smoothly as possible. As a motorist, you do not want the “check engine, battery, leakage or any alarming signal lights to come on while you are travelling on the roadways, putting yourself, passengers, pedestrians and other motorists in harm’s way.

Having your vehicle inspected at the designated time, provides the following benefits:

Therefore, instead of waiting until a signal flashes across your dashboard screen, it is highly recommended to have your vehicle inspected at the mandated time periods. This saves money by bringing minor issues to your attention before they escalate into a more serious one. Preventing vehicle malfunctions now, saves you the time and inconvenience of shutting down, getting towed and waiting for your car to be fully repaired by a mechanic. It also saves you unnecessary stress and money on mechanic fees.

The following documentation is needed when carrying your vehicle for inspection at an authorized station:

• A valid form of national identification – (National ID card, Passport);
• Your driving permit;
• Your valid vehicular certificate of insurance;
• Your certified copy of the vehicle to be inspected.

A private passenger vehicle, in the context of insurance, is an automobile used for private purposes, as opposed to business uses. These vehicles are generally used for personal transport and are not to be used to perform public transportation services or commercial transportation of goods.

Private vehicles with a manufactured date (not registration date) of five years or older are required to be inspected at an authorized testing station. For a full listing of vehicle testing stations authorized by the Ministry of Works &

Transport, please click on the link entitled, “Vehicle Testing Stations” on the homepage.
After the first inspection, all private vehicles are required to be inspected every two years at an authorized testing station. Registered owners are required to pay a fee of $TTD300.00 for the inspection.

During the vehicle inspection, your authorized inspector should be looking and testing the following criteria to verify that there are no issues with your:

The checklist below illustrates in greater detail the steps vehicle inspectors take to assess and determine if your vehicle is road worthy and safe:

• Record the vehicle inspector’s details
• Note the vehicle operator’s details
• Document the vehicle’s details
• Check the brakes
• Test the emergency brake
• Check front bumper
• Inspect rear bumper

Interiors:

• Check the horn
• Inspect the seat belts
• Make sure the front and rear defrosters
• work
• Try out the heating
• Check for any emergency equipment

License and insurance details:

• Check the operator’s driver’s license
• Verify that the vehicle/operator has valid insurance

Lights:

• Check headlights
• Make sure taillights are okay
• Test brake lights
• Check turn signals
• Check reversing lights
• Test four-way flashers
• Make sure the license plate light is working

Mirrors:

• Check outside mirrors
• Inspect inside mirror

Tires:

• Make sure the tires and wheels match
• Check tire condition
• Check wheel alignment
• Make sure the spare tire is in good condition
• Check tools for replacing tires

Under the hood:

• Check the brake fluid level
• Measure the windshield washer fluid
• Inspect the engine oil level and quality
• Examine the battery
• Check the power steering fluid level and quality
• Inspect any hoses

Windshield and accessories:

• Check the windshield
• Inspect the rear window
• Make sure the windows are in good condition
• Check the window controls
• Inspect the windshield wipers

Final verdict:

• Give the vehicle inspection verdict
• Notify owner if the vehicle is ready for collection
• Notify owner if the vehicle has failed the inspection and provide a detailed overview of the issues preventing the inspector from giving a pass, as well as pertinent course of action to take to rectify the issues.