1.  Windshield

The windshield must be made of laminated safety glass. The glass used in a windshield must be marked AS1, AS10, or AS14 (American Standard Safety Code).

2.  Seatbelts

The vehicle, other than a bus, must be equipped with seat-belts that conform to CMVSS standards, as follows:

(a) In front outboard seating positions, a combination lap and upper torso seat-belt restraint system;

(b) for all other designated seating positions, a combination lap and upper torso or lap type seat-belt restraint

The vehicle’s seat-belt restraint assemblies must be anchored to the motor vehicle.

3.  Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

The vehicle’s VIN must be matched against available vehicle documentation.

4.  Side and rear reflex reflectors

The vehicle must be equipped with the following reflex reflectors positioned between 350 and 1600 mm above the road surface as follows:

• One red reflex reflector located on each side of the vehicle at the same height and as far to the rear as practicable
• One yellow or amber reflex reflector located on each side of the vehicle at the same height and as far to the front as practicable
• Two red reflex reflectors located on the rear of the vehicle as far apart as practicable, at the same height
• On vehicles 9.2 m or longer, one yellow or amber reflex reflector as close as practicable to the midpoint between at the same height, as the front and rear side reflex reflectors.

5.  Headlights (lamps, lenses, bulbs)

All lamps, lenses and bulbs must have SAE, DOT or ECE approval markings. Headlights must meet the standards of the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). For example, if the original non-compliant light had three attachment points, the replacement compliant light must have 3 attachment points.

Headlights must be aimed correctly for North American roads and produce the proper light colour (white).

If the vehicle was manufactured after November 30, 1989, it must have working daytime running lamps.

6.  Neutral (safety) switch

A vehicle with automatic transmission must have a device that prevents the engine from starting when the transmission gears are in a position other than park or neutral.

7.  Side and/or rear glass

The windows in the vehicle must be made of laminated or tempered safety glass, and the glass used in side and rear windows must be marked AS1, AS2, AS3, AS10, or AS11 (American Standard Safety Code). 

8.  Tires

Each of the vehicle’s tires must carry a DOT/NSM approval mark. The vehicle’s tires must meet the Canada Motor Vehicle Tire Safety Standards applicable at the date of the manufacture of the tire.

9.  Centre high mount stop lamp

If the vehicle was manufactured in 1987 or later, it must have a rear stoplight that is mounted in the centre of the rear of the vehicle AND, if not a convertible, mounted no more than 77 mm below the bottom of the rear window. On a convertible, a rear stoplight mounted in the centre of the rear of the vehicles is still required, mounted no lower than 153 mm below the bottom of the rear window. This light must be illuminated by normal application of the brakes.

10.  Bumpers

The vehicle must be equipped with one bumper on the front and one bumper on the rear. On a passenger car, the bumper must be positioned so that the centre part of the bumper is 380 to 550 mm above the road surface. On vehicles other than passenger cars, the lowest part of the bumper must not be more than 750 mm above the road surface. The bumper must have a front vertical surface of at least 100 mm, extend to at least the original manufacturer’s track width of the vehicle AND comply with the vehicle manufacturer’s specifications.