I don't want to be a fear monger but I received a registered letter yesterday from MPIC demanding I make an appointment with the Vehicle Inspection Branch to determine if my Daihatsu Hijet is safe. I made my appointment today and spoke with the inspector who said that all Kei trucks in Manitoba would be called in for inspections. He said that he is mostly concerned with lights and seat belts. I searched this site and IVOAC.ca and feel somewhat assured that this process will be unpleasant but bearable. I will keep you informed. Manitobans can pm me after Sept. 22 (when my appointment is) and I will share what I learn. Vive le mini truck!!!
Just curious... How long have you had your truck before they called you in? Wondering if it is just a random thing or based on how long it has been registered and a certain amount of time till they get to you... or Do they just suddenly scan the system for mini trucks ( and such ) and take the whole lot and start pulling them in....
I was wondering if the Kei trucks in Manitoba had to have a initial vehicle inspection and be brought into compliance for that year's requirements? The ones in BC are supposed to have this process ...
I bought and registered my truck last August. It was safetied in Sask. which is accepted "at par" in Manitoba. I had no problems registering it at all. I did get a letter 6 months ago about the VIN number and went to my insurer and showed them the VIN on the truck to assure them it was accurate. Was that foreshadowing...I don't know. My headlilghts are DOT marked and I put on a heavy steel bumper with DOT approved LED trailer lights so I'm good there (unless they don't like my welds).
I always tell people "Well sh!t I ride my motorcycle 6 months out of the year... and I'd ride all winter long too if I could. Minnesota doesn't even require me to wear a helmet, even at night or on the freeway... how can a mini truck possibly be less safe than that?
You made the mistake thinking that government and bureacracy would be ruled by logic. These trucks are better made than any domestic - thats why I bought one!
MPIC - the government owned and run monopoly that is our insurance company They require a "safety" before being registered These safeties are performed by a licensed outfit ( like a garage ) I don't know know how a garage get "certified" These places are required to do this safety check to the MPIC standards Thats the official stand of MPIC Standards are of course not always perfectly clear also, you can usually find ( with the right connections ) the occasional place that will "squeek" by or look the other way for certain things This can leave some gaps in the system It seem that if muffler place that does the safety is always more concerned that you need the new $800 exhaust system and less concerned about your tires If you get your safety at the tire shop It seems that your tires are always very "weathered" and you need to get 4 new ones Just because the vehicle is safetied it does not make it compliant - even if it should Example I am interested in buying a mini truck that has been previously pulled off the road for being non compliant MPIC says first I have to buy it from the guy then I have to get it safetied ( I can't safety it unless its mine ) which will of course include repairs then I have to bring it to them ( they won't look at it until it has been safetied ) to see what needs to be done to make it compliant If they determine that it is not up to snuff they won't allow it on the road So I then have to do more then bring it back to them for another inspection Then you have to hope you have the same guy doing the inspection the 2nd time because each enforcement officer is different Plus I am sure that if they determine that the vehicle is not compliant, then they can go after and investigate the garage that did the safety
I went through this BS with getting my bus from BC safetied in Sask... all depends on who you go to for the inspection. first place did a "LV" light vehicle inspection. well it needed brakes, belts, calipers, flares, triangles, and they said it needed a new steering setup because it "locked up". well took it to a specialist for that, said its BS and there is nothing wrong. took it back, they safetied it, SGI (sask govt insurance) said too bad, LV doesnt cut it for my bus (van front shuttle bus). Called SGI HQ and raised **** cause they safety other buses in town, and apparently im not welcome back to that shop now.. took it to another shop to get the HV (heavy vehicle) inspection done. and it passed flying colours. except they didn't want to pass it because it had no buzzer for a rear exit door when the flipping thing doesn't even have a rear door!! so finally I took it to the place that did the steering column, told them whats been done and the BS everyone else has given me, they took it in and looked at it and in an hour i had the safety done and plates on it! I spend well over $2000 in repairs and safeties on it! Also took me 3 months to get it all said and done. So bottom line is that its all in who you know, what needs done and if it needs everything applicable to it done.
To avoid that hassle was one of the reasons I bought my truck in Sask. Already safetied and ready to insure with no unknowns. I actually had the salesman fedex me the bill of sale, which I signed and brought to my insurer, got the plates and I hadn't even seen the truck.
Fortunately (or unfortunately depends on how you look at it) I have to deal with small local government instead of large State or Federal government. The fortunate thing is I get to directly make my case straight to the people who will approve or deny me the right to drive my truck on the road. People who say it's not safe etc look pretty silly by the time I'm done with them... the unfortunate thing is I have to deal with ANY local governing body that has jurisdiction over an area I want to drive my truck through. And pay a fee to drive it once they approve it to be driven. And wait for them to hash out the details of the permit, inspect my truck etc...
mpi rates hey guys, I'm new to the forum and thinking a about getting a hijet. Anyone in manitoba that could let me know approx what they're paying for insurance, as well as if there's any big issues when importing. thanks in advance.
go to the mpi website the truck should be listed can't help you on the importing tho from what ive read it looks way easier to let the importers do what they best and let them take care of all that just buy from a dealer i don't think you will save much by doing it yourself search the site there are a lot of good dealers here
want to buy my truck? it's in Real nice shape with REAL low km's (also i may take Trades.) 1990 daihatsu hijet 21,000km 4x4 forsale $5999
I think my insurance is about $600 a year, I'm 40 and haven't had an accident in a decade. I wouldn't bother going through the hassle of importing. Manitobaminitrucks in Gladstone is great and not that far away. Safetied doesn't mean compliant so you will have more work to do eventually. There is lots of info here or ivoac.ca. You can always pm me for more info. I love my Hijet (with new front coil springs). I've put 10k on it and would not be without one! Still be sure to go over any used vehicle before purchasing, the name doesn't mean it might not have been abused etc. Good luck, Ralph
