The vehicle Inspection Handbook is currently being reviewed to determine changes that may be required to address newer vehicle technologies and to provide even greater clarity of inspection standards and rejection criteria.

As part of this review, we have identified several issues related to lamps. Specifically, we have found that some vehicles that were originaly manufactured for markets outside of North America will be equipped with lamps that do not have either “DOT” or “SAE” codes. They may however, have either “JIS” or “E” codes, evidencing compliance with either Japanese or European standards.

HEADLAMPS-Transport Canada has approved the use of certain “E” coded headlamps in Canada. In situations where a vehicle is equipped with headlamps with an “E” code and:

1) An arrow symbol showing in both directions () – do not reject these headlamps simply because they do not have a “DOT/SAE?” marking; or

2) No arrow, do not reject simply because they do not have a “DOT/SAE” marking; or

3) An arrow symbol facing to the right (–>) REJECT as these lamps are not intended for right hand traffic roadways.

Lamps that do not display any “DOT/SAE” or “E” code must still be rejected.

LAMPS OTHER THAN HEADLAMPS – If you encounter any vehicle that has any lamp, other than a headlamp, that displays either “JIS” or “E” code and does not display a “DOT/SAE” code, please contact Vehicle Standards and Inspections (In Winnipeg at 985-0920 or toll free at 1-866-0542) to determine if the lamps will be rejected. Lamps that do not display any “DOT/SAE”, “E”, or “JIS” code must still be rejected. It is also important to be especially careful when inspecting vehicles with “E” or “JIS” codes as these lamp assemblies will sometimes not have all the required lamps that are normally found on vehicles built for the North American market e.g. tail lamp assemblies might not include side marker lamps/reflex reflectors.

Regardless of the coding(s) on any lamp or lamp assembly, if there are required lamps that are either missing or non-functional, they remain a cause for failure during an inspection.