Certificate of Approval sticker following provincial safety inspection
 

I imported a vehicle from the United States and had to get a safety inspection to register it with ICBC. After the safety inspection, I noticed that the mechanic had affixed a "certificate of approval" sticker on the front windshield. The sticker is cut to indicate the month that the inspection happened, and it has the year 2019 on it.

Can anyone tell me what this sticker is for? Do I need to leave it at attached to my car, or can I take it off? Also, does this date of 2019 indicate that I have to get another safety inspection in a year?

Thanks!

Is this a real question?

It's not just for decoration.

Well the mechanic didn't say a thing to me about it, and Google turns up basically nothing, except the same question on Reddit that was never really resolved (except a couple of vague replies suggesting it's only for commerical vehicles and can be ignored).

So if you understand what this sticker is for and can explain it, it would be useful for both myself as well as people trying to Google this in the future.

Thanks

Keep it for a year.

Having done this on many cars from out of Province, a good portion of which became race cars...The RCMP, should they pull you over, will expect that the sticker stays on the car indefinitely, and will give you a hard time if the sticker is not affixed to the car.

I always ask that the sticker is affixed instead to the inspection form, and I keep that in the car.

-Dave

Is there something on your registration that states the car is originally from out of province? Just curious how the RCMP would know the car is originally not from BC.

I received one for every car or motorcycle I ever imported and I always just kept it on the backing it comes on and in the glove box or for the motorcycle at home. Never had a problem and never been asked for it... when I sold vehicles I just included it in the sale/mentioned it to the buyer. Looks super ugly stuck to the windshield.

The only way the RCMP or anyone could tell is that your reg documents say “US IMPORT” on them. Again, I’ve never ever been asked though, most of them probably don’t even know about that.

I remember the first car I imported back in 2003 it actually said to stick it in the door jamb, not on the windshield, but I didn’t even do that lol

Exactly.
I simply scraped it off the windshield. Never had a problem in over 5 years.

In other provinces, they affix it near the drivers door jam, with the other vehicle info.

You only need to keep it on the windshield for one year and you can remove it after that iirc

Read the bottom of your inspection form

Thanks for the replies everyone, I appreciate it!