CMVSS testing and compliance

The Motor Vehicle Safety Act (MVSA) requires motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment, manufactured in or imported to Canada, to be certified  with all applicable Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS). These standards identify mandatory minimum safety performance requirements for new motor vehicles and vehicle equipment. In addition, the standards apply to vehicles that are manufactured, modified, or altered for special purposes.

As with the United States (US), Canada follows a self-certification process. This holds the manufacturer solely responsible for placing CMVSS-compliant vehicles or vehicle equipment on the market. However, type approval is not required for motor vehicles or equipment sold in Canada.

Transport Canada follows the US’s Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), and in some instances (i.e., lighting) the EU UN regulations. It also modifies the CMVSS as necessary to match the country’s evolving environmental conditions and vehicle usage. After you demonstrate CMVSS compliance you need to apply for the national safety mark (NSM) from the Government of Canada. Transport Canada requires the manufacturers that are authorized to affix the mark, to have the capability to certify their vehicle production to comply with the regulations under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

TÜV SÜD supports OEMs and component manufacturers to demonstrate CMVSS compliance with this evolving regulatory landscape so you can sell your products in the Canadian market.

TÜV SÜD is your global leading partner for automotive homologation services. We have more than a century of automotive testing and certification experience, and our laboratories are ISO/IEC 17025 accredited.

We partner with you throughout the CMVSS testing, self-certification, and compliance process to ensure efficient access to the Canadian automotive market, saving you time Our global team of homologation experts and strategic partners offer extensive technical advisory, testing, and homologation services. We have in-depth knowledge of the latest vehicle and equipment compliance requirements and are also familiar with CMVSS regulations. Our experts give you effective guidance to help identify the relevant requirements for your motor vehicles and automotive equipment. This helps you to minimise time-to-market and avoid costly product recalls.

We offer a comprehensive range of technical advisory, homologation, and testing services to support your compliance with Canada’s constantly evolving regulations:

• Homologation services – We support you in meeting the applicable CMVSS requirements required to export your vehicles or related systems and components to the Canadian market.
• Mult-regulation management – We help you to understand and identify any overlaps with other regulations, including FMVSS. We also ensure that you stay up to date with evolving regulatory requirements so that you can achieve multiple CMVSS certifications within one project. 
• Vehicle and component testing – We perform the full range of testing services for your vehicles and automotive components to ensure they meet relevant requirements before entering the Canadian market.

Our TÜV SÜD experts can assist you with many of the Canadian CMVSS standards, such as:

CMVSS crash avoidance – 100-series, including:

• CMVSS 108 Lighting Systems and Reflective Devices
• FMVSS 111 Rearview Mirrors, etc.

CMVSS crashworthiness – 200-series, including:

• CMVSS 201 Occupant Protection in Interior Impact
• CMVSS 209/210 Seat Belt Assemblies/Assembly Anchorages etc.

CMVSS post-crash survivability – 300-series, including:

• CMVSS 301 Fuel System Integrity
• CMVSS 305 Electric-Powered Vehicles, Electrolyte Spillage and Electrical Shock Protection, etc.