Officials with an automotive industry association want Ontario drivers to get their vehicles inspected every other year, but they still have work to do to get some other groups on board with the idea.

The Automotive Aftermarket Retailers of Ontario represents businesses in the auto service industry, including auto repair shops. It's preparing a petition for the Ontario Legislature, asking it to increase the frequency of vehicle safety checks.

Under the current guidelines, private motor vehicles only need to be inspected when the vehicle changes ownership or when it's being registered in Ontario after coming from another province. Commercial vehicles are inspected every year and school buses are inspected every two years.

"There are a lot of vehicles on the road that are not being maintained. We don't see those vehicles unless there is a transfer of ownership," said Diane Freeman, the association's executive director.

She cited drivers neglecting to maintain their tires and the recent rash of wheels flying off moving trucks as examples of situations in which biennial safety checks would help.

"I'm not saying it's going to prevent anything, but at least we'll be looking at safety items on the vehicle and making sure they are maintained," she said.

Proposal similar to Nova Scotia

Freeman plans to present the idea to politicians when the legislature resumes in the fall. She said the proposal is endorsed by both the Used Car Dealers Association of Ontario and the Automotive Industries Association.

This plan is similar to the inspection regime in Nova Scotia. Most vehicles there need to be inspected every two years. Each inspection costs vehicle owners $25. The exceptions are new cars, which do not need an inspection for their first three years on the road.

On July 1, Ontario's Ministry of Transportation updated its motor vehicle safety checks, introducing new road test rules, an online report on inspections and new safety standards.

But a spokesperson told CBC News the ministry isn't considering changing the rules around how often a vehicle needs to be inspected.

Cost a potential issue

Dal Kooner manages the Alpha Auto repair shop in Windsor, Ont. He told CBC News a biennial safety check could benefit car owners — but only if the price is right.

"It's all depending on the fee," he said. "If it's feasible for the customer and the shop, I don't see anything wrong with it. But if they're going to charge $80 or $90, there will be an issue."

Looking at the parts he'd likely need to inspect — brakes, tires and other main components — Kooner says he wouldn't do it for less than $40. If the proposed safety checks cost the same as in Nova Scotia, he wouldn't want to do it.

"I mean $25 doesn't even cover me driving the car in," Kooner said. "Even a basic check up is half-an-hour to go through all the components. For $25, it's not even worth it for me."

CBC Windsor called a number of mechanics in Windsor and found the cost of a safety check costs anywhere between $70 and $135.

Earlier this year, in their budget, the Ontario Liberals eliminated the $30 fee drivers paid when they get their car tested under Ontario's Drive Clean program.