3 Things A Future Service Advisor Should Know About Ontario’s 3-Wheeled Vehicle Pilot Program

If you’ve been on the road in Ontario recently, you might have come across some vehicles that you’ve never seen before. These vehicles have only three wheels, as opposed to a car’s four and a motorcycle’s too. For the most part, they escape definition; it’s difficult to determine whether they should be considered motorcycles or cars, or what type of classification they fall under for regulatory purposes.

And on top of that, one of the reasons you’ve likely never seen them before is because they’ve only recently been allowed onto Ontario’s roads. These three-wheeled vehicles (TWVs) only had a pilot program instituted in Ontario in March 2016.

Regardless, these TWVs will be on the road for the foreseeable future, which means that anyone looking to be an automotive service advisor might want to know a thing or two about them. If that’s a career path that interests you, read on for some information about TWVs that might come in handy during your career.

1. A Future Service Advisor Should Know the Duration of the Pilot Program

Due to the fact that the introduction of TWVs to Ontario’s roads occurred through a pilot program, there is a definite end date in site. When the Ontario government announced the implementation of the program, they also mentioned that it would last for ten years. Any automotive service advisor knows that ten years is a long time for these vehicles to be on the road. It’s enough time for each model to go through many different advancements and iterations in order to perfect various functions and features. Not to mention that the pilot program can be adopted indefinitely by the Ontario government if it is determined to be safe and successful.

2. Service Advisors Should Know the Specific Requirement for Using a TWV in Ontario

A three-wheeled vehicle is technically not a car, because it doesn’t have four wheels, nor is it a motorcycle, because it doesn’t have two wheels. As a direct result of its unique status, there are certain specific requirements that each driver of a TWV has to adhere to. Despite the presence of a steering wheel, car-seats, and regular controls, the Ontario government has classified it as a motorcycle. In accordance with motorcycle laws, a helmet is mandatory to drive a TWV. However, you only need a regular, Class G driver’s license to operate it. These unique sets of rules may seem a little daunting at the outset, but drivers will likely get used to them quickly.

3. A Multitude of TWV Options Means That Each Different Model Offers Unique Specs

Students who receive auto service advisor training know that owners of these TWVs will be looking at more than the novelty of a driving a ‘new type’ of vehicle. Specifically, they will be looking for affordability, horsepower, and engine size, among many other things. Luckily for these owners, they will have many options to choose from, because TWVs have been allowed on the roads of Quebec, British Columbia, Manitoba, and the Yukon for quite some time. Owners can choose between such different cars as the Polaris Slingshot, known for its affordability and responsiveness, to the Campagna T-Rex, a more expensive, quicker, and lighter option.

Are you interested in a future career as a service advisor?

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