Car owners who wait until the last minute to get their vehicles inspected are going to find themselves with an expired vehicle and aggravation that could have been avoided according to the Island?s transport chief.

Director of Transport Control Department Kevin Monkman explained that even though licenses expire on birthdays, people can have their vehicle inspected three months before their date of relicensing. has received complaints from people unable to have their car relicensed on their birthdays in recent months because trucks and buses were being inspected.

Mr. Monkman said certain trucks and buses are scheduled for inspection in November and December. All light trucks are also inspected in November and as a result the period can become congested.

?We encourage them to come in early because invariably someone is going to be upset but plan ahead and have the vehicle ready to be relicensed,? Mr. Monkman said.

At the end of November TCD advertised a special Saturday opening to inspect light trucks.

?About 40 trucks showed up and on Monday everyone was mad because their trucks were expired. We?ve made every effort to make time available,? Mr. Monkman said.

With the launch of the TCD website, Mr. Monkman is hoping moving information on-line will help combat some these problems in the future.

He said: ?Now, we have to look to the future to make the changes.?

Currently, the calendar of appointments for inspection is done manually but once it is on-line people can book an appointment and see what appointments are available on their own, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Mr. Monkman said.

Mr. Monkman said an improved testing facility would provide a number of better opportunities including expanded testing with a contractor.

Plans to expand the TCD facilities have come under fire as residents of the proposed area at Frog Lane do not want it to be expanded on the lot.

The new facility will also provide emissions testing to improve the air quality on the Island.

?We?re also looking at spreading out our licensing of fleet vehicles such as Belco so that they can choose when it is best for them to be inspected,? Mr. Monkman said.

He added that in order for people to avoid dealing with backed up testing facilities is to plan early to have a vehicle inspected before it has to be relicensed.