Vehicle inspection frequency to be longer

The interval for periodic inspections of motorized vehicles, including car and van, will be extended from next year, said a government press release.

In the future, motor vehicles must be inspected for the first time no later than four years from the date of their taking into use and after every two years since then.

However, vehicles more than 10 years old should be inspected annually. The inspection interval of light four-wheel vehicles remains the same as now.

The government issued a decree on the changes on 28 June 2017. The decree will enter into force on 20 May 2018.

However, the inspection following the entry into force of the decree must be performed according to the inspection intervals valid at present.

“The goal of the amendment to the decree on vehicle inspections is to ease people’s everyday life and bring savings. The amendments are not expected to have a significant effect on traffic safety, since the longer inspection intervals apply mainly to new vehicles, where technical faults are rare,” said Minister of Transport and Communications Anne Berner.

Besides the inspection intervals, determination of the inspection date also changes.

At present, the last date of inspection is determined by the date when the vehicle is taken into use.

According to the new decree, the determining factor after the initial inspection is when the vehicle was last inspected.

The decree introduces obligatory inspections for tractors used for transport of goods. At present, tractors are not inspected at all.

According to the decree, tractors used in licensed traffic must be inspected for the first time not later than four years after they have been taken into use, and thereafter every two years.

The obligation to perform annual inspection of vehicles used as taxis is extended to encompass vehicles other than passenger cars. The change anticipates changes introduced by the Act on Transport Services, whereby vehicles other than passenger cars could also be used in taxi service.

No inspection obligation is envisioned for motorcycles. Alternative ways to promote traffic safety - lighter than the inspection obligation - are being reviewed in order to meet the requirements laid down in the EU directive on the inspection of vehicles.