Vehicle inspection is a procedure mandated by national or subnational governments in many countries, in which a vehicle is inspected to ensure that it conforms to regulations governing
safetyAutomobile safety is the study and practice of vehicle design, construction, and equipment to minimise the occurrence and consequences of automobile accidents....
, emissions, or both. Inspection can be required at various times, e.g., periodically or on transfer of title to a vehicle. If required periodically, it is often termed
periodic motor vehicle inspection; typical intervals are every two years and every year.
In some jurisdictions, proof of inspection is required before a
vehicle licenceA valid vehicle licence is required by law in some countries to be displayed on any registered motor vehicle if it is to be used or kept on a public road.-Worldwide:...
or
license plateIn the United States, license plates are issued by an agency of the state or territorial government, and in the case of the District of Columbia the District government. Some Native American tribes also issue plates. The U.S. federal government issues plates only for its own vehicle fleet and for...
can be issued or renewed. In others, once a vehicle passes inspection, a decal is attached to the windshield, and police can enforce the inspection law by seeing whether the vehicle displays an up-to-date decal. In the case of a vehicle lacking a windshield (e.g., a
trailerA Trailer is generally an unpowered vehicle pulled by a powered vehicle. Commonly, the term trailer refers to such vehicles used for transport of goods and materials....
or
motorcycleA motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are the most affordable form of...
), the decal is typically attached to the vehicle body or license plate.
With regard to safety inspection, there is some controversy over whether it is a
cost-effectiveCost-effectiveness analysis is a form of economic analysis that compares the relative expenditure and outcomes of two or more courses of action. Cost-effectiveness analysis is often used where a full cost-benefit analysis is inappropriate e.g. the problem is to determine how best to comply with...
way to improve
road-traffic safetyRoad traffic safety aims to reduce the harm resulting from crashes of road vehicles. Harm from road traffic crashes is greater than that from all other transportation modes combined....
.
Canada
Emission testing programs in Canada include
AirCareAirCare is a vehicle emissions testing program in place in the Lower Mainland including the Greater Vancouver Regional District and the Fraser Valley Regional District of British Columbia. Drivers in these areas are required to demonstrate that their vehicle has recently passed an emissions test...
in the Lower Mainland only of
British ColumbiaBritish Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is famed for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . In 1871, it became the sixth province of Canada.The capital of British Columbia is Victoria, the 15th largest metropolitan region in Canada...
and
Ontario's Drive CleanOntario's Drive Clean is an automobile emissions control program in Ontario, Canada. It applies only to drivers in southern Ontario. It is unlikely it will be expanded to cover northern Ontario...
in Southern
OntarioOntario is a province located in east-central Canada, the largest by population and second largest, after Quebec, in total area. Ontario is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba to the west and Quebec to the east, and 5 U.S...
only.
Safety testing regulations vary through the different provinces. In
ManitobaManitoba is a prairie province in Canada and has an area of . Manitoba is bordered by the provinces of Ontario to the east and Saskatchewan to the west, the territory of Nunavut to the north, and the U.S. states of North Dakota and Minnesota to the south...
for example, upon buying a car (new or used), a valid safety check must be done before it can be registered. Dealerships are required to provide the buyer with a new safety, while private sellers are not (if a private seller so chooses, they may pay for, and issue a new safety in order to make it more appealing to buy). In either case, if the vehicle bought has not had a safety test within the last year, the buyer must safety the vehicle before it can be registered with autopac. From the point the car is registered, no safety test is required as long as the car remains with the current owner (however, if something goes wrong, automechanics and dealerships have the right to refuse to let the client drive out with an unsafe car).
The provinces of
New BrunswickNew Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only constitutionally bilingual province in the confederation. The provincial capital is Fredericton...
and
Prince Edward IslandPrince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
require annual safety inspections, in
Nova ScotiaNova Scotia is a Canadian province located on Canada's southeastern coast. It is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. Its capital, Halifax, is a major economic centre of the region. Nova Scotia is the second-smallest province in Canada with an area of...
, a safety inspection is required every two years.
OntarioOntario is a province located in east-central Canada, the largest by population and second largest, after Quebec, in total area. Ontario is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba to the west and Quebec to the east, and 5 U.S...
and
British ColumbiaBritish Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is famed for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . In 1871, it became the sixth province of Canada.The capital of British Columbia is Victoria, the 15th largest metropolitan region in Canada...
require bi-annual emission testing, although only the Lower Mainland of BC, which includes the city of Vancouver, and the southern part of Ontario, require any testing. The rest of the province is without such legislation.
United States
In the United States, each
stateA U.S. state is any one of 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government . Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile...
government is free to decide whether to require vehicle safety inspection, as well as the specifics of the inspection program. 18 states and the District of Columbia have a periodic (annual or biannual) safety inspection program, while Maryland requires an inspection prior to registration or transfer of ownership only.
Under the
Clean Air Act (1990)The 1990 Clean Air Act is a piece of United States environmental policy relating to the reduction of smog and air pollution. It follows the Clean Air Act in 1963, the Clean Air Act Amendment in 1966, the Clean Air Act Extension in 1970, and the Clean Air Act Amendments in 1977...
, states are required to implement vehicle emission inspection programs in metropolitan areas whose air quality does not meet federal standards. The specifics of those programs vary from state to state. Some states, including Kentucky and Minnesota, have discontinued their testing programs in recent years with approval from the federal government.
Japan
Under the Japanese
shaken (車検) program, when a vehicle turns 3 years old, it must get an inspection every two years.
China
Chinese Rural Vehicle (CRV) operators can be fined by the police if their vehicle emits visible smoke. Regulations are established and enforced by province/economic region/city as appropriate. New vehicles must pass regulations (Euro spec) in effect on the day of manufacture.
Singapore
Cars are required to obtain a safety and emissions inspection every other year starting in the third model year, and annually after 10 model years. Motorcycles and mopeds must be inspected annually starting in the third model year. Buses, taxicabs, commercial vehicles, and trailers must be inspected every year or six months depending on the vehicle's age. An up to date inspection (if required) is needed to renew a vehicle's
road taxRoad tax is a general term used for tax paid for usage of automobiles to the local or central government. For road tax in UK or U.S. see Vehicle excise duty...
.
Turkey
Until 2008 the vehicle inspection was limited to administrative checks (whether all taxes have been paid) and a visual check if the car matches the documents. In August 2005 the Turkish government decided to introduce a vehicle inspection scheme following the directive 96/96/EC of the European Union. Since there was no technical equipment available for real roadworthiness tests a contract was laid out with the German
TÜV SÜDTÜV SÜD is an international service corporation focusing on consulting, testing, certification and training. At over 600 locations, primarily in Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, TÜV SÜD Group employs 14,000-plus staff. In 2008, sales revenues totalled EUR 1.4 billion, roughly 30 per cent of...
that was presenting itself for the task in syndication with two Turkish corporations. The TÜV Türk trust is given a monopoly on car inspection for 20 years. Beginning with 2009 the TÜV test is mandatory for all cars with the inspection scheme to follow the German inspection scheme - however there is a transition period up to 2013 where established TÜV regulations are not followed as strictly as in mainland Europe. The shift in vehicle inspection policies is nevertheless rather sharp - since the old vehicle inspection service was strickened with corruption no staff members were taken over to the TÜV Süd, the internal inspection protocol is stricter than in Germany as to prevent any corruption. The introduction of the TÜV was accompanied with a strong propaganda program to agitate the requirement for a modern inspection scheme (e.g. the number of fatal road accidents was three times as high as in mainland Europe despite most of the country to be very rural). Additionally, it is expected that the connection with the
German TurksTurks in Germany are people of Turkish ethnicity living in Germany who form the largest ethnic minority in Germany.- Early settlement :...
allows for most citizens to have some knowledge how to cope with the TÜV inspection scheme.
European Union
The Council directive 96/96/EC of 20 December 1996 mandates all member states to carry out periodic safety and emission inspections for most types of motor vehicles. It also sets minimum requirements for those inspections and their intervals - for light commercial vehicles (up to 3.5 t) and private cars (up to 8 seats) the first inspection shall occur no later than 4 years and at a frequency of up to 2 years thereafter. All other types of vehicles shall be subject to yearly inspection (busses, vans, trucks, trailers, taxis, ambulances, coaches). Vehicles from the military and fire departments are exempted from the directive.
Austria
In Austria, all vehicles must undergo a "
Wiederkehrende Begutachtung nach § 57a KFG" (recurring inspection under section 57a of the motor vehicle statute). A
decalA decal or transfer is a plastic, cloth paper or ceramic substrate that has printed on it a pattern that can be moved to another surface upon contact, usually with the aid of heat or water. The word is short for "decalcomania." The word Decalcomania is derived from the French word "decalquer,"...
is placed on the vehicle's windscreen (usually the upper left-hand corner as seen from outside the vehicle), hence the inspection itself is colloquially referred to as "
Pickerl" (literally: sticker). The color of the decal is white for vehicles with a
catalytic converterA catalytic converter is a device used to reduce the toxicity of emissions from an internal combustion engine. First widely introduced on series-production automobiles in the U.S. market for the 1975 model year to comply with tightening EPA regulations on auto exhaust, catalytic converters are...
, and green for vehicles without one. Punch holes indicate the month and year that the next inspection is due. The actual inspection can be carried out one month in advance of that date and up to four months after the date indicated on the decal; the vehicle remains roadworthy during that time. Unless the inspection is overdue in the sense just described, the roadworthiness certificate is transferable, meaning a potential new owner will get a new decal with the same date, but the corrected license plate number upon registration of her vehicle. However, the latest official inspection report has to be presented for this purpose to the authority issuing the new registration documents and license plates.
The first inspection on new passenger cars is required after three years, another one two years on, while thereafter passenger cars must pass the official inspection each and every year to remain roadworthy. Heavy trucks and motorcycles must undergo annual inspections from the very first year. Inspections are carried out by specially licensed garages and by Austria's two major automotive clubs. The Austrian motor vehicle inspection covers both aspects of vehicle safety and emissions standards.
Finland
Finland has a long tradition of vehicle inspection, dating back to year 1917. Vehicle inspection was initially carried by cities and provincial inspectors but starting from year 1968 the inspection moved to national governing body of road vehicle administration known as Autorekisterikeskus. In 1994 the vehicle inspection was opened for competition and in 1996 Autorekisterikeskus was split as administrative body Ajoneuvohallintokeskus (AKE) and inspection company Suomen Autokatsastus Oy. Nowadays, Ajoneuvohallintokeskus governs the inspection companies and keeps track of inspection quality and the inspections are carried by private companies. During the years, the inspection procedures and facilities have improved greatly and nowadays the quality of inspection is on such level that mechanical failures as immediate cause for fatal crashes in whole country are minimal.
In Finland, the "Määräaikaiskatsastus" (periodic inspection) is required for all passenger cars, vans, trucks, ATVs and for trailers with maximum structural weight of more than 750 kilograms. Inspection interval depends on vehicle class and usage. For privately-used passenger car, inspection must be carried after three and five years counting from the specified date of first deployment and every year after fifth year. For privately-used van, the first inspection must be carried after three years and every year after third year. If there is no specified date of first deployment (for instance 00.00.1987) the time of inspection is determined by the last number of license plate. The inspection period also varies depending on vehicle class and usage but for privately-used passenger cars and vans the length of the period is four months preceding the date specified in date of first deployment or four months preceding the last date of inspection specified by the license plate number.
The periodic inspection includes verification of vehicle register information (VIN, taxes, insurance), a test drive, brake testing, inspection of lights and compulsory equipment, superficial inspection for visibility and handling hindrances and bodywork, undercarriage inspection for suspension parts and corrosion and emission measurements (requirements vary depending on propellant and date of first deployment). The emission measurement can be taken on a registered repair shop prior to the inspection. If done so, a proper measurement certificate must be shown at inspection. Upon passed inspection, a new "Part one" of registration certificate is printed and handed to customer among with inspection report. If inspection fails, the faults found during the inspection must be repaired and the vehicle needs to be shown at the same inspection station for "Jälkitarkastus" (recheck) within one month of the inspection.
Germany
Germany requires safety inspection and emission inspection every two years for passenger cars. New passenger cars have to obtain their first roadworthiness certificate after three years. Heavy duty vehicles need to be presented to the vehicle inspection authorities (e.g. TÜV, DEKRA, KÜS, GTÜ, ...) every year. The safety inspection decal is placed on the rear
license plateGerman car number plates show the place where the car carrying them is registered. Whenever a person changes their main place of residence in Germany, or buys a new car, they are required to buy new number plates. Number plates can be bought which are valid all year round or between 2 to 11 months...
; the emission inspection decal is placed on the front license plate (the emission decal on the front plate will be phased out until 2010 and then be part of the safety inspection).
Ireland
In Ireland, the
National Car TestThe National Car Test, or NCT, is a roadworthiness test, which all cars in the Republic of Ireland must undergo. The test must first be taken when the car is between 3½ and 4 years old, with the second test between 5¾ and 6 years old and every two years after that...
(NCT) is required for cars 4 or more years of age to be inspected for various items, such as brakes, lighting, bodywork condition, emissions, etc. A disc which must be displayed on the windscreen is issued to cars that pass the test. The disc is valid for two years, after which the car must then be re-tested.
A Certificate of Roadworthiness is required for goods vehicles, or vehicles carrying more than 8 passengers (busses). This is commonly referred to as a "DOE" cert and the test is carried out in approved garages.
The Netherlands
In The Netherlands the "
Algemene Periodieke Keuring" (APK) or General Periodical Inspection is mandatory for vehicles aging 3 – 50 years. The inspection of vehicles up to 30 years old is annual, bi-annual for vehicles from 30–50 years old, older vehicles are exempt. The inspection includes conforming to safety and emission standards in force in the year of first introduction of the car. Registration is all digital and public, there are no longer visible stickers or
decalA decal or transfer is a plastic, cloth paper or ceramic substrate that has printed on it a pattern that can be moved to another surface upon contact, usually with the aid of heat or water. The word is short for "decalcomania." The word Decalcomania is derived from the French word "decalquer,"...
s on the vehicle, but the paper inspection report must be carried in the car.
United Kingdom
The Ministry of Transport test (more usually: MOT - pronounced by spelling out the letters) is a mandatory annual test of safety, roadworthiness and exhaust emissions for vehicles over three years old.
Sweden
Svensk Bilprovning AB ("
bilprovningen") tests the road worthiness of cars once every year for modern cars, every second year for cars classified as
veteran/classic carsAntique vehicle registration is a special form of motor vehicle registration for vehicles that are considered antique, classic, vintage, or historic...
(currently occurring when the car reaches age 30). When a vehicle passes inspection, road tax and insurance have been paid, the owner receives an adhesive sticker to attach to the rear license plate, thus making it easy for the police to see if a vehicle is roadworthy.
Australia
Each
AustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the continental mainland , the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans...
n State or territory has the authority to set its own laws pertaining to vehicle inspections, all (with the exception of the self governing territory of
Norfolk IslandNorfolk Island is a small island in the Pacific Ocean located between Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia. It and two neighbouring islands form one of Australia's external territories....
) have some form of inspection, either periodically or before a transfer of ownership.
Australian Capital Territory
Vehicles in the following categories must be inspected by an authorised vehicle examiner:
- When registering a brand new vehicle for the first time (usually the dealer does this prior to delivery)
- Upon transfer of ownership if the vehicle is over six years old
- Before transferring a registration from interstate regardless of the vehicle's age
- Before re-registering a vehicle if the previous registration was canceled or expired more than 12 months ago
- If a defect notice is issued
Once a vehicle is registered, it generally will not need to be inspected again if it remains with the same owner. However, the Australian Capital Territory has a random inspection scheme, vehicles can be spot checked whether occupied or not. If faults are discovered, a defect notice can be issued in which case the owner will be required to have repairs made, and obtain a full inspection from a licensed examiner with 14 days to clear the notice. If egregious safety violations are found, the vehicle's registration can be suspended on the spot and the operator will need to have the vehicle
towedA tow truck , is a vehicle used to transport motor vehicles to another location , or to recover vehicles which are no longer on a drivable surface.Towing services are generally provided by an emergency road service operator...
.
Vehicles powered by
natural gasNatural gas is a gas consisting primarily of methane. It is found associated with fossil fuels, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is created by methanogenic organisms in marshes, bogs, and landfills...
or
propanePropane is a three-carbon alkane, normally a gas, but compressible to a transportable liquid. It is derived from other petroleum products during oil or natural gas processing...
must receive an special annual gas inspection.
New South Wales
Vehicles over five years old are required to obtain an
e-Safety Check prior to registration renewal or before transferring a registration from interstate.
Northern Territory
Vehicles over three years old must be inspected by an authorised examiner before a registration can be issued, renewed, or transferred from interstate.
Queensland
Queensland TransportQueensland Transport is the state government department for transport in Queensland.In April 2009, Queensland Transport and the Department of Main Roads merged to form the Department of Transport and Main Roads.- Ministers :...
requires any vehicle to have a safety inspection (and the resulting
Safety Certificate prominently displayed) before it can be offered for sale or have its interstate registration transferred. The inspection checks the general condition of the vehicle itself (suspension, body condition, etc...) and certain items of basic safety equipment such as the tyres, brakes, lights, windshield, etc... The certificate is valid for 1,000 km or 3 months (whichever is sooner) if the vehicle is being offered for sale by a dealer, and for 2,000 km or 2 months if being sold by an individual. There are some exceptions, vehicles being sold in rural parts of the state are exempt if driving to the nearest inspection station would present a hardship, and vehicles that are only being sold for parts likewise do not requirer a safety inspection. Sellers who are required to have a safety certificate but either do not obtain one or fail to display it properly while the vehicle is advertised for sale are subject to a $375 on the spot fine.
There are no periodic safety inspections in Queensland once a vehicle is registered, however, mobile road teams conduct random emissions inspections through a program called OVERT, and drivers may be summoned if their vehicles are not within legal guidelines or emits visible smoke.
South Australia
The majority of privately owned vehicles do not need to be inspected to be legally driven or have their interstate registration transferred to South Australia. Vehicles with certain types of modifications, specifically engine, chassis, wheel-base, seating capacity, brakes, steering, or suspension modifications require a certificate of roadworthiness prior to registration (or as a condition of continued registration). Additionally, several other categories of vehicles also require a certificate:
- Vehicles cited for safety faults by the police.
- Vehicles that were previously written off and/or salvaged.
- Rebuilt, self-constructed or homemade vehicles (such as classic car restorations or kit cars)
- Vehicles transferred from interstate that are over seven years old and weigh more than 4.5 tonnes (10,000 lbs).
- Vehicles that were transferred from left-hand to right-hand drive.
- Buses with a seating capacity of 13 persons or more
Tasmania
A safety inspection is required for:
- Sale of a used vehicle
- Transferring a mainland (interstate) registration to Tasmania
- Re-registering a vehicle whose previous registration expired or was canceled more than three months ago
- Re-registering a vehicle that was written off and repaired
- Registering a vehicle converted from left-hand to right-hand drive
Victoria
Similar to Queensland,
VicRoadsVicRoads or the Roads Corporation Victoria is a subordinate authority which is the State's road and traffic authority in Victoria, Australia....
requires that a vehicle being sold, registered from interstate have a current
Certificate of Roadworthiness from a licensed vehicle inspector. Additionally, vehicles that are cited by the police for safety defects must also obtain a certificate.
Western Australia
A vehicle inspection is required before a vehicle can be registered for the first time, upon transfer of ownership, after a lapse in registration, if a vehicle has received certain modifications, or has been cited for safety faults (a "yellow sticker") by the police. Certain commercial and public transport vehicles must be inspected annually.
Western Australia does
not require an inspection upon transfer of an interstate registration if the vehicle remains with the same owner.
New Zealand
New ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses , and numerous smaller islands, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands. The indigenous Māori named New Zealand Aotearoa, commonly translated as The Land of the Long White Cloud...
's Land Transport Safety Authority requires most vehicles to maintain a Warrant of Fitness through periodic inspections from licensed inspectors. Cars newer than six years old must be inspected at least once every twelve months; older cars require six-monthly inspections. Some classes of vehicle must instead maintain a Certificate of Fitness, which requires a six-monthly inspection regardless of the age of the vehicle.
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