Members of the European Parliament call for clearer technical checks for cars, but reject annual inspections for old vehicles

The European Parliament's Transport Committee wants a temporary EU technical certificate for vehicles inspected in another member state, checks for airbags, automatic brakes, and odometers, but does not support mandatory annual inspections for vehicles and vans older than ten years.

The Transport and Tourism Committee of the European Parliament adopted on Tuesday its position regarding the revision of EU rules for technical inspections of vehicles, maintaining the current frequency of mandatory checks but calling for new checks for safety systems, mandatory recalls, and odometers.

In short 1. The TRAN Committee adopted the Parliament's position with 30 votes in favor, 11 against, and two abstentions.

2. MEPs rejected the Commission's proposal to introduce annual technical inspections for vehicles and vans older than ten years.

3. The Parliament wants a temporary EU technical certificate, valid for six months, for vehicles inspected in a member state other than the one in which they are registered.

4. The new checks would include airbags, emergency automatic brakes, specific elements for electric and hybrid vehicles, mandatory recalls, and odometer readings.

5. Negotiations with member states can only begin after the plenary approval of the decision, scheduled for mid-May.

MEPs from the Transport and Tourism Committee adopted the draft position of the Parliament regarding the revision of EU rules concerning periodic technical inspections of vehicles and technical checks in traffic for commercial vehicles.

The text was approved with 30 votes in favor, 11 against, and two abstentions. In a separate vote, the committee decided, with 32 votes in favor, 10 against, and one abstention, to start negotiations with member states on the final form of the legislation. The decision needs the approval of the Parliament's plenary, which is set to meet in mid-May.

One of the main changes supported by MEPs concerns inspections carried out in another member state. To facilitate free movement within the EU, the new rules would allow the technical inspection of a vehicle to be carried out in a different country of the Union than the one in which the vehicle is registered.

In this case, the owner would receive a temporary EU technical certificate, valid for six months. The next inspection would, however, need to be carried out in the member state where the vehicle is registered. MEPs want this possibility to also apply to vans.

The Transport Committee rejected the European Commission's proposal to shorten the intervals for technical inspections for vehicles and vans older than ten years, from once every two years to an annual check.

MEPs considered that the measure is not proportionate and is not supported by sufficient evidence that it would reduce accidents. They also pointed out that member states can already impose shorter intervals for inspections if they wish.

The Parliament's position also updates the list of items checked during periodic technical inspections. Advanced driver assistance systems, such as airbags and emergency automatic brakes, are not currently checked regularly, and MEPs want their inclusion in checks to ensure they provide the expected safety benefits.

Inspections would also include relevant elements for battery electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles. MEPs support the inclusion of measuring particle numbers and nitrogen oxide emissions in periodic technical inspections to improve air quality, but only on a voluntary basis, leaving member states to decide on the extent of these tests.

The Parliament also calls for periodic checks of compliance with mandatory recalls. If a vehicle has not been brought into compliance with an unresolved mandatory recall, it should not pass the inspection.

To combat odometer fraud in the used car market, MEPs support a new obligation for car service centers to record odometer readings for cars and vans. Manufacturers would need to submit readings from connected vehicles to a national database.

To avoid additional burdens for small and medium-sized enterprises, MEPs want this obligation to apply only if the repair takes more than one hour.

The mandate also includes heavy motorcycles. MEPs support the removal of the current flexibility regarding the periodic testing of motorcycles over 125 cc, so that checks become mandatory. They also support extending technical inspections to heavy electric-powered motorcycles.

Regarding technical checks in traffic, current rules set a EU-wide target of checking 5% of buses and trucks. MEPs want the 5% target to become a national target and call for extending checks in traffic to vans.

The Parliament also supports checking in traffic for pollutant emissions for cars, motorcycles, vans, trucks, and buses. Vehicles that may have high emissions should be sent for additional technical inspections. Member states could use the same system to combat noise emissions.

Rapporteur Jens Gieseke, a German MEP from the EPP, said that the goal is to increase road safety and streamline inspections without additional burdens for consumers and businesses.

"Our aim is to make European roads safer and inspections more efficient, while simultaneously intensifying the fight against fraud, without placing an additional burden on consumers and businesses. Without general annual inspections for vehicles older than ten years and without additional testing requirements for light commercial vehicles, this sends a clear signal of relief for consumers and, in particular, for small and medium-sized enterprises," Gieseke said.

The European Commission presented last year the package on the technical condition of vehicles, which aims to update minimum standards for vehicle inspections, registration documents, and technical checks in traffic.

MEPs already confirmed in April the Parliament's position on one part of the package, the vehicle registration documents. The file regarding periodic technical inspections and checks in traffic is set to enter interinstitutional negotiations after the plenary approval of the mandate.

https://2eu.brussels/ro/stiri/eurodeputatii-cer-verificari-tehnice-mai-clare-pentru-masini-dar-resping-controalele-anuale-pentru-vehiculele-vechi