Mandatory inspection for all cars: what the government is preparing and how the rules will change
29 November 06:20
The government is preparing another unpopular but necessary reform: Ukraine may restore mandatory technical inspection for all cars, including passenger cars. This was stated by Deputy Minister of Community and Territorial Development Serhiy Derkach in an interview with CTS, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
“Currently, technical inspection is required only for trucks and buses, but in the EU, regular technical inspection is the basic standard for all vehicles. Ukraine is moving towards this model.
Why the government is bringing back mandatory inspection
The government has repeatedly proposed to reinstate the inspection for passenger cars, which was abolished in 2011, but the decision has been postponed each time due to public opposition and corruption risks.
Now the return of technical inspection is a requirement of European integration. Ukraine must adapt its legislation to EU standards, where technical inspection is a prerequisite for road safety.
“This will be a difficult document politically, but we are working to get it adopted,” Derkach said.
How the European model will work
The proposed reform has two key elements:
1. Regular technical inspection for all cars
- cars, motorcycles, trucks, and buses will be subject to regular technical inspection;
- the frequency will depend on the age of the vehicle;
- the inspection will include brakes, steering, emissions, lighting, body safety, etc.
2. Roadside technical control
The services will be able to stop cars right on the road and conduct a basic technical inspection, as is done in EU countries.
Such control is aimed at:
- reducing accidents,
- detecting dangerous cars,
- preventing manipulations during stationary technical inspection.
What will change for owners of cars imported to Ukraine
A separate part of the reform is the reboot of the used car certification system.
Currently, imported cars must be certified, but this mechanism
- is criticized for being corrupt,
- not in line with European approaches,
- duplicates technical control.
In the future, certification is to be replaced by an initial technical inspection upon importation.
“A used car will not be subject to certification but to the first technical inspection upon import,” explained the Deputy Minister.
This should make the procedure more transparent, faster and closer to EU standards.
Does this really mean the return of technical inspection for all cars?
Yes, but in stages. The government does not plan to introduce technical control for all drivers at the same time.
The reform includes:
- simplification of rules and launch of roadside control,
- reform of import certification,
- gradual expansion of technical inspection to all vehicles.
In this way, Ukraine should move to a full model of European technical control.
