Vehicle Testing & Inspection [EU]
Testing to ensure the safety of vehicles and trailers
It aims to improve road safety by setting minimum requirements for periodic roadworthiness tests of vehicles and trailers in the European Union (EU).
Directive 2014/45/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 April 2014 on periodic roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers and repealing Directive 2009/40/EC.
It aims to improve road safety by setting minimum requirements for periodic roadworthiness tests of vehicles and trailers in the European Union (EU).
Scope
the law applies to vehicles capable of more than 25 km/hour in the following categories:
passenger cars and light commercial vehicles (categories M1 and N1): to be tested 4 years after the date when first registered, and thereafter every 2 years;
vehicles in category M1 used as taxis or ambulances, buses or minibuses (M2, M3), heavy goods vehicles (N2, N3) and heavy trailers (O3, O4): to be tested 1 year after first registration, and thereafter yearly;
fast tractors with a design speed above 40km/h (T5) and used commercially: to be tested 4 years after registration, and thereafter every 2 years.
Powerful motorcycles (category L vehicles with an engine larger than 125 cm3) will be tested from 2022 unless road safety statistics for the previous 5 years show that the same level of road safety could be achieved by alternative measures.
Vehicles may be required to undergo a test before the due dates:
after an accident;
where the holder of the registration certificate has changed;
on reaching 160 000 km;
in cases where road safety is seriously affected.
Exemptions: vehicles of historic interest, diplomatic vehicles, vehicles used by the armed forces, police, customs, fire services or for agricultural and forestry purposes only, as well as vehicles used exclusively on small islands.
Approved testing centres: each EU country must have approved and compliant testing centres, while inspectors must meet competence criteria and be free from any conflict of interest.
Assessment of defects: defects are classified as minor, major or dangerous, with minor defects insufficient to fail vehicles. Where defects are dangerous, the use of the vehicle on public roads may be suspended until the fault is rectified.
Roadworthiness certificate: where a vehicle already registered in another EU country is re-registered, its certificate must be recognised by other EU countries, even where ownership has changed. By 2021, testing centres will be required to share relevant information with the competent authority of their country.
The feasibility, costs and benefits of setting up a European electronic vehicle information platform are to be examined.
Fraud: to detect odometer fraud, data from the preceding test is to be made available to the inspectors. Misrepresenting the distance a vehicle has covered is a punishable offence.
Application & Background
The directive applies as of 20.5.2018.
More information from the press release.
Act
Entry into force
Deadline for transposition in the Member States
Official Journal
Directive 2014/45/EU
19.5.2014
20.5.2017
OJ L 127, 29.4.2014, p. 51-128
18.09.2014
Roadside inspections of the safety of commercial vehicles
This Directive seeks to improve road safety and to reduce the negative environmental impacts of commercial vehicles. It sets out minimum requirements and harmonised rules for the technical roadside inspection of these vehicles within the European Union (EU).
Directive 2014/47/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 April 2014 on the technical roadside inspection of the roadworthiness of commercial vehicles circulating in the Union and repealing Directive 2000/30/EC.
This Directive seeks to improve road safety and to reduce the negative environmental impacts of commercial vehicles. It sets out minimum requirements and harmonised rules for the technical roadside inspection of these vehicles within the European Union (EU).
This law was adopted alongside revised rules on vehicle registration documents and a new Directive on periodic roadworthiness tests for vehicles.
Scope
The law covers buses and coaches (categories M2 & M3), trucks (N2 & N3) and trailers of over 3,5 tonnes (O3 & O4), as well as tractors used for commercial road haulage and capable of over 40 km/h (T5).
EU countries may also carry out inspections on vehicles not covered by this law, such as light commercial vehicles, or carry out inspections in places other than public roads.
Inspections
These comprise initial and, where necessary, more detailed inspections focusing in particular on brakes, tyres, wheels and chassis, as well as nuisances (noise, exhaust emissions, etc.). The rate of inspections is expected to be proportionate to the number of vehicles registered in each EU country. The aim is for at least 5 % of all commercial vehicles registered in the EU to be inspected each year.
Inspectors
Inspectors must not discriminate on grounds of the nationality of the driver or of the country of registration when selecting a vehicle for inspection. They must be free from any conflict of interest that might compromise their impartiality, and remuneration must not be dependent on the outcome of their inspections.
Drivers’ responsibilities
Drivers are required to carry on the vehicle its most recent roadworthiness certificate, as well as the most recent roadside inspection report, if available. Drivers must also cooperate with inspectors and give them access to the vehicle, its parts and documentation.
Risk-rating system
From 2019, EU countries must use risk-rating systems enabling inspectors to identify transport companies with a high risk profile so that they may be checked more closely and frequently.
Securing of cargo
The law includes principles for inspections and applicable standards for cargo securing, as well as for the assessment of defects.
Defects
Defects are classified as minor, major or dangerous. Any major or dangerous deficiency revealed by an inspection must be rectified before the vehicle is further used on public roads.
Information exchange
EU countries will each designate a contact point to ensure information exchanges and assist the contact points of other EU countries. Countries are also expected to regularly participate in concerted roadside inspection activities with neighbouring EU states.
Application and Background
This law applies from 20.5.2018.
REFERENCES
Act
Entry into force
Deadline for transposition in the Member States
Official Journal
Directive 2014/47/EU
19.5.2014
20.5.2017
OJ L 127, 29.4.2014, p. 134-218
OJ L 197, 4.7.2014, p. 87-87
RELATED ACTS
Directive 2014/45/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 April 2014 on periodic roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers and repealing Directive 2009/40/EC (OJ L 127, 29.04.2014, p. 51-128).
Directive 2014/46/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 April 2014 amending Council Directive 1999/37/EC on the registration documents for vehicles (OJ L 127, 29.4.2014, p. 129-133).