Roadworthiness: Commission urges Member States to update vehicle testing rules

The European Commission has requested that six Member States fully transpose into national law rules agreed in 2014 on roadworthiness testing for motor vehicles.

The rules, made up of three EU Directives, should have been in place in all Member States by 20 May 2017. To date, however, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Germany, Ireland, Romania and Slovakia have not – or only partially – done so.

The Czech Republic, Romania and Slovakia have not adopted, published and communicated to the Commission measures on the periodical technical inspection of motor vehicles and their trailers (Directive 2014/45/EU). The directive covers passenger cars, trucks, buses, heavy-trailers, motorcycles and speed tractors, and defines the items to be tested during the roadworthiness test, the test methods, and the defects and their assessment. The directive also introduces minimum requirements for testing facilities, the training of inspectors and the supervising bodies.

Cyprus, Ireland, and Slovakia have not adopted, published and communicated to the Commission measures concerning the registration documents for vehicles (Directive 2014/46/EU). This Directive requires Member States to set up electronic vehicle registers with harmonised content, and it defines the procedure to be followed in case of a failed periodic roadworthiness test.

Finally, the Czech Republic, Germany, Ireland and Slovakia have not adopted, published and communicated to the Commission the measures for the technical roadside inspection of commercial vehicles (Directive 2014/47/EU). This directive provides common rules for the technical roadside inspection of trucks, buses, heavy-trailers and speed tractors.

All Member States concerned now have two months to reply; otherwise, the Commission may refer them to the Court of Justice of the EU.