ETSC calls on Commission President to back annual checks on older vehicles following Merz criticism

ETSC has called on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to reaffirm support for a new EU proposal to strengthen rules on periodic technical inspections of vehicles, following criticism by Friedrich Merz at the EPP congress in Valencia last month.

In a letter sent last week, ETSC stressed that tougher inspection rules are essential to improve road safety, as the EU remains off track to meet its goal of halving road deaths and serious injuries by 2030.

The Commission’s proposal would require annual inspections of cars and vans over ten years old — a measure already in place in most EU countries but not in Germany. The ETSC highlighted that Germany is among the minority that exempts older vehicles from yearly tests, despite evidence that such inspections save lives.

According to Commission estimates, adopting annual inspections EU-wide could prevent 1,850 deaths and over 140,000 injuries over 25 years.

With Europe’s vehicle fleet ageing — the average car now 12.3 years old — the ETSC argues inspections should begin annually from six years of age, citing growing safety concerns for older vehicles.

The letter urges the Commission not to back down under political pressure.