Lighter licence regulation of vehicle inspections to be introduced

Ministry of Transport and Communications
Publication date 14.3.2019 14.33
Press release
Car inspection (kuva: Shutterstock, SariMe)
Car inspection (kuva: Shutterstock, SariMe)

The Government proposed on 14 March 2019 that the amendment to the Act on Vehicle Inspections be adopted. In future, the licences for conducting inspections will be operator-specific and one licence will authorise to carry out all types of inspections for all vehicle categories. At the same time, the operator's obligation to carry out all types of inspections referred to in the licence will be abolished.

The amendment to the Act on Vehicle Inspections will allow more flexibility for the current and possible new operators to establish new inspection stations and customise their service packages. The amendment will also make it easier for the inspection employees to access further training.

The amendment will also clarify the regulation related to the supervision of vehicle inspections. It will provide the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency with better opportunities to give a notice of a conditional fine to inspection licence holders and inspection employees, if the provisions or prohibitions by the Agency are not followed.

The vehicle inspection legislation has been reformed in two stages. The first stage amendments entered into force on 3 July 2017. A government decree on changing the inspection intervals came into force on 20 May 2018.  The amendment to the Act on Vehicle Inspections will make the operating environment in the sector smoother and decrease the need for the work of the authorities. The reform was included in the Government's key project on deregulation.

What next?

The President of the Republic is expected to approve the amendment to the Act on Vehicle Inspections on 15 March 2019. The amendment is intended to come into force on 1 November 2019.

Inquiries:

Aino Still, Lawyer, tel. +358 295 34 2041
Joel Karjalainen, Senior Officer +358 295 34 2028