Vehicle inspection
Vehicle inspection is a procedure mandated by national or subnational governments in many countries, in which a vehicle is inspected to ensure that it conforms to regulations governing safety, emissions, or both. Inspection can be required at various times, e.g., periodically or on the transfer of title to a vehicle. If required periodically, it is often termed periodic motor vehicle inspection; typical intervals are every two years and every year. When a vehicle passes inspection, often a sticker is placed on the vehicle's windshield or registration plate to simplify later controls, but in some countries—such as the Netherlands since 1994—this is no longer necessary. Most US inspection decals/stickers display the month's number and the year.
In some jurisdictions, proof of inspection is required before a vehicle license or license plate can be issued or renewed. In others, once a vehicle passes inspection, an inspection decal is attached to the windshield or registration plate, and police can enforce the inspection law by seeing whether the vehicle displays an up-to-date decal.
There has been some controversy over whether periodically inspecting motor vehicles is a cost-effective way to improve road traffic safety. Recent analysis of changes in safety inspection procedures in the United States strongly suggests that vehicle safety inspection programs are no longer necessary and are simply a form of residual government oversight.
Africa
Nigeria
In Lagos State, vehicle inspection at the Lagos Computerised Vehicle Inspection Service, LACVIS, is a statutory requirement demanded from all vehicle owners before the issuance of a Road Worthiness Certificate.This inspection checks for emission, machine-based headlamp test, suspension, alignment, brakes efficiency and underneath inspection among other tests using computerised equipment. After the tests, the certification officer at the centre will give the vehicle owner a vehicle inspection report which states the defect, if any, found during the inspection. If the vehicle fails the inspection, the vehicle owner will be advised to fix the defects within a 30 days period.
Vehicles under the private vehicle category are mandated to undergo annual inspection before the issuance of a Road Worthiness Certificate by a Vehicle Inspection Officer gets declined. However, vehicles under the commercial category are required to undergo periodic inspection twice a year. A vehicle that passed the inspection qualifies for a Road Worthiness Certificate and tag which will be placed on the windscreen. Enforcement is done by the Vehicle Inspection Officers.
Other states that have adopted the computerised vehicle inspection include Minna, Anambra with more states in view and the FCT, Abuja.
South Africa
A roadworthy vehicle is considered to be roadworthy until it changes hands. A vehicle purchaser is required to register the change-of-ownership of a vehicle. The new owner must present a Roadworthy Certificate in order to receive a new license for the vehicle. A new license plate number is also issued at that time.If a motor vehicle is used for public transport or is a heavy-load vehicle, it is tested for roadworthiness every year before the motor vehicle license is renewed. A bus must be tested for roadworthiness every six months.
Americas
Brazil
There is a safety inspection program called Programa de Inspeção e Manutenção de Veículos em Uso. An annual PMVE inspection is required for all vehicles older than three years. The inspection can be conducted at an authorized inspection center, and the vehicle owner is responsible for the cost. Brakes, tires, suspension, lights, exhaust emissions, and other components are inspected.Canada
Safety testing regulations in Canada vary through the different ten provinces and emission testing programs was required bi-annually in southern Ontario only. On September 28, 2018, the Ontario government under Doug Ford announced the cancellation of the Drive Clean program and instead focusing on heavy duty vehicles; the change became effective on April 1, 2019. AirCare in British Columbia has been abolished since 2015.In Manitoba, Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador, upon buying a car only, a valid safety check must be done before it can be registered. Dealerships are required to provide the buyer with a new safety, while private sellers are not. In either case, if the vehicle bought has not had a safety test within the last year, the buyer must safety the vehicle before it can be registered with Manitoba Public Insurance, Service Ontario, or Service NL. From the point the car is registered, no safety test is required as long as the car remains with the current owner.
The province of Prince Edward Island require annual safety inspections, in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, a safety inspection is required every two years for passenger vehicles and every year for heavy duty vehicles.
In the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Quebec and the territories, usually no vehicle inspection or emissions test is required for passenger vehicles, unless the vehicle has been imported from another jurisdiction. Commercial vehicle requirements vary.
United States
In the United States, each state government is free to decide whether to require vehicle safety inspection, as well as the specifics of the inspection program. Eighteen states have a periodic safety inspection program, while Maryland requires an inspection prior to registration or transfer of ownership only. Several states have abolished their safety inspection programs in recent years, claiming that these programs do not reduce accidents and are merely a tax on vehicle owners.Under the Clean Air Act, states are required to implement vehicle emission inspection programs in metropolitan areas whose air quality does not meet federal standards. The specifics of those programs vary from state to state. Some states, including Florida, Kentucky and Minnesota, have discontinued their testing programs in recent years with approval from the federal government.
In some states and the District of Columbia, inspections are done at state-operated inspection stations. In other states, privately owned garages perform the inspections with approval from the state. Where the inspection is done at a private facility, the vehicle owner may, but is not required to, have the facility performing the inspection provide any service or repairs needed if it would fail inspection. In some states, if a vehicle fails inspection, it is given a "rejection sticker" which is affixed to the vehicle in the same manner as the regular inspection sticker, allows the vehicle owner to continue to operate the vehicle for a short period of time so that they may obtain any service or repair needed to bring the vehicle into compliance.
Asia
China
Private cars are required to have safety and emission inspections every other year between Year 6 and 10, every year between Year 10 and 15, and every six months after Year 15. Chinese Rural Vehicle operators can be fined by the police if their vehicle emits visible smoke. Regulations are established and enforced by province/economic region/city as appropriate. New vehicles must pass regulations in effect on the day of manufacture. This applies also in Hong Kong.India
In India, under the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988, vehicle inspections ensure safety and environmental standards. Private cars need a fitness test every 15 years, starting from their first registration, and then every 5 years. Motorcycles follow the same 15-year rule. Commercial vehicles, like trucks and buses, must be inspected annually. Vehicles must meet Bharat Stage emission norms, with the latest BS-VI standards for reducing pollution. Inspections are conducted at government and private centers, and passing them is necessary to renew registration and get a fitness certificate. Non-compliance can lead to fines or vehicle impounding. Recent changes include digital systems for easier booking and tracking of inspections.In India, vehicle fitness tests and the associated fee structure are regulated by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. In 2025, MoRTH revised the fitness test fees for 10-, 15-, and 20-year-old vehicles.
Iran
All the vehicles which are older than four years should get the certificate from authorized center every year. The centers perform safety and emission tests on the vehicles.Israel
Cars older than three years are required to have a yearly inspection as part of the car's license. A car which fails the inspection, must be fixed in seven days to be allowed to be driven on the road.The "Test" checks the following: vehicle and owner identification including vehicle registration plate; emissions; steering; underside; lights; brakes; wheel alignment.
Cars older than fifteen years are considered "antique", and must be inspected every six months, and have additional inspection of the brakes done.