Recently, car inspection was in the news for having become more demanding, with items such as changing the number of kilometers between inspections and the fulfillment of recall operations coming to be inspected.
But, after all, what is checked and when do we have to carry out the car inspection?
Why do we pay, from a certain point onwards, 31.49 euros annually to see our car be “put to the test”?
When is it done?
Intended to confirm the maintenance of good working condition of vehicles, the moment when a car has to start going to inspection depends on the type of vehicle — passenger car or freight car — that we are talking about.In the case of passenger cars , the first inspection arrives four years after the date of the first registration, starting to be carried out every two years, and eight years after the first registration, it starts to be carried out annually.
already in light goods , the requirement is even greater. The first inspection takes place after just two years after the first registration, and is then carried out annually.
Finally, there is also a fact to be noted: the car must be subject to mandatory inspection up to the day and month of registration of the registration number, which can be carried out during the 3 months prior to that date.
What is checked?
There are several items checked during the car inspection:
- Vehicle identification (registration, chassis number, etc);
- Lighting system (alignment of headlights, correct functioning of lights, etc.);
- Visibility (windows, mirrors, wipers, etc);
- Suspension, axles and tires;
- Braking system (effective hand and foot brakes);
- steering alignment;
- CO2 emission: exhaust system;
- Checking the status of the chassis and bodywork;
- Mandatory equipment (triangle, reflective vest);
- Other equipment (seats, belts, horn, etc.);
- Loss of fluids (oil, coolants, fuel).
What documents are needed?
To carry out the car inspection, only two documents are needed: the Documento Único Automóvel (or the old booklet and title of ownership registration) and the form of the last inspection (except for the first inspection).
Finally, if the car inspection is carried out after the stipulated period, the valid date to carry out the next inspection is the original date, (that of the car registration), not counting one year from the date on which the inspection was carried out "outside of the deadline”.
Driving a car without the mandatory periodic inspection can lead to a fine of between 250 and 1250 euros.