Unlike what happened last year during the first confinement, this time the inspection centers did not close and therefore the deadline for the mandatory periodic inspection was not extended.
However, due to the state of emergency rules and the confinement that continues to apply in mainland Portugal, the periodic inspection has undergone a small change.
One of the exceptions to the duty of home confinement (with proof), the mandatory periodic inspection can only be carried out by appointment. In other words, according to Decree-Law 3-C-202, you can only take your car for inspection (or re-inspection) after contacting the inspection center in advance and making the appointment.
Are there more rules?
In addition to the mandatory prior booking, the law in force provides, as recalled by the National Association of Automobile Inspection Centers (ANCIA): “the mandatory use of a mask or visor for access or permanence in workplaces, namely, in workplaces inspection centers, which are large and airy spaces”.
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In addition, cited by Lusa, the Portuguese Association of Automobile Inspection (APIA) said: "users of the centers can only enter the reception provided they present proof of prior appointment, either by telephone or online".
The same association also highlighted that "the cleaning detail can be observed when the inspector, when entering the vehicle, cleans his hands with alcohol gel", a process that repeats when he leaves the car and goes to the computer and delivers the inspection form to the client.