The Regulations on business conditions for motor vehicle inspection services; organization and operation of inspection facilities; service life of motor vehicles
On 26/12/2024, the Government issued Decree No. 166/2024/ND-CP regulating business conditions for motor vehicle inspection services; organization and operation of inspection facilities; service life of motor vehicles.
This Decree regulates the business conditions for technical safety and environmental protection inspection services for motor vehicles, including: inspection of automobiles, trailers or semi-trailers pulled by automobiles, four-wheeled motorized passenger vehicles, four-wheeled motorized cargo vehicles; and inspection of exhaust emissions of motorbikes and mopeds.
In particular, the Decree clearly stipulates the general conditions for motor vehicle inspection service business:
To meet the conditions on facilities, organizational structure, human resources and quality management system as prescribed in this Decree and the National Technical Regulation on technical facilities and location of motor vehicle inspection facilities, motorcycle and motorbike emission inspection facilities (National Technical Regulation on inspection facilities).
To have inspectors suitable for the functions of the inspection facility. Inspectors include: Grade I inspectors, Grade II inspectors, Grade III inspectors.
To have documents as prescribed by the law on construction, land law; traffic connection and road connection as prescribed; environmental protection, safety, labor hygiene, fire prevention and fighting and other relevant laws when constructing and putting the inspection facility into operation.
The Article 5 of Decree No. 166/2024/ND-CP clearly states the conditions on area and human resources for motor vehicle inspection facilities as follows:
The premises of a motor vehicle inspection facility are used to arrange facilities serving the inspection of motor vehicles on the same land plot, with a minimum area prescribed as follows:
- For a motor vehicle inspection facility with only one type I inspection line: 1,250 m2.
- For a motor vehicle inspection facility with only one type II inspection line: 1,500 m2.
- For a motor vehicle inspection facility with two inspection lines: 2,500 m2.
- For a motor vehicle inspection facility with 03 or more inspection lines, the area for each line increases accordingly from the 3rd line onwards: 625 m2.
In case the motor vehicle inspection facility is located together with a bus station or rest stop, the above regulations do not apply. The inspection facility must meet the regulations in the National Technical Regulation on inspection facilities.
The motor vehicle inspection facility must meet the following conditions regarding the number of employees:
- To have at least 01 inspection facility leader who is a grade II inspector or higher;
- To have at least 01 inspection department leader who is a grade I inspector;
- To have at least 02 inspectors from grade II or higher. The Decree clearly states that the personnel specified in Point a and Point b above are allowed to participate in inspection at inspection lines and are considered inspectors according to regulations;
- To have professional staff to perform the tasks of receiving documents, returning results, entering data, looking up information, printing inspection results, and archiving documents.
According to the Decree, a Grade II inspector as prescribed above must meet the following professional qualifications: Have a bachelor's degree or an engineer's degree in a technical field related to motor vehicles and specialized motorbikes; have a valid car driving license; be granted a Grade II inspector certificate according to the provisions of law.
A Grade I inspector must meet the conditions of a Grade II inspector having worked in inspection for at least 05 years; be granted a Grade I inspector certificate according to the provisions of law.
Professional staff must have a professional qualification of graduating from intermediate level or higher; be instructed by the Vietnam Register to perform the tasks of receiving documents, returning results, entering data, looking up information, printing inspection results, and archiving documents.
The conditions for a fixed emission inspection facility, the area for inspection emissions of motorbikes and mopeds must have a minimum area of 15 m2 corresponding to 01 emission measuring device. In case the area of the inspection area is used together with the maintenance and repair of motorbikes and mopeds, it must not hinder the movement of the vehicle and the operations of the inspector.
The mobile emission inspection facilities do not have to meet the above regulations. The equipment and measuring devices for emission inspection are installed permanently on specialized vehicles for mobile emission inspection.
Regarding human resources, the Decree clearly states that the emission inspection facility must have at least 01 inspector; there must be professional staff to perform the tasks of receiving documents, returning results, entering data, looking up information, printing inspection results, and archiving documents. In case the personnel specified in this regulation concurrently perform work in different positions, they will be considered as personnel of the concurrent position if they meet the requirements on professional certificates and conditions as prescribed in this Decree.
The Decree also clearly states that at emission inspection facilities, inspectors of Grade I and II shall apply the same regulations as for motor vehicle inspection facilities mentioned above; inspectors of Grade III shall have an intermediate degree in a technical field related to motor vehicles and specialized motorbikes and shall be granted a certificate of inspector of Grade III in accordance with the provisions of law.
The Article 10, Decree No. 166/2024/ND-CP stipulates the operation principles of inspection facilities
To ensure independence, objectivity, transparency, and compliance with the provisions of this Decree and relevant laws on inspection of motor vehicles, specialized motorbikes, and inspection of exhaust emissions of motorbikes and mopeds.
Motor vehicle inspection facilities that are granted certificates of eligibility for motor vehicle inspection shall conduct inspections and issue inspection certificates for motor vehicles, conduct inspections and issue inspection certificates for exhaust emissions of motorbikes and mopeds.
Emission inspection facilities that are granted certificates of eligibility to conduct emission inspections for motorbikes and mopeds shall conduct emission inspections and issue certificates of emission inspections for motorbikes and mopeds.
Inspection facilities with inspectors who are granted professional certificates for specialized motorbike inspections in accordance with the provisions of law shall conduct inspections and issue inspection certificates for specialized motorbikes.
To facilitate organizations and individuals when bringing their vehicles for inspection.
This Decree takes effect from January 1, 2025.
