Important notable points on vehicle inspection in Vietnam

Important notable points on vehicle inspection in Vietnam​ (Illustrative Image)

Regarding this matter, LawNet would like to answer as follows: 

1. What is automobile inspection?

According to the Law on Road Traffic 2008, automobiles participating in road traffic must undergo periodic inspections for technical safety and environmental protection, known as inspections.

automobile inspection simply means that a specialized agency inspects the vehicle to ensure it meets the technical safety standards such as brakes, steering, and environmental protection levels according to regulations. The registration may result in two possible outcomes:

- If the vehicle meets the quality standards, the owner will be issued a permit or the existing registration certificate will be renewed;- If the vehicle does not meet the quality standards, the owner must repair the deficiencies until it meets the standards to be granted a registration certificate.

Thus, automobile inspection not only ensures the technical safety and environmental protection of the vehicle but also helps the owner to be more secure during travel. This is an important and mandatory process that vehicle owners must perform before registering a new vehicle or ensuring continued traffic for purchasing a used vehicle.

2. Automobile inspection cycle in Vietnam

Based on Appendix VII of Circular 70/2015/TT-BGTVT, vehicle owners must perform periodic vehicle registration as per the following regulations:

- For passenger vehicles up to 09 seats not engaged in commercial transportation: the initial inspection cycle is 30 months. Thereafter:

- Vehicles manufactured under 7 years have an inspection cycle of 18 months;- Vehicles manufactured from 7 to 12 years have an inspection cycle of 12 months;- Vehicles manufactured over 12 years have an inspection cycle of 6 months.

- For passenger vehicles up to 09 seats engaged in commercial transportation; passenger vehicles over 09 seats:

- In the case of no modification: the initial registration cycle is 18 months, followed by a cycle of 6 months each;- In the case of modifications or changes in usage features or changes in the steering, brake, suspension, and power systems, the initial registration cycle is 12 months, followed by a cycle of 6 months each.

- For trucks of all types, specialized vehicles, tractors, trailers, and semi-trailers:

- Trucks of all types, specialized vehicles, and tractors manufactured up to 07 years; trailers and semi-trailers manufactured up to 12 years have an initial registration cycle of 24 months, followed by 12 months each;- Trucks of all types, specialized vehicles, and tractors manufactured over 07 years; trailers and semi-trailers manufactured over 12 years have an inspection cycle of 06 months each;- In the case of modifications, the initial registration cycle is 12 months, followed by 06 months each.

- For passenger vehicles over 09 seats manufactured from 15 years and above; trucks of all types, and tractors manufactured from 20 years and above have an inspection cycle of 3 months each.

Regarding the vehicle registration cycle, recently, in the Citizen Response section on the Government of Vietnam's online portal, there were suggestions that the 6-month registration period for vehicles under 9 seats manufactured over 12 years is unreasonable and causes inconvenience for users. In response, the Ministry of Transport stated:

First, the vehicle needs to be checked periodically for quality. Besides self-maintenance, repair, and conservation by the vehicle owner throughout the usage period, periodic inspections are mandatory to ensure that the vehicle operates safely on the road.

Second, vehicles up to 9 seats specifically, as regulated after 12 years, experience certain quality deterioration, thus requiring a stricter inspection cycle (6 months each).

Third, the Centers for Motor Vehicle Registration have made many reforms to improve public service quality and reduce customer waiting times.

Therefore, the Vietnam Register very much hopes that vehicle owners will support the state's general management policy to ensure vehicle safety when participating in traffic, contributing to reducing avoidable accidents.

3. Where to register automobiles in Vietnam

According to Clause 1, Article 6 of Circular 70/2015/TT-BGTVT, the documentation and inspection (including additional, revised Vehicle Dossier) for motor vehicles are conducted at any Inspection Unit nationwide. The inspection unit as stipulated in Clause 8, Article 3 of Circular 70/2015/TT-BGTVT is an organization that meets the conditions as prescribed and is granted a certificate of motor vehicle inspection activity.

Thus, automobile inspection will be conducted by the Motor Vehicle Inspection Unit. The vehicle owner can bring their car to any Inspection Unit that meets the regulatory conditions and has been granted a certificate of motor vehicle inspection activity to proceed with this procedure.

4. Procedure for automobile inspection in Vietnam

The procedure for automobile inspection is carried out in accordance with Article 8 of Circular 70/2015/TT-BGTVT on technical safety inspection and environmental protection of road motor vehicles. This procedure is detailed in the article Guide to the latest automobile inspection procedures.

Thuy Tram

>> CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ARTICLE IN VIETNAMESE