The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) has issued a directive that will effectively double the cost of technical inspections. Maintenance costs could climb further if operators present solid financial justifications to local authorities, persuading them that higher charges are necessary.
Tariffs pegged to the 2012 framework are no longer aligned with current expenses, and maintenance has become a loss-making proposition for operators. The ongoing costs of equipment, skilled personnel, and facility space regularly exceed the revenue generated from these inspections.
Going forward, regional authorities will require annual data on maintenance expenses from the companies and use that information to set costs for the coming year.
Minimum prices for technical inspection
There is a floor to pricing, meaning costs cannot drop below certain levels:
- 913 rubles – for passenger cars,
- 321 rubles – for motorcycles,
- 1560 rubles to 1880 rubles – for buses,
- 900 rubles to 1960 rubles – for trucks.
In effect, these minimums will roughly double the current charges.