In Russia the return of the mandatory technical inspection for passenger cars is planned for 2026. This plan is described by the Russian Association of Automobile Insurers RUA and the All-Russian Association of Insurers VUS. News coverage notes that the move aims to strengthen road safety and align with international practices.
Autostat data indicate that the average age of passenger cars in the Russian Federation sits at about 15 years. Roughly seven in ten cars on the road reach the 10 year mark. The aging fleet highlights the need for regular checks and improvements in safety measures by inspections and repairs.
St. Stanislav Evtyukov, a member of the Association of Transportation Engineers and a professor at the Automobile and Highway Faculty of the St Petersburg State University of Civil Engineering, argues for keeping maintenance operators independent from groups with commercial interests. He envisions a framework where maintenance and inspection entities operate without influence from shops or suppliers seeking profit from inspection outcomes.
ATI also calls for close attention to safety systems inside vehicles. The emphasis covers active safety features such as braking and stability control and passive systems like crash protection. These elements play a critical role in reducing accidents and injuries on the road.
In April the Ministry of Internal Affairs proposed adding new indicators to monitor how vehicle inspections are conducted. The aim is to improve transparency and accountability in the inspection process and to ensure consistency across regions.
Among the proposed measures is the installation of tachographs that record the driver’s working and rest hours. The diagnostic card used in inspections would list the device brand, model and serial number to ensure traceability and authenticity of the data collected.
A former automotive expert has weighed in with reasons for rising prices for technical inspections. He points to factors such as the cost of equipment and labor, evolving regulatory requirements, and the time needed to perform thorough checks. For readers in Canada and the United States, these developments illustrate a global trend toward stronger oversight of vehicle safety and clearer documentation in inspections.