Vehicle inspection. What is it and how much does it cost?

Periodic technical inspection of the car is, first of all, the control of the elements responsible for road safety. The diagnostic path checks, among other things, the operation of the vehicle's brakes, suspension and lighting.

In Poland, periodic technical inspection of the car is mandatory. In the case of new cars, they are made for the first time within three years from the date of first registration. The inspection is then valid for the next two years, after which the vehicle must visit an inspection point annually.

Technical inspection. Permanent checklist

In the case of the most popular group of vehicles – passenger cars with a maximum permissible weight of up to 3,5 tons, used privately, the cost of the test is PLN 98, and an additional charge of one PLN is paid for the operation and development of the Central Vehicle and the Driver Registration System. The actions performed by the diagnostician during the examination are determined by the position. Include:

• identification of the vehicle, including verification of identification features and determination and comparison of the conformity of the actual data of the vehicle with the data recorded in the registration certificate;
• checking the correctness of the marking and condition of license plates and additional equipment of the car;
• control and evaluation of the correct operation of individual units and systems of the vehicle, in particular in terms of driving safety and environmental protection. To do this, the diagnostician checks the condition of tires, lighting, brakes, steering and wheel bearings;
• the technical condition of the suspension and running gear is checked;
• the condition of the electrical system, accessories, exhaust system and sound signal is checked;
• the level of emissions of gaseous pollutants or exhaust smoke is monitored.

Technical inspection. Additional points and fees

– In the case of vehicles with a gas installation, its components are additionally inspected and, before starting the inspection, the owner of the vehicle must present a valid certificate for the tank. This is the certificate of acceptance of the cylinder, issued by the transport technical inspection. Checking a car with a gas installation costs an additional PLN 63, says Wiesław Kut, a diagnostician from Rzeszów.

Another PLN 42 should be prepared when the car is used as a taxi, and then the check includes an additional check of the legality of the taximeter, as well as the spare wheel, warning triangle and first aid kit, which in this case are mandatory items.

Technical inspection. Investigation after the collision

During technical inspection for several years, diagnosticians have also recorded the mileage of the car, which is entered into the CEPiK database. In addition to the annual mandatory inspection, the car can be sent for additional inspection, for example, after an accident. The car must pass such an inspection after the repair has been made, and if the police kept the registration certificate with them, it will be returned to the driver only after successfully passing an additional inspection. A car may also be sent for such an inspection, in which defects were found during a roadside inspection and evidence was seized on this basis.

“The post-accident test covers the geometry of the wheels, and if the car is equipped with a gas installation, the owner must additionally present a document confirming the safe condition of the gas tank,” explains Wiesław Kut.

Inspection after an accident or traffic accident costs PLN 94. If the car is sent for inspection during a roadside inspection, the driver pays PLN 20 for each system tested.

Technical inspection. Three types of faults

Defects that can be detected during inspection are divided into three groups.

The first of them - minor - are technical defects that do not have a significant impact on road safety and environmental protection.

The second group includes major defects that can affect road safety and have a negative impact on the environment.

The third group includes dangerous malfunctions that automatically exclude the car from further use in road traffic.

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In the case of the first group, the diagnostician raises the feedback and recommends fixing the problem. If a fault is found in the second group, a negative certificate is issued and the driver must return to the station after the fault has been corrected. He must do this within 14 days, and during an additional check, he will pay 20 PLN to check each system that has a problem. The result of the third group is not only sending the car for repair, but also keeping the registration certificate.

Technical inspection. Worth keeping an eye on

According to the current rules, driving a car without a valid technical inspection entails the imposition of a fine and sending it to such an inspection. However, conducting a technical inspection after the deadline does not entail any additional sanctions, and its cost is equal to the cost of the inspection carried out within the specified period. However, the lack of a current review may cause other problems. For example, the problem with the payment of compensation in case of participation in an accident or an accident.

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