Back What’s Wrong with Vehicle Inspections?
What’s Wrong with Vehicle Inspections?
To answer this question, we decided to conduct our own investigation. We visited eight vehicle inspection centers in Almaty posing as customers. But before we share the results of our experiment and an expert’s perspective…
What is a vehicle inspection and who is required to undergo one?
A vehicle technical inspection is a procedure for checking the technical condition of a vehicle to ensure that it complies with established safety and environmental standards.
In Kazakhstan, vehicle inspections are mandatory once a year for vehicles more than 7 years old and every 6 months for vehicles used for commercial road transport activities.
During this procedure, vehicle owners can make sure that their cars are in proper working condition. Technical inspections not only help ensure that vehicles operate properly but also contribute to reducing harmful emissions, as exhaust gas toxicity is also checked during the inspection.
Cars remain one of the major sources of air pollution, and proper vehicle inspections could help reduce the impact of transport on air quality.
How should a vehicle inspection be conducted?
- Vehicle inspections are regulated by the “Rules for the Organization and Conduct of Mandatory Technical Inspections of Motor Vehicles and Their Trailers, Except for Motor Vehicles and Trailers of the Armed Forces, Other Troops and Military Formations,” approved on March 26, 2015.
- Vehicle inspection requirements are regulated by the national standard ST RK 1811-2018, “Motor Vehicles. Mandatory Technical Inspection. Inspection Methods.”
According to the standard, vehicle inspections must be conducted in two stages:
- Preliminary stage — verification of the vehicle against its state registration data.
- Main stage — inspection of the vehicle’s completeness, permissible parameter limits, wear and deformation of individual components; inspection of the braking and steering systems, visibility, lighting devices, reflectors and electrical equipment; inspection of wheels, tires, suspension, components and assemblies attached to the chassis (frame), other equipment, the condition of the frame and body, as well as factors affecting the environment, including exhaust emissions and fuel and operating-fluid leaks.
All data is entered into the unified information system for mandatory technical inspections. Following the inspection, a diagnostic certificate is issued to the driver.
The regulations specify the diagnostic equipment that inspection centers must have. Inspection centers must be equipped with: a roller brake tester, steering play tester, gas analyzer and smoke meter, headlight tester, equipment for checking play in steering and suspension components, and a sound level meter.
How are vehicle inspections currently conducted?
In recent years, vehicle inspections in Kazakhstan have become little more than a formality, with diagnostic certificates being issued without an actual assessment of a vehicle’s technical condition. This was confirmed both by our experiment and by Dmitry Katuntsev, Executive Director of the Republican Association of Motor Vehicle Technical Inspection Centers.
“At approximately 80% of inspection centers, the equipment does not work at all. Formally, it is there, but in practice, it cannot be used,” says Dmitry Katuntsev.
The results of our experiment point to the same conclusion:
When the Almaty Air Initiative team visited eight vehicle inspection centers posing as customers, we were offered inspections that would take 3–5 minutes instead of the required 20 minutes specified in the regulations.
Seven of the eight inspection centers had the required equipment, but it was not fully operational everywhere. At one center, we were told that the brake tester was out of order. At some centers, the equipment was ready for use, while at others it was simply gathering dust on shelves for appearances’ sake, and the operator did not even leave the booth to inspect the vehicle.
One center stood out in particular: the inspection bay had none of the standard equipment, while the brake tester was a homemade structure made of pipes and metal sheets welded together to resemble a proper testing unit (photo on the right). In every case, the inspection procedure essentially came down to taking a photograph of the vehicle on the brake tester, which was required for entry into the unified database. For this, it was enough for visible parts of the vehicle — such as the windshield, bumper, mirrors, and lights — to appear to be in proper condition.
It is worth noting that operators are generally willing to conduct a full inspection and take the necessary measurements if the customer specifically requests it, but without such a request, no one does so.
The operators themselves say that not all customers are willing to spend time on a full inspection.
Most prefer to complete the inspection quickly and obtain the required document, while some drivers doubt that their vehicle meets all the requirements and therefore avoid undergoing a full inspection.
“There are responsible operators who genuinely want to work in this market. We explain to them that they need to bring their facilities and equipment into proper condition. They are ready to do so, they have the willingness and motivation, as well as experience in vehicle inspections — they know the entire system,” says Dmitry. “The unscrupulous ones, on the other hand, are simply focused on price. Essentially, they are only in it for the profit.”
How are fraudulent vehicle inspections regulated?
Inspection centers found to be conducting inspections in this manner may face fines or lose their right to operate. Drivers who have undergone an inspection at such a center may have their diagnostic certificates revoked and will be notified via a message from 1414.
What should responsible drivers who genuinely
want to have their vehicle inspected do?
It is strongly recommended not to undergo a technical inspection at centers where the required equipment is missing or not functioning properly. Insist on a thorough and complete inspection of your vehicle and ask operators to explain each stage of the procedure in detail. It is in your own interest to identify potential problems with your vehicle in a timely manner.
Remember that the technical condition of your vehicle directly affects your safety, the safety of your passengers, and that of other road users. A proper vehicle inspection can help prevent serious breakdowns, save money on repairs, improve vehicle safety, and reduce the harmful impact of transport on Almaty’s air. Take this procedure seriously.
What changes are expected?
To date, the operations of several hundred unscrupulous vehicle inspection operators have already been suspended. When suspicious diagnostic certificates are identified, inspection operators are required to provide video recordings. If no recording is provided, the operator’s access is blocked, the station’s access credentials are revoked, and the station is closed pending investigation. Diagnostic certificates issued by that station are also revoked.
“From last year through April 22 of this year, we cleared the market of operators who were using Photoshop,” Dmitry said.
By “using Photoshop,” he means cases in which a vehicle owner sends a photo of their car to an inspection operator, who then digitally places the image of the vehicle at the inspection site or alters the license plate using photo-editing software.
The procedure for opening and operating vehicle inspection centers in Kazakhstan is undergoing significant changes. Previously, a notification-based system was in place: owners could open an inspection center simply by submitting a notification to the relevant authority.
A permit-based system is now being introduced: before beginning operations, centers will have to undergo a compliance assessment and obtain official authorization. This will apply both to new centers and to existing ones, which will have to undergo recertification.
Alongside these changes, according to Dmitry, the information system is being transferred from National Information Technologies JSC to KazAvtoZhol. As a result, the working group responsible for monitoring the market and identifying unscrupulous operators has currently suspended its activities.
Work is also underway to introduce fines for vehicle owners who fraudulently obtain technical inspection certificates — 5 MCI, or KZT 17,700 — and to increase the fine for inspection operators from 10 to 150 MCI, or up to KZT 517,500.
Vehicle technical inspections play an important role in ensuring road safety and protecting the environment. They not only confirm that vehicles are in proper working condition but also monitor the amount of harmful pollutants released into the atmosphere.
When choosing a vehicle inspection center, it is important to be particularly careful. Insist that the procedure is carried out properly to avoid having to undergo the inspection again. This will not only help ensure your safety but also contribute to maintaining a healthier environment.