European Parliament: Lawmakers Back Cross-Border Car Checks

Members of the European Parliament have moved to overhaul the European Union’s vehicle inspection regime, backing a series of changes designed to modernise roadworthiness checks while stopping short of imposing more frequent testing on motorists.

In a vote within the European Parliament’s Transport and Tourism Committee, MEPs adopted their negotiating position on revised rules governing periodic vehicle inspections and roadside checks for commercial vehicles. The measures, approved by 30 votes to 11, signal Parliament’s intent to balance road safety concerns with the practical burden placed on drivers.

At the heart of the proposals lies a notable shift towards flexibility. Under the new framework, motorists would be permitted to have their vehicles inspected in any EU member state, rather than being restricted to the country of registration. Such inspections would result in a temporary EU roadworthiness certificate valid for six months, after which the vehicle must undergo its next test in its home country.

The move is intended to reflect the realities of modern European life, where citizens frequently live, work or travel across borders. For many, particularly those on long-term assignments abroad, the current system has proved cumbersome and, at times, impractical.

Yet, despite calls from the European Commission to tighten inspection intervals—particularly for older vehicles—MEPs have firmly rejected any increase in testing frequency. Brussels had proposed annual checks for cars and vans more than ten years old, replacing the current biennial regime. Parliament’s transport committee, however, declined to endorse the change, arguing that existing requirements strike a more proportionate balance.

Instead, the focus has shifted towards improving the quality and scope of inspections rather than simply increasing their number. Among the most eye-catching proposals is the introduction of mandatory checks on safety-critical components such as airbags, alongside stricter enforcement of manufacturer recalls.

In addition, MEPs have backed measures to combat odometer fraud, a persistent issue in the European second-hand car market. Easier cross-border access to mileage data would make it significantly harder to tamper with vehicle histories, offering greater protection to consumers.

The revised framework also reflects the rapid technological evolution of the automotive sector. Although not the central focus of this particular vote, the broader legislative package aims to adapt inspection regimes to electric vehicles and advanced driver-assistance systems—areas largely absent from the EU’s current rules, which date back more than a decade.

Supporters of the changes argue that the proposals represent a pragmatic compromise. By resisting stricter inspection intervals, MEPs have sought to shield motorists from additional costs, while still enhancing safety through better-targeted checks and improved enforcement mechanisms.

Critics, however, warn that the decision not to increase testing frequency for older vehicles risks undermining road safety objectives. Safety campaigners have long argued that ageing cars are disproportionately involved in accidents and should therefore be subject to more rigorous oversight.

The legislation forms part of a wider “roadworthiness package” aimed at reducing fatalities and serious injuries across Europe’s roads. The European Commission has previously suggested that updated rules could save thousands of lives in the coming decades by tackling unsafe vehicles and improving compliance.

Negotiations between the European Parliament and member states will now determine the final shape of the law. As ever in Brussels, the outcome is likely to be shaped by a delicate balance between safety ambitions, economic considerations and political pragmatism.

For Europe’s motorists, however, the direction of travel is already clear: fewer bureaucratic hurdles when crossing borders, tighter scrutiny of vehicle safety systems, and a renewed effort to bring ageing rules into line with a rapidly changing automotive landscape.