To enhance road safety and air quality across the EU, the Commission is proposing a comprehensive overhaul of road safety and vehicle registration rules.

The new rules account for the rise of electric vehicles and adapt to emerging technologies. They introduce enhanced inspections, including periodic technical inspections for electric vehicles and advanced driver-assistance systems, annual inspections for older cars and vans, and advanced emission testing methods to detect high-emitting vehicles. Additionally, the Commission proposes digital vehicle registration and periodic testing certificates, simplifies cross-border data sharing, and protects citizens against fraud such as odometer tampering. Periodic technical inspections will also be easier for those temporarily residing in another EU country.

The proposed changes highlight the EUs commitment to safe and sustainable mobility while ensuring the free movement of people and goods. From 2026 to 2050, these proposals are expected to save around 7,000 lives and prevent about 65,000 serious injuries.

To achieve this, the Commission proposes revising three directives: on periodic technical inspection (PTI) of vehicles, vehicle registration documents, and the roadside inspection (RSI) of commercial vehicles.

Challenges of unsafe and ageing vehicles

Todays proposal targets unsafe vehicles, which contribute to accidents, fatalities, and injuries. The current rules, last updated in 2014, must keep pace with technological advances such as driver-assistance systems and the increasing presence of electric vehicles on the roads. Additionally, highly polluting and noisy vehicles, although relatively few in number, account for a disproportionate share of harmful emissions. The current rules do not sufficiently address air pollution and noise.

The ageing vehicle fleet also increases the risk of odometer fraud (i.e., rolling back odometers to make vehicles appear to have lower mileage than they do). Combatting this fraud requires updated rules. Outdated procedures and not using modern technology hinder enforcement and cross-border cooperation.

Key elements of the new rules

The proposed measures today include the following:

• Adapting testing to new vehicles: Periodic technical inspections for electric vehicles and new tests for electronic safety systems, including the testing of software integrity of safety- and emission-relevant systems.
• New emission testing: Detecting high-emitting vehicles, including tampered ones, using advanced methods for ultrafine particles and NO_x.
• Combating fraud: Recording odometer readings in national databases for cross-border exchange of odometer history.
• Annual inspections: For cars and vans over ten years old.
• Digitalisation: Issuing electronic vehicle registration and periodic testing certificates and exchanging data via a common platform to simplify administrative processes.
• Mutual recognition of Periodic Technical Inspection Certificates: Ensuring cross-border recognition of a periodic technical inspection taken in another Member State for cars for six months.
• Improved data governance: Streamlining access to vehicle technical data for testing centres.

Next steps

The proposals will now be considered by the European Parliament and the Council under the ordinary legislative procedure.

Once agreed, the Commission will prepare the required delegated and implementing acts for certain aspects of the implementation of the rules.

Background

In its EU road safety policy framework 2021-2030, the Commission recommitted to its ambitious goal of having close to zero deaths and zero serious injuries on EU roads by 2050 (Vision Zero) and to reducing deaths and serious injuries by 50% by 2030. Todays proposals will help achieve these goals, as announced in the Commissions 2020 Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy.

The Commission published the most recent road safety figures in March 2025, showing fatalities are gradually reducing across the EU, but progress remains too slow.

The Commission is implementing a Safe System Approach to driving in the EU. This Safe System requires safe driving, safer vehicles, safer infrastructure, lower speeds, and better post-crash care.

For More Information

Proposal for a revision of the Directive on periodic technical inspections and roadside inspections of commercial vehicles

Proposal for a revision of the directive on vehicle registration documents.

Questions and answers on the revision of the roadworthiness package