Regulatory Adjudication Division Recommends Improvement of Vehicle Periodic Inspection Regulations
[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] The inspection cycle for light and small passenger and cargo vehicles under 1 ton will be extended from 1 year to 2 years. This comes as a rational proposal to extend the inspection cycle has been received through the Regulatory Tribunal, considering improvements in vehicle performance and technological advancements.
The Regulatory Tribunal system is a method where the private sector leads regulatory improvements, moving away from the traditional government-led regulatory reform approach.
On the 15th, the Regulatory Tribunal held a meeting and presented a plan to rationalize the periodic vehicle inspection cycle. For light and small passenger and cargo vehicles, the timing of the first inspection and the next inspection for new vehicles will be relaxed from 1 year to 2 years.
Previously, light and small passenger and cargo vehicles (2.96 million units, accounting for 78% of all cargo vehicles) had to undergo an inspection one year after new vehicle registration and then annually thereafter. Compared to major countries such as France, the UK, Germany, and Japan, this is a stringent regulatory level. Although vehicle durability has improved, the regulation has remained unchanged for 18 years.
Small business owners and self-employed individuals pointed out that the time required for inspection, inspection fees (23,000 to 54,000 KRW), and even the loss of a day’s wages were burdensome. Therefore, considering international standards, defect rates by vehicle age, causes of defects, and their impact on safety, the timing of the first and subsequent inspections for light and small passenger and cargo vehicles after new vehicle registration will be relaxed from 1 year to 2 years respectively.
The defect rate for light and small passenger and cargo vehicles in the first year is about 6%. Seventy percent of defective vehicles have minor issues such as lighting and headlights, and accidents caused by poor maintenance account for only 0.005% of all accidents.
For medium-sized passenger vehicles with 15 seats or fewer, the timing of the first inspection for new vehicles will also be relaxed from 1 year to 2 years. Medium-sized passenger vehicles with 11 to 15 seats, such as the Carnival, Starex, and Staria, have seating capacities similar to light and small passenger vehicles (11 to 15 seats), but have been inspected on the same cycle as large passenger vehicles (such as 45-seat buses). Accordingly, the Regulatory Tribunal adjusted the timing of the first inspection for 11 to 15-seat medium passenger vehicles (460,000 units) from 1 year to 2 years.
On the other hand, large passenger and cargo vehicles will maintain the current regulatory level considering public safety and will strengthen management and inspections. Passenger cars are already inspected on a cycle relaxed compared to international standards, and a comprehensive review of research will be conducted within the year to prepare improvement measures.
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