Ensuring that every European vehicle remains safe, roadworthy and environmentally-compliant throughout its life shouldn’t be controversial. But it is getting harder. As vehicles become more complex and the car parc across Europe ages, the effectiveness of our regulatory frameworks needs to evolve too.

That’s why we have recently made a submission to the European Commission’s consultation on the revision of roadworthiness testing and vehicle registration rules – just as we did to the UK Government’s MOT consultation back in 2023, the outcome of which was a welcome decision to keep the first test at three years from the date of registration, and to test annually thereafter. 

Representing the interests of 100,000 workshops and millions of motorists, at LKQ Europe we believe this is a critical moment to improve safety and sustainability, while protecting the affordability and accessibility of vehicle maintenance.

Why Periodic Technical Inspections still matter

Periodic Technical Inspections (PTIs) have long been a cornerstone of European road safety. But their value is often underestimated.

In-depth research shows that vehicle defects contribute to up to 14% of crashes, and many of these issues are not visible or detectable at the roadside. A study commissioned by CITA found that only 50% of safety-critical defects would be found during standard crash investigations, compared to 88% identified during PTI-level checks – which are often where brake and suspension defects are picked up. The European Commission estimates that recent vehicle safety regulations could save more than 25,000 lives and prevent 140,000 serious injuries by 2038, provided the systems introduced are maintained effectively over time.

Beyond safety, regular inspections also help prevent excessive emissions from deteriorating filters and powertrain systems. This is essential for achieving EU climate and air quality goals. 

Inspection frequency: a matter of vehicle age and risk

Europe’s car parc is ageing. The average vehicle age is projected to rise from 11.2 years in 2022 to 12.5 by 2030, with even steeper trends in countries like Hungary, where 61% of the car parc will be older than 14 years.

Why does this matter? Because ageing vehicles are more prone to hidden or progressive defects. Germany’s TÜV Report (2024) found that 28.1% of 12–13-year-old vehicles failed their PTI, compared to just 6.4% for 2–3-year-old cars. And more than 15,000 vehicles were flagged as “dangerous to operate” and removed from German roads in a single year due to severe brake, steering or structural issues.

This data reinforces our belief that PTI frequency should reflect vehicle age and risk profile. A one-size-fits-all inspection schedule no longer suits the reality of Europe’s diverse and ageing car parc. We believe more frequent inspections for older vehicles will be essential in reducing preventable accidents and improving air quality.

A new generation of vehicles requires a new generation of checks

From intelligent speed assistance to regenerative braking, today’s vehicles come equipped with technologies that improve safety – but only if they work as intended. These systems degrade over time, and their failures aren’t always obvious to drivers or detectable through basic checks.

Electric vehicles (EVs) present a growing challenge of their own. TÜV data shows that purpose-built EVs underperformed in their first PTIs, with issues in brakes, headlights and axle suspensions. Meanwhile, regenerative braking systems can mask traditional brake issues, and high torque can accelerate tyre wear – both of which demand specialist inspection protocols.

This is why LKQ Europe supports the introduction of specific EV inspection requirements, including:

• Battery and high-voltage system diagnostics
• Brake system performance (including regenerative vs traditional systems)
• Underbody corrosion and suspension checks

• Energy efficiency and tyre wear monitoring

   

Ensuring fair and shared access to vehicle data

Effective roadworthiness testing doesn’t stop at regulation. It depends on a functioning aftermarket ecosystem. Independent workshops maintain and repair around 70% of Europe’s 280 million vehicles and play a crucial role both before and after a PTI.

But as vehicles become more connected and digitised, these workshops and PTI centres face new barriers: closed OEM systems, rising costs for access to technical data, and inconsistent enforcement of access rights. You’ll know how passionate we are about this as an organisation, and can read about our submission to the Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulation (MVBER) in another of my recent blogs.

That’s why we’re calling for comprehensive and enforceable access rights, including:

• Diagnostic data and tools for safety and emissions systems
• Real-time access to manufacturer back-end servers
• Consistent training and technical guidance
• Harmonised rules across all EU Member States

These rights are already embedded across European legislation, including the Type Approval Regulation, the MVBER and the Data Act. But we need the PTI Directive to actively reference and reinforce these rights, ensuring that inspectors and independent workshops are not locked out of the very systems they’re tasked with checking.

Smarter regulation for greener, safer mobility

LKQ Europe supports the Commission’s ambition to modernise Europe’s roadworthiness rules and welcomes the direction of the proposed updates. To ensure these reforms fully deliver on their safety and sustainability potential, we believe it’s vital to also:

1. Align PTI frequency with vehicle age, especially given the rising average age and increased risk profile of the EU car parc
2. Mandate specialist checks for advanced safety systems and EV components as standard PTI procedure
3. Guarantee comprehensive access to the data, tools and training needed to inspect modern vehicles

Done right, these updates can help Europe cut crash rates, reduce emissions and extend the safe life of vehicles on the road. That is a win for motorists, a win for workshops, and a critical step toward a fairer, safer and more sustainable mobility system, in which independent workshops can continue to compete.

We remain committed to working with policymakers to build a future-ready PTI regime – one that protects people, empowers workshops and keeps Europe moving safely.