European Commission Proposes Comprehensive Revision of EU Road Safety and Vehicle Registration Rules
Disputed Mopeds – Up to 125cc
After extensive consultations with the most relevant EU bodies, primarily tasked with increasing traffic safety, the European Commission has published its proposal for a comprehensive revision of EU rules on road safety and vehicle registration.
Essentially, these are updated rules aimed at safer roads, less air pollution, and digital vehicle documentation.
The new rules will take into account the growing presence of electric vehicles and adapt to new technologies. They will introduce stricter inspections, including periodic technical checks for electric vehicles and advanced driver assistance systems, annual inspections for older cars and vans, and advanced methods for detecting high-emission vehicles to reduce fine particle pollution. In addition, the Commission proposes the introduction of digital certificates for vehicle registration and periodic testing, simplifying cross-border data exchange, and protecting citizens from fraudulent activities such as odometer tampering. Periodic technical inspections will also be facilitated for those temporarily residing in another EU country.
The proposed changes reflect the EU’s commitment to safe and sustainable mobility while ensuring the free movement of people and goods. It is estimated that between 2026 and 2050, these proposals will save around 7,000 lives and prevent about 65,000 serious injuries.
To that end, the Commission proposes revising three directives: on the periodic technical inspection (PTI) of vehicles, vehicle registration documents, and roadside inspections (RSI) of commercial vehicles.
Challenges with Unsafe and Older Vehicles
This proposal, published a few days ago, targets unsafe vehicles that 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 growing presence of electric vehicles. Additionally, vehicles causing high pollution and noise, although relatively few, are responsible for a disproportionate share of harmful emissions. Current regulations insufficiently address air pollution and noise.
An aging vehicle fleet also increases the risk of odometer fraud (i.e., rolling back mileage indicators to falsely suggest lower vehicle usage). Tackling this fraud requires updated rules. Outdated procedures and a lack of modern technology hinder law enforcement and cross-border cooperation.
Key Elements of the New Rules
The proposed measures include:
New Emissions Testing: Detecting high-emission vehicles, including those with unauthorized modifications, using advanced methods for ultrafine particles and nitrogen oxides (NOx)
Adapting Testing to New Vehicles: Periodic technical inspections for electric vehicles and new tests for electronic safety systems, including testing the integrity of safety- and emissions-relevant system software.
Combating Fraud: Recording odometer readings in national databases to enable cross-border mileage history sharing.
Annual Inspections: For cars and vans older than ten years.
Digitalization: Issuance of electronic certificates for vehicle registration and periodic testing, with data exchange via a shared platform to streamline administrative processes.
Mutual Recognition of PTI Certificates: Ensuring cross-border recognition of periodic technical inspections carried out in another Member State for cars, valid for six months.
Improved Data Management: Simplifying access to technical vehicle data for testing centers.
Next Steps
The proposals will now be considered by the European Parliament and the Council under the ordinary legislative procedure.
Once an agreement is reached, the Commission will prepare the necessary delegated and implementing acts for specific aspects of rule enforcement.
Background
In its EU Road Safety Policy Framework for 2021–2030, the Commission reaffirmed its ambitious goal of achieving near-zero road deaths and serious injuries in the EU by 2050 ("Vision Zero") and halving the number of road deaths and serious injuries by 2030. Today’s proposals will help achieve these goals and were announced in the Commission’s 2020 Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy.
The Commission published the latest road safety data in March 2025, showing a gradual decrease in road fatalities across the EU, although progress remains too slow. In 2024, there were 19,800 fatalities in road accidents—a 3% decrease compared to 2023, or 600 fewer lost lives. While this is a step in the right direction, the overall pace of improvement remains too slow, and most Member States are not on track to meet the EU goal of halving road deaths by 2030.
The Commission is implementing a systemic approach to driving in the EU, requiring safer driving, safer vehicles, safer infrastructure, lower speeds, and better post-crash care.
The proposal for the revision of the Periodic Technical Inspection Directive and the Roadside Inspection Directive essentially amends Directives 2014/45/EU and 2014/47/EU. These are very detailed directives that, according to the EC, have been "overtaken by time" and need updating to reflect current road conditions—a "comprehensive update."
In short, two proposals are on the table:
The proposal for revising the Vehicle Registration Document Directive, and
The proposal to amend the directive reviewing the Technical Roadworthiness Package.
"The EU is firmly committed to reducing road deaths and serious injuries by 50% by 2030. Today’s initiative marks a major step toward making our roads safer and our air cleaner, all aligned toward this goal," said Apostolos Tzitzikostas, EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism.
All relevant stakeholders involved in traffic have agreed with the Commission’s proposal, with minor reservations, except the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC), which raised serious objections concerning the proposed changes to technical inspections. Specifically, mopeds up to 125cc are excluded from mandatory technical inspections.
The ETSC believes that excluding mopeds and motorcycles up to 125cc from mandatory technical inspections is a "missed opportunity for improving road safety."
The ETSC initially welcomed the proposal to close the current "loophole" that allowed a few EU Member States, including Finland, Ireland, and the Netherlands, to exclude all motorcycles from regular testing requirements. Portugal also announced last year that it would cancel plans for regular checks of all motorcycles. Under the new EU proposals, such exclusions will no longer be allowed.
However, the change affects only the testing of more powerful motorcycles, prompting the ETSC’s reaction.
"The Council is deeply concerned that the Commission proposes exempting mopeds and motorcycles under 125cc from mandatory testing. Studies show high levels of modifications in this category related to speed, as well as brake and tire defects playing a role in many accidents," said the ETSC.
According to research conducted in Austria, nearly half (47%) of mopeds were "tuned" to travel at higher speeds. In Denmark, 17% of all moped crashes resulting in death or serious injury involved illegally modified vehicles—around 800 vehicles. In the Netherlands, a detailed study on the factors influencing "slow moped" crashes found that in 8–14% of cases, the cause was poor tire or brake quality. These accidents could have been prevented if mandatory technical inspections had been in place, according to the ETSC.
Ellen Townsend, ETSC Policy Director, commented on this proposed change:
"Mopeds and motorcycles under 125cc are a high-risk means of transport, often used by young people. Failing to check whether tires, brakes, and lights are working, and whether vehicles have not been illegally modified for higher speeds, only increases the risk. We urge the European Parliament and Member States to require regular inspections for these vehicles," Townsend said.
The European Parliament had previously called for all types of motorcycles to be subject to regular mandatory inspections.
The ETSC also welcomes the requirement for annual inspections of older vehicles (over 10 years old) but argues that this requirement should be introduced earlier, after a maximum of six years.
Other positive changes include the requirement for regular checks to ensure that the new mandatory safety technologies, required for new vehicle types in the EU since 2022, as well as other driver assistance systems, continue to function correctly.
The European Commission also aims for roadside inspections of commercial vehicles to include checks on how cargo is secured—another welcome development according to the ETSC.
Sources: European Commission, ETSC
Photo: Freepik
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