The fact of passing a technical inspection since January 2012 is confirmed not by a coupon (as was previously the case), but by a so-called diagnostic card. The card contains information about the vehicle’s compliance or non-compliance with mandatory safety requirements.
If the car meets these requirements, it is allowed to participate in road traffic. The document must also indicate the validity period of the diagnostic card, so it is quite difficult to skip the next technical inspection.
What is the risk for a driver driving without a technical inspection, then what is the responsibility for the lack of a diagnostic card in principle? What happens if this card was simply forgotten at home or at work? Is there liability for an overdue inspection? Let's talk about all this in order.
Technical inspection in the context of modern legislation
The issues of passing a technical inspection of vehicles today are covered by Federal Law No. 170-FZ “On the technical inspection of vehicles and on amendments to certain legislative acts of the Russian Federation” dated July 1, 2011. In particular, this law establishes the procedure and deadlines for passing technical inspection for vehicles of different categories.
More often than others, owners of vehicles that transport dangerous goods or other people (passengers) should conduct a technical inspection. Every 6 months you are required to update your diagnostic card:
- passenger taxis and buses;
- trucks equipped for the purpose of transporting passengers with at least 8 seats (in addition to the driver's seat);
- special purpose vehicles that transport dangerous goods.
For ordinary cars and trucks weighing less than 3.5 tons, as well as for motorcycles, trailers, semi-trailers, the inspection frequency is as follows:
- the first 3 years after the vehicle is released - no technical inspection is required;
- Vehicles manufactured from 3 to 7 years ago - maintenance is carried out every 2 years (24 months);
- Vehicles manufactured more than 7 years ago - maintenance is carried out every year (12 months).
Cars equipped with special sound and light signals, as well as cars intended for driving training, are also required to undergo a technical inspection every year.
Who and when is required by law to undergo a technical inspection?
In Art. 15 No. 170-FZ “On Technical Inspection...” states that for legal entities and individuals, the frequency of maintenance of cars, as well as trucks (up to 3.5 tons) owned, directly depends on the “age” of the vehicle.
| Vehicle age, years | Diagnostic card validity period |
| Less than 3 | No need to undergo MOT |
| 3-7 | 2 years |
| More than 7 | 1 year |
The first part of this article talks about the need for annual maintenance for the following vehicles (regardless of age):
- trucks with a permissible weight of more than 3.5 tons;
- training vehicles;
- special vehicles equipped with devices for providing sound and light signals.
In Art. 15 Part 1 No. 170-FZ states that the following groups of vehicles must undergo technical inspection every 6 months:
- buses;
- passenger taxis;
- trucks equipped to transport 8 or more people (not counting the driver's seat);
- vehicles and trailers for them intended for the transportation of dangerous goods.
According to paragraph 6 of Art. 15 No. 170-FZ, each driver has the right to contact a specialized organization to undergo a technical inspection, without waiting for the expiration of the previous maintenance.
Fine for lack of technical inspection
Starting from January 1, 2012, the fine for missing or late technical inspection has been canceled for all personal vehicles. However, drivers of the following categories of vehicles still face a fine for driving without a maintenance service:
- buses;
- passenger taxis and cargo taxis (trucks designed to transport passengers and equipped with at least 8 seats in addition to the driver's seat);
- vehicles (usually trucks) designed to transport dangerous goods.
That is, only those vehicles whose activities are related to the transportation of people and dangerous goods are still required to undergo a timely inspection (the frequency of inspection for them is every six months). In accordance with Part 2 of Article 12.1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, liability for an expired diagnostic card for them is an administrative fine in the amount of 500 to 800 rubles.
It is clear why penalties for overdue technical inspection have been reserved for this particular vehicle. Due to their specific nature, they have much more responsibility for proper technical condition. Otherwise, a lot of people could get hurt.
general information
In August 2021, information appeared about upcoming changes regarding vehicle technical inspection. So far, the existing ideas remain only on paper, but this does not prevent traffic police inspectors from contacting drivers with illegal demands, including the presentation of a diagnostic card. Traffic police officers explain their desire by the requirement of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation (Article 12.1), which stipulates a fine for the lack of technical inspection. The question is whether a traffic police officer can refer to this document.
According to the current rules for passing a technical inspection, instead of a ticket, drivers receive a diagnostic card. At the same time, there is a law in the Russian Federation that allows owners of cars under three years of age not to undergo maintenance. The frequency of maintenance depends on the category of the machine. After the diagnostic card expires, the car owner is required to renew it. Otherwise, the insurer refuses to issue a compulsory motor liability insurance policy.
Cars weighing up to 3.5 tons undergo technical inspection at the following time intervals:
- For cars aged 3-7 years - every two years.
- For vehicles over 7 years old - once a year.
If a vehicle (truck or bus) carries more than 8 people, it is subject to maintenance once every 6 months.
Why do owners of personal cars need maintenance now?
Owners of private cars and trucks that are not yet 3 years old do not need a technical inspection at all. It is believed that cars are in excellent technical condition for 3 years after leaving the factory. But why should drivers undergo MOT if their car is already more than 3 years old? The answer is simple. Since the beginning of 2012, it has been impossible to obtain an MTPL insurance policy without a diagnostic card.
This procedure for obtaining compulsory motor liability insurance is quite justified, since insurance companies are interested in issuing their insurance to owners of cars in good, normal technical condition. Otherwise, the number of insured events, and therefore insurance compensation payments, would increase significantly.
It is currently not allowed to use a car without MTPL insurance. This entails liability under Part 2 of Article 12.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation - an oral warning or an administrative fine in the amount of 500 rubles.
It turns out that it won’t be possible to do without a technical inspection. If the driver is not ready to drive without an MTPL policy and pay a fine of 500 rubles each time he is stopped by a traffic police inspector.
But even if the vehicle owner managed to somehow purchase an MTPL insurance policy without issuing a diagnostic card, then if he gets into an accident caused by the poor technical condition of his car, he will have to pay for the damage from his own pocket.
Insurance will, of course, be paid to the injured road user, but after this the insurance company will definitely present the culprit of the traffic accident with no maintenance a claim for recourse payment of expenses. That is, he will try to compensate for his losses at the expense of this driver.
You should not buy a diagnostic card from dubious companies. All information about technical inspections is stored in a single automated database (in the EAISTO information system). When purchasing a card without actually undergoing maintenance, the information will, of course, not be entered into this database.
Responsibility for failed maintenance
Punishment for failure to undergo technical inspection is imposed on drivers whose vehicles must be subject to maintenance every six months. Responsibility for them is provided for in Art. 12.1 part 2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation. According to this legal act, the amount of the fine for a missing or overdue technical inspection is 500-800 rubles. For the owner of the vehicle, if he was not driving, no penalty is provided.
Part 2 of Article 12.1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation does not imply tougher punishment for repeated violations. The amount of recovery in this case remains unchanged.
No fine is imposed for lack of technical inspection for drivers of category “B” who drive private cars, as well as trucks with a permissible weight of less than 3.5 tons. Despite this rule, you should check the condition of the vehicle in a timely manner, because without a valid diagnostic card it is impossible to conclude an insurance contract (MTPL or CASCO).
There is already a fine for driving without a policy. According to Part 1 of Art. 12.37 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, it is 500 rubles. (if the policy exists, is valid, but the driver does not have it). The penalty is higher if the document is not executed in principle or is expired. In this case, you will have to pay 800 rubles. (Part 2 of Article 12.37 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation).
The responsibility of the vehicle owner for failure to pass the technical inspection is provided when his car is used for commercial transportation and, despite the absence of the necessary document, is released onto the line. The fine in this case is 50 thousand rubles (Article 12.31 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation). It applies to both legal entities and individual entrepreneurs.
Only a traffic police inspector can impose punishment for not having or overdue a diagnostic card. FVF cameras are not able to detect and record the lack of technical inspection.
Punishment for missing or late inspection is imposed only on certain categories of drivers. Despite this, regular maintenance is necessary to purchase insurance. The procedure also ensures that the machine is suitable for safe use.
As a result
Owners of private vehicles who do not transport people or dangerous goods do not need to take a diagnostic inspection card with them. As well as presenting it to traffic police inspectors. But it is still necessary to undergo maintenance in order to obtain or renew MTPL insurance and in order to protect yourself from significant financial losses if you get into a road accident.
Owners of passenger cars and cargo taxis (including minibuses), buses and special vehicles transporting dangerous goods are still required to undergo regular maintenance. Otherwise, they will be punished for lack of technical inspection in the form of a fine in the amount of 500 to 800 rubles. And the fine for this administrative offense will be paid by the driver, and not by the company that actually owns the vehicle. That is, a driver with an overdue maintenance will have to fork out of pocket.
Who should be afraid
According to current legislation, almost all motorists should be wary of fines for lack of technical inspection from January 1, 2021, regardless of the make, age and category of their vehicle. An exception in this case is:
- Cars of the current year of manufacture;
- Vehicles that have a CASCO policy.
The rest of the cars are required to undergo maintenance within the prescribed period (you can expire the current diagnostic card only if the compulsory motor liability insurance is issued for a period of more than one year). State Traffic Inspectorate employees show the greatest interest in the following types of vehicles:
- Old cars whose age reaches 20-30 years;
- Commercial vehicles designed to transport goods or passengers.
It is important to know! In both of these options, vehicles are most often in poor condition, and therefore problems with passing maintenance are quite normal for them. Traffic police inspectors take advantage of this by issuing fines to drivers for technical inspection.
Who can be fined
The greatest changes have occurred in the section providing for a fine for lack of technical inspection. Recently, not all drivers have been required to pay for the absence of a diagnostic card, which replaced the maintenance coupon. This fine remains mandatory for those who drive:
- transporting passengers by car or bus;
- Taxi;
- a vehicle transporting dangerous goods.
The severity of measures against drivers of such vehicles is quite logical. Their level of responsibility for safety is much higher than that of private car owners. For the latter, a fine for a technical inspection is no longer mandatory. Violation of technical inspection deadlines has been removed from the list of offenses.
