Vehicle inspection centers will be shut down if they use software to alter vehicle data.

According to current regulations, vehicle inspection centers will be suspended for 3 months if two or more inspectors have their inspection certificates revoked due to convictions related to motor vehicle inspection.

According to the Vietnam Registering and Inspection Department, these regulations, in the context of numerous local authorities prosecuting cases related to vehicle inspection, could lead to the closure of 91 centers in 32 localities and congestion in 36 localities. Some localities, such as Bac Kan and Thai Binh, may even have no vehicle inspection centers at all.

Furthermore, many vehicle inspection centers are temporarily suspended for extended periods (over 12 months) due to staff shortages, facility repairs, relocation, fire safety issues, etc., and not because of violations that would normally lead to temporary suspension.

In the above cases, according to current regulations, the authorities are forced to revoke the certificate of eligibility to conduct vehicle inspection services and can only be considered for re-issuance after 36 months from the date of revocation. This situation leads to a shortage of inspection centers, causing significant losses to individuals and businesses.

"The aforementioned incidents are unprecedented, arising from the practical operation of motor vehicle inspections that have been occurring recently, and are caused by human error," the Ministry of Transport stated.

Vehicle inspection centers will be closed if they violate these two rules.

Faced with these difficulties, the Ministry of Transport proposed that the Government promptly amend Decree 139/2018 and Decree 30/2023 regulating motor vehicle business services with simplified procedures to promptly address the difficulties in vehicle inspection.

After the Government approved the amendment of the above decree through a simplified procedure, the Ministry of Transport drafted and sent the draft decree to relevant ministries and agencies for comments.

Specifically, the draft decree is amended to abolish the provision for temporarily suspending operations of vehicle inspection centers when three or more inspectors have had their inspector certificates revoked. Inspector certificates will not be revoked in cases where the inspector is convicted by a court, given a suspended sentence, not prohibited from practicing their profession, or sentenced to non-custodial rehabilitation.

Notably, the Ministry of Transport proposed adding two regulations regarding the revocation of certificates of eligibility for operating motor vehicle inspection services.

Accordingly, authorities will revoke licenses when vehicle inspection units use tools or software to alter vehicle data and inspection data to legitimize information and inspection results; or fail to maintain a department that handles inspection-related paperwork during periods when the unit ceases vehicle inspection operations.

According to the Ministry of Transport, the addition of these sanctions aims to ensure state management of vehicle inspection units, preventing situations where units fail to maintain departments to handle paperwork related to vehicle inspection during periods of inactivity in vehicle inspection.

Notably, recently, some vehicle inspection units have been using software to falsify vehicle records. This violation directly affects inspection results, so additional penalties are needed to increase deterrence.