From June 2023: Trucks, Buses To Get Fitness Certificates At Automated Testing Stations

All heavy commercial vehicles such as trucks and buses would have to get the fitness tests done from approved automated testing stations from June, 2023.

According to a draft notification issued by the Road Transport Ministry, for personal, medium goods and passenger vehicles, this mandatory norm would be effective from June 2024.

The proposed change in the fitness test regime is part of the government’s policy to push the voluntary vehicle scrappage policy to retire unfit vehicles.

Currently, the vehicle owners can get the test done either at any automated or manual testing centre. There is a high scope of the test results getting manipulated in the manual system.

The motor vehicle law mandates fitness testing for commercial vehicles in every two years up to eight years, and every year for vehicles older than eight years.

In case of personal vehicles, the owners need to get the fitness test done after 15 years at the time of renewal of registration. They need to get the test done every five years for vehicles that are over 15 years old.

Since the government has made the fitness of vehicles as the criteria for phasing out old and unsafe ones, a lot will depend on the quality of test results.

Officials said the provision of mandatory tests at automated centres will ensure that.