New regulations regarding vehicle inspections are set to take effect on 20/1/2026, aiming to streamline the process and encourage vehicle owners to address technical issues promptly. Circular 40/2025, issued by the Ministry of Construction, outlines the pricing mechanisms for inspection services and introduces initial inspection exemptions for motor vehicles and specialized machinery.

Under the new rules, motor vehicles and specialized machinery that fail to meet technical safety and environmental protection requirements during an inspection must undergo re-inspection. If the re-inspection occurs on the same day, the service fee will be a maximum of 50% of the original inspection fee charged by the registration facility.

However, if the vehicle is re-inspected on a different day or at a different inspection facility, the full 100% inspection fee will be applied. Additionally, if an inspection officer travels to an off-site location to perform an inspection and the customer cancels the service, the customer will be responsible for specified costs.

These changes represent a significant departure from the current regulations outlined in Circular 55/2022 of the Ministry of Finance. Previously, vehicle owners were exempt from fees for the first two re-inspections conducted on the same day. For third and subsequent re-inspections on the same day, a 50% fee was charged. Furthermore, if a vehicle owner returned within 7 days, a 50% inspection fee applied, while returning after 7 days incurred a 100% fee.

An automobile undergoing inspection at a registration center in Hanoi. Photo: Giang Huy

A representative from the Vietnam Register stated that the new regulations aim to prevent vehicle owners from delaying necessary repairs and maintenance. Previously, owners would only address issues after failing an inspection, then return for re-inspection, leading to congestion at facilities. This situation was particularly prevalent with trucks and container vehicles.

To ensure compliance and prevent owners from simply moving between centers, all national inspection centers will utilize a shared system. This system will track inspection information, preventing vehicle owners from failing an inspection at one center and then seeking re-inspection at another without addressing the underlying issues.

Reduced certificate fees for vehicles under 10 seats

Effective 1/1/2026, Circular 156/2025 from the Ministry of Finance introduces a standardized fee of 40,000 VND per certificate for various documents. This includes certificates for the appraisal of motor vehicle designs (in manufacturing, assembly, or modification), technical safety and environmental protection quality certificates for motor vehicles, components, specialized machinery (including modified vehicles), four-wheeled motor vehicles, electric bicycles, and technical safety and environmental protection inspection certificates for motor vehicles and specialized machinery.

Consequently, the fee for inspection certificates issued to automobiles with fewer than 10 seats (excluding ambulances) will decrease to 40,000 VND per certificate starting 1/1/2026, down from the previous rate of 90,000 VND per certificate, according to the Vietnam Register.

Road usage fee stickers to be removed from windshields

Inspection centers will also discontinue the practice of affixing road usage fee stickers to vehicle windshields. The obligation to pay these fees will now be monitored through an integrated fee management system and the Vietnam Register's electronic information portal.

While these fee stickers have been in use for many years, clear regulations regarding the enforcement and penalties for vehicles without stickers or unpaid road usage fees have been lacking. The removal of these stickers will not only reduce administrative costs but also aligns with the ongoing trend of digital transformation in vehicle management, fee collection, and inter-agency data verification.

Doan Loan