The Traffic Police issued fines to 276 drivers for not having up-to-date vehicle inspections during the first two months of this year, according to a statement released on March 11 by Martín Sánchez Agüero, director of the Traffic Police.
This issue is significant as it represents an increase of nearly 40 percent compared to the same period last year, when there were 197 tickets issued. The rise suggests more drivers are failing to comply with mandatory inspection requirements.
Sánchez said that owners have ample time to complete their inspections, noting that they can attend the review conducted by Dekra across the country even in the month before their inspection is due. “Lamentablemente, algunas personas que, por ejemplo, deben ir en marzo a la prueba, todavía puede ser que no hayan sacado la cita o la tienen para final de mes, cuando pudieron asistir desde el primero de febrero,” Sánchez said.
He explained that if a vehicle’s inspection is due in April, owners can use all of March to get inspected. This allows time for any necessary repairs and re-inspection within both March and April. However, he clarified that scheduling an appointment after missing the required month does not permit driving during that period. If a car was supposed to pass inspection in February but did not, it should not be driven from March onward—even if heading to an inspection station—because having an appointment slip for March does not exempt from penalties. In such cases, paying for towing service is recommended as the alternative way to reach the appointment.
The increase in fines highlights ongoing challenges with compliance and enforcement regarding vehicle safety standards.
