Motorbikes over five years old account for 80% of the nearly 70 million vehicles subject to emission inspections nationwide. Without timely solutions, the risk of congestion at emission testing centers could become a reality.

Risk of congestion in motorbike inspections

According to statistics, Vietnam currently has approximately 70 million motorbikes, with nearly 56 million of them having been in use for more than five years and therefore requiring emission testing.

The Vietnam Register predicts that when emission inspections for motorbikes are implemented, there will be a significant surge in demand, potentially leading to long queues and congestion at inspection facilities.

The primary reason is that the existing number of facilities for motorbike emission testing may not meet the demand stipulated in the Law on Road Traffic Safety and Order.

In an interview with VietNamNet, a representative from the Vietnam Register acknowledged the potential challenges and outlined several proposed solutions.

Regarding infrastructure, the Vietnam Register noted that setting up emission testing centers does not require extensive facilities. In addition to having emission testing equipment and computers connected to the network, the minimum area required is 15 square meters per testing device. Existing spaces used for motorbike maintenance and repair can also be utilized.

“In addition to leveraging the existing motor vehicle testing centers for motorbike emission inspections, we propose using motorbike warranty and maintenance centers at dealerships belonging to the Vietnam Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (VAMM), as well as private facilities, to participate in motorbike emission testing,” said Nguyen To An, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Register.

Currently, there are approximately 3,000 facilities across the country capable of supporting motorbike emission inspections. According to the Vietnam Register, this network will minimize congestion and delays.

“By mobilizing dealerships and private facilities, we can reduce investment costs for infrastructure, ultimately keeping emission testing fees as low as possible,” Mr. An added.

Requirements for motorbike emission inspection centers

Motorbike inspection centers must be located away from schools and have a minimum area of 35 square meters, with each inspection station requiring at least 6 square meters. Additionally, surveillance cameras must be installed.

Regarding the inspection cycle, Mr. An explained that the Vietnam Register has carefully studied regional practices and findings from the Transport Science and Technology Institute (ITST) and the Vietnam Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (VAMM).

Research conducted on 20,000 motorbikes in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang revealed that vehicles under five years old generally meet emission standards. However, emissions increase significantly for vehicles over five years old, depending on maintenance habits and usage frequency.

For motorbikes older than 12 years, emissions were notably high. To control pollution, an annual inspection cycle (12 months) is necessary, aligning with practices in other countries such as Indonesia and Taiwan.

“Shorter inspection cycles for older motorbikes will encourage vehicle upgrades and improve air quality, particularly in urban areas,” Mr. An explained.

Based on these findings, the Vietnam Register has proposed the following emission inspection cycles:

First five years: Vehicles will automatically receive emission certificates without requiring physical inspections, based on existing safety and environmental quality certifications during production or import.

5 to 12 years: Emission inspections every 24 months.

Over 12 years: Annual emission inspections.

Emission inspections for motorbikes will not start on January 1, 2025

The Vietnam Register clarified that while Circular 47 outlines procedures for vehicle inspections and first-time exemptions for motor vehicles and specialized machinery, many mistakenly believe motorbike emission inspections will begin on January 1, 2025.

In reality, motorbike emission inspections will be carried out under the Law on Environmental Protection, requiring testing at facilities that meet national technical standards. The implementation timeline will be determined by the government.

The Government has tasked the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, in coordination with the Ministry of Transport, to submit a plan to the Prime Minister for approval.

“Emission control for motor vehicles, including motorbikes, will follow the Law on Environmental Protection and the Law on Road Traffic Safety and Order. The specific timeline and emission standards will be set by the Prime Minister, similar to the rollout of car emission inspections. It will not automatically take effect on January 1, 2025,” the representative of the Vietnam Register affirmed.

N. Huyen