The life and safety of the driver and passengers are directly related to the automobile. Currently, the Korea Highway Safety Administration conducts a regular inspection system and it is mandatory, so if you own a car, you should have it inspected regularly. This allows you to check the safety of your car and whether it complies with the emission standards, and protects the lives and property of people from traffic accidents and environmental pollution. With such an important purpose, it’s important to know the exact intervals and stay on top of them, as there are penalties for failing to do so within the specified time frame. In today’s post, we’ll explain the types of car inspections, their frequency, penalties, and costs.
Types of car inspections
There are two main types of car inspections: routine and comprehensive. Routine inspections are required at regular intervals after the vehicle is newly registered, and check the basic stability, noise, and emissions of the vehicle and determine whether the vehicle needs maintenance based on the results.
Comprehensive inspection (emission precision) is an additional inspection in areas with stricter emission standards and must be performed on all vehicles registered in the target area. It is mainly applied to large cities and heavily polluted areas, and involves measuring emissions and checking other environmental standards.
It’s still a bit confusing for many people: while regular passenger cars are inspected every two years, some cars are subject to comprehensive inspections and some are subject to periodic inspections. The distinction is based on the registration area of the vehicle, and all vehicles registered in air management areas or urban areas with a population of 500,000 or more that are designated by presidential decree are subject to comprehensive inspections (Seoul, Daejeon Metropolitan City, Sejong Special Self-Governing Province, etc.
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Vehicle Inspection Cycle
Different types of vehicles are inspected at different intervals, so you’ll need to check when your vehicle is required to be inspected. For a typical private car, you’ll need to have it inspected once in the first four years of ownership and then every two years thereafter. This includes non-business passenger vehicles where you don’t do business with the car. For business passenger vehicles (taxis, rental cars, etc.), you’ll need to get it every two years after the first two years.
For small passenger cars, it is every 1 year after the first 4 years; for large passenger cars (buses, etc.), it is every 6 months after the first year; for cargo vehicles under 3.5 tons, it is every 2 years after the first 4 years; for cargo vehicles over 3.5 tons, it is every 1 year after the first year; and for special vehicles (wreckers, etc.), it is every 1 year after the first year. It is recommended that you check with the Korea Traffic Safety Institute beforehand when the cycle is due, as the cycle may change.
Penalties for failing a car inspection
If the inspection is required within 31 days before or after the validity expiration date and exceeds 31 days, a non-compliance penalty will be charged. A penalty of 40,000 won will be charged within 30 days after the expiration date, and 20,000 won will be added for every 3 days thereafter, up to a maximum of 600,000 won if the number of days delayed is 115 days or more. In addition, if the payment is not made within the payment date, a heavy penalty will be added. If more than one year passes, the vehicle may be suspended from operation, so it is recommended that you meet the deadline.
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Car inspection costs
For regular car inspections, the cost is approximately 17,000 to 29,000 won for passenger cars and 30,000 to 35,000 won for vans, and for comprehensive car inspections, the cost is approximately 48,000 to 65,000 won for passenger cars and 60,000 to 90,000 won for vans. The cost may vary depending on the location, so please check in advance.
Today, we learned about the types and frequency of car inspections, penalties, and costs. Regular car inspections are essential for the safety of drivers and others. In addition to the locations operated by the TSA, you can also visit designated private inspection centers, so be sure to familiarize yourself with the frequency so that you don’t miss any inspections and avoid being fined.