European Union prepares new vehicle inspection rules

The European Union is preparing new regulations that could impact vehicle technical inspections. Under the proposed rules, a car may fail its mandatory inspection if it is subject to an active manufacturer recall for serious or dangerous defects, such as issues with airbags, braking systems, steering, or fire risks.

Technicians would be able to check a vehicle's status in a centralized system to see if a mandatory repair is outstanding. To pass the inspection, owners would need to have the defect addressed at an authorized service center and have the repair confirmed in the system. These rules aim to ensure that safety-critical recalls are completed, particularly for used vehicles.

Separately, warnings have been issued regarding viral social media trends, such as those on TikTok, suggesting that disconnecting a car battery for 10 seconds can clear a ‘check engine’ light. While this may reset the computer memory in older models, it does not fix the underlying mechanical or electronic issue, which could lead to safety risks or reduced engine performance.