Río Negro Province Keeps Annual Vehicle Inspection System, Opens New RTO Plant in Roca

The provincial government of Río Negro announced it will maintain the current mandatory vehicle technical inspection (RTO) regime, preserving the annual inspection frequency, regulated fees and existing concession contracts. Transport Secretary Juan Ignacio Ciancaglini said the province will adopt only parts of the national deregulation, allowing private workshops solely in locations without an existing concessioned service, while keeping the existing schedule for new‑vehicle checks at two years and thereafter yearly.

In parallel, the municipality of Roca authorized the opening of a new RTO plant, RTO Patagonia, operated by Estefanía García Orozco. The facility will resume service on 29 July, offering online appointment booking and serving the Alto Valle east region, reducing the need for drivers to travel to other cities. The new plant complements the still‑operational RTO sites in Cipolletti, Viedma, Bariloche, Choele Choel, San Antonio Oeste and El Bolsón.