New Emission Testing Regulations for Motorcycles
Air pollution is one of the most serious environmental issues facing many major cities in Vietnam. Much of this pollution comes from vehicle emissions, especially those of motorcycles and scooters.
In Vietnam, motorcycles are the primary means of transportation, with millions on the roads every day. As a result, emission testing is crucial to protect public health and the environment.
Old motorcycles spew white exhaust on the streets. Source: VTV
The recently passed Law on Order and Safety of Road Traffic, which came into effect in late June, includes new provisions regarding emission testing for motorcycles. Specifically, Article 42 of the Law states that motor vehicles and specialized vehicles participating in road traffic must undergo emission testing in accordance with environmental protection laws. These tests will be conducted at designated emission testing centers that meet national technical standards.
Compared to the 2008 Law on Road Traffic, this new law introduces the requirement for motorcycles and scooters to undergo emission testing.
Additionally, according to Articles 42.4 and 42.5 of the Law on Order and Safety of Road Traffic, the certification of technical safety and environmental protection inspections for motor vehicles and specialized vehicles will be carried out by vehicle inspectors at inspection centers, who will then issue inspection certificates as per regulations.
Will All Motorcycles Need to Undergo Emission Testing from January 1, 2025?
In a recent statement to the press on July 9, Mr. Nguyen To An, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Register, clarified that while the Law on Order and Safety of Road Traffic will come into effect on January 1, 2025, the emission testing for all motorcycles will follow a government-issued implementation schedule. This means that not all motorcycles and scooters across the country will be subject to emission testing from that date.
The law provides the regulations, but the timing of their implementation depends on the schedule issued by the government. This schedule will be developed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, in coordination with the Ministry of Transport, and then presented to the government for the Prime Minister’s approval.
Vietnam’s main source of environmental pollution is emissions from motor vehicles. Source: VnEconomy
This schedule will outline a detailed timeline, the standards to be applied, and the specific methods of implementation. Only then will the timing and scope of application be clearly defined. However, the general principle is that new imported vehicles or those produced and assembled domestically are already subject to emission controls. The focus will be on older vehicles currently in use that have not yet been emission-tested.
“Research agencies will consider issuing regulations that are practical, such as exempting new vehicles from emission testing for the first two to three years,” said Mr. Nguyen To An in an interview with Thanh Nien. “Moreover, emission testing is a simple process that only takes a few minutes. With an appropriate schedule, we can avoid causing disruptions to the people and society.”
The Deputy Director also mentioned that due to the large number of motorcycles on Vietnam’s roads, many of which are old, the relevant agencies have proposed solutions and methods to ensure a balanced, suitable, and feasible implementation.
Additionally, motorcycle repair and maintenance centers operated by dealerships must be optimized to meet the standards and conditions specified in the regulations to transform them into emission testing stations.
“Management agencies must carefully consider this issue with the principle of not causing inconvenience to the people, in other words, creating the most favorable conditions for them,” emphasized Mr. An in an interview with Tuoi Tre Online. “The ultimate goal is to protect the environment.”
What Are the Benefits of Emission Testing for Motorcycles?
According to the Ministry of Public Security, the reason for including periodic emission testing for motorcycles in the Law on Order and Safety of Road Traffic is to protect the right to live in an environment with reduced pollution emissions and to minimize the environmental impact of vehicles.
The Ministry of Transport has previously stated that the primary source of environmental pollution in Vietnam comes from emissions produced by motor vehicles, with motorcycles and scooters accounting for the largest proportion.
As of the end of 2021, there were over 68 million motorcycles in the country. In Hanoi alone, there are approximately 6 million motorcycles, nearly 3 million of which are old models manufactured before 2000.
Emission testing for motorcycles is expected to be inexpensive. Source: Dai Doan Ket
Currently, only cars are required to undergo periodic emission testing after being sold on the market. Motorcycles, on the other hand, are not subject to these tests. Additionally, many large cities are planning to reduce the number of private vehicles, so controlling emissions from motorcycles will help achieve multiple goals simultaneously.
While the new regulations will incur additional costs in terms of money and time for vehicle owners, they will also benefit from safer vehicles that are more fuel-efficient and have longer lifespans.
The Ministry of Transport also cited a 2018 research project on emissions from motorcycles, which found that to meet emission standards, owners of older motorcycles would only need to spend a small amount, approximately 110,000 VND per vehicle per year, on maintenance and replacement of necessary parts such as air and oil filters. Additionally, the cost of emission testing is estimated to be around 35,000 VND per test per year.
Therefore, for less than 150,000 VND per year, motorcycle owners can contribute to environmental protection, improve public health, increase fuel efficiency, and extend the lifespan of their vehicles through regular maintenance and emission testing.
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