Vehicles with minor road defects will as of Wednesday be allowed onto the road provided problems are fixed as soon as possible, as part of a raft of changes introduced to VRT tests.

The changes, which are being introduced to standardise Malta’s road worthiness laws with those in other EU states, introduce a four-tier categorisation system.

Vehicle defects will now be categorised according to their severity and impact on road safety or emissions. Four categories are being introduced:

1. Pass. This means a vehicle has passed the VRT and meets minimum road worthiness standards

2. Pass with minor defects. The vehicle has some minor defects which do not impact its road safety or effect on the the environment, and therefore pass the test. Minor defects must however be repaired as soon as possible.

3. Fail with major defects. The car has defects which impact its road safety, put other road users at risk or harm the environment. Defects must be repaired within 16 days and the car undergo another test.

4. Fail with dangerous defects. The car has dangerous problems which render it unsuitable to be driven on the road until the problems are fixed and the vehicle re-tested.

Other changes to the VRT include:

  • Stricter rules for diesel vehicles found to have a tampered diesel particulate filter, or heavy goods vehicles using Adblue. Any such vehicles will immediately fail the VRT if they emit smoke of any colour from their exhaust.

  • Vehicles involved in major accidents must undergo a VRT test before being allowed back onto the road.

  • Vehicles manufactured since September 2009 will also be tested to ensure their reverse lights are functional. Vehicles manufactured since March 2018 must have working daytime running lights. Headlight washers must be functional in vehicles equipped with them.

  • A lit-up malfunction indicator lamp on a vehicle’s dashboard will be considered a failing item.

  • Tractors with maximum speeds higher than 40 kilometres per hour must now undergo VRT tests. 

Drivers who ignore VRT test instructions can be fined up to €500, with drivers caught tampering odometers are liable to fines of up to €200 a day. 

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