Car inspection sector in Flanders to go through an audit, says minister

The Flemish minister for Mobility, Lydia Peeters, wants to screen the car inspection sector in Flanders through an audit and a comparative study. 

"I want to know why there are numerous operational problems in some vehicle inspection centers. I have been getting complaints about the operation of centers for some time. There is a huge increase in lateness fines. We need to work on modernization and customer friendliness," the minister told Belgian Radio 1 this morning August 9.

Peeters will also look at the Dutch system, where licensed garage owners are allowed to do the inspection.

"Certain authorities are arguing for that. I only notice that certain car inspection companies work well and that there are pain points for others. I first want to do a thorough analysis of how we optimize our operating model," she said.

Surprises and queues

Since the corona pandemic, it has been mandatory in many places in East Flanders, West Flanders and the west side of Flemish Brabant to make an appointment at the car inspection centers. Recently those inspection centers open for free offer one day a week. It usually causes surprises and queues, meaning that the police has to call on people not to come to the inspection center anymore.

Sofie Vanhoute, spokesperson for the sector federation of inspection centers (GOCA Flanders), explained to Belga News Agency that the decision of the inspection centers to only partially reopen without an appointment after the pandemic was taken because the centers received positive signals about the appointment system.

However, many inspection centers were already fully booked weeks in advance, which meant that drivers could sometimes no longer book an appointment before their inspection certificate expires. 

(VIV)

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© BELGA PHOTO (ERIC LALMAND)