🔧 Do I have to take my new car for inspection every year?

Quick answer

No — a new passenger car does not go for inspection until it is four years old, and then only every second year at first. Under the rules of Samgöngustofa (the Transport Authority), ordinary passenger cars, vans and motorcycles go for their first inspection after four years, then every two years twice and finally yearly after that. The myth many believe: that every car needs inspecting every year from day one. That applies only to larger vehicles — buses, lorries and their trailers — which go yearly, while vintage vehicles and caravans go only every second year. The inspection month is set by the last character on the number plate: a digit marks the month (1 = January, 0 = October) and a letter means May. You may inspect up to six months before and two months after the inspection month within the inspection year. Let it slip further and a neglect fee is added, and if the car is left uninspected the police can remove its plates.

📋 The rules

Passenger cars, vans and motorcycles: first inspection after four years, then every two years twice and yearly after that.
Larger vehicles (buses, lorries, trailers) go yearly; vintage vehicles and caravans every second year.
The inspection month is set by the last plate character: a digit is the month (1 = January, 0 = October), a letter means May.
You may inspect up to six months before and two months after the inspection month within the inspection year.
The result can be no remarks, minor repair (30 days), re-inspection or a driving ban depending on how serious the faults are.

🔓 Exceptions

If you live more than 80 km from the nearest inspection station and could not bring the car in time, you can apply for a two-month extension before the deadline passes.
If the car cannot be inspected because of a breakdown or lack of parts, you may take it off the register — no neglect fee applies while it is off the road.
A minor-repair result does not require returning to the station: you have 30 days to fix the remarks, unlike a re-inspection where you must return before the deadline.

⚠️ Penalties & fines

Neglecting the inspection first costs a neglect fee, which is added two months after the inspection month and rises the longer it is left. If the car is still uninspected, the police may remove its plates and stop its use until the matter is fixed. If the inspection reveals serious faults, the result is a driving ban — then it is forbidden to use the car, register it or receive plates, with few exceptions for the shortest route to repair and inspection. The hidden cost lies in insurance and liability: if an uninspected or defective car causes damage, it can affect compensation rights and premiums, and the owner (keeper) is responsible for the car being in lawful condition regardless of who drives. The driver at any time is also responsible for the steering, brakes and lights working. The cheapest route is to check the lights, wipers and seatbelts before the inspection, because about a fifth of cars get a remark on a simple fault such as a number-plate light.

📎 Official sources

Last verified: 2026-07-12

❓ Frequently asked

When does a new car first need inspecting?

An ordinary new passenger car goes for its first inspection after four years, not straight away and not yearly from the start. After that it goes every two years twice and finally yearly, so inspections are kept to a minimum for new private cars in the early years.

How do I know which month to inspect the car?

The inspection month is set by the last character on the number plate: a digit marks the month, where 1 is January and 0 is October. If the last character is a letter, the inspection month is May, and vintage vehicles and caravans also have May as their inspection month.

What happens if I forget to bring the car in for inspection?

If you have not inspected it two months after the inspection month, a neglect fee is added, and it rises the longer it is left. If the car remains uninspected, the police can remove its plates and stop its use until it has been brought in for inspection.

Can I inspect the car before the inspection month?

Yes, you may inspect it up to six months before the inspection month within the inspection year and up to two months after it. That gives room to choose a convenient time, for example before a long trip or before winter sets in.

What do the results minor repair and re-inspection mean?

Minor repair means you have 30 days to put the remarks right and need not return to the station, while re-inspection means more serious faults that must be fixed at once and shown again before the deadline. The most serious result is a driving ban, which forbids using the car until the repair is done.

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