Can I drive with an expired technical inspection?
No: driving with an expired ITP is one of the most heavily sanctioned breaches. The Periodic Technical Inspection (ITP) is mandatory and checks the vehicle's general condition (braking, steering, safety equipment). When the ITP expires, the vehicle's registration is automatically suspended. Driving without a valid ITP is treated as two breaches: driving without a valid ITP (9–20 fine points) and driving with suspended registration (20 points). Cumulative fines can reach about 8,100 lei, and the police can retain the registration certificate. ITP frequency: for new cars, the first inspection at 3 years; for vehicles aged 3–12 years, every 2 years; over 12 years, yearly. In short: don't drive with an expired ITP — you risk big fines and losing the right to drive.
📋 The rules
- ITP mandatory; expiry automatically suspends registration
- Treated as two breaches (ITP + suspended registration)
- Cumulative fines up to about 8,100 lei
- The police can retain the registration certificate
- Frequency: 3 years (new), 2 years (3–12), yearly over 12
🔓 Exceptions
- Direct trip to the ITP station: check the applicable rules
- New vehicles: first inspection only at 3 years from registration
- Special categories (taxi, driving school): more frequent ITP
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Driving with an expired ITP is sanctioned as two breaches: driving without a valid ITP (9–20 fine points) and driving with suspended registration (20 points). Cumulatively, fines can reach about 8,100 lei (40 points), and the police can retain the registration certificate, leaving the vehicle with no right to circulate. To avoid trouble: check the ITP date, book at an authorised station in good time and do the inspection before it expires. For the ITP you need the registration certificate, valid RCA and the car in good working order. Note the frequency too: yearly for cars over 12 years, once every 2 years between 3 and 12. A valid ITP keeps you from fines and ensures traffic safety.
📎 Official sources
- GEO 195/2002 · Road Code →
- Romanian Vehicle Register (RAR) · ITP →
- Romanian Police · Traffic Directorate →
❓ Frequently asked
Can I drive with an expired ITP?
No. When the ITP expires, the vehicle's registration is automatically suspended, and driving without a valid ITP is treated as two breaches: driving without a valid ITP and driving with suspended registration. It's one of the most heavily sanctioned traffic breaches, with fines that can reach thousands of lei.
What fine do I risk for an expired ITP?
The sanction combines two breaches: driving without a valid ITP (9–20 fine points) and driving with suspended registration (20 points). Cumulatively, fines can reach about 8,100 lei (40 points). In addition, the police can retain the registration certificate, and the car has no right to circulate.
How often must the ITP be done?
It depends on the car's age. For new cars, the first inspection is at 3 years from first registration. For vehicles between 3 and 12 years, the ITP is done every 2 years. For cars over 12 years, the ITP is mandatory once a year, yearly.
What documents do I need for the ITP?
For the periodic technical inspection you need the vehicle's registration certificate and valid RCA insurance, and the car must be in good working order. The authorised station checks the braking and steering systems and the safety equipment before issuing a valid ITP.
What happens to registration if the ITP expires?
When the ITP expires, the vehicle's registration is automatically suspended. That means the car no longer has the right to circulate on public roads until you pass a new valid periodic technical inspection. Driving in this period brings the big fines and retention of the registration certificate.
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