The main service center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs reminded drivers how the system of mandatory technical inspection of vehicles works and who exactly should undergo it. The department explains: many drivers still believe that they can undergo a technical inspection directly at the service center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. This is not so. Service centers do not check cars themselves - their role is limited to maintaining a register of private entities that have the right to conduct mandatory technical inspection (MTI), and supervising their activities.
Mandatory technical inspection is a check of the technical condition of vehicles that are put on the roads. Its purpose is to prevent the operation of cars in a faulty condition, reduce the accident rate due to technical problems and at the same time reduce harmful emissions. During such an inspection, specialists assess the operation of the braking system, steering, exterior lights, check the wear of tires and wheels, the level of light transmission of the glass, the serviceability of gas cylinder equipment (if installed), smoke or toxicity of the exhaust. They also inspect the general condition of the body, the mounting of license plates, sound signals and everything that may affect traffic safety. All this is recorded in order to understand: the car can drive without a threat to the driver, passengers and the environment.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs reminds that not every car in Ukraine is subject to mandatory technical inspection. This concerns vehicles used in transportation: trucks, buses, taxis, passenger cars that carry passengers or goods for money, vehicles for transporting dangerous goods, as well as trailers and semi-trailers. Owners of ordinary passenger cars that are not used for commercial transportation, as well as motorcyclists, currently do not undergo technical inspection.
The frequency of inspections depends on the purpose of the vehicle and its type. For passenger cars that earn money from transportation, as well as for small trucks weighing up to 3.5 tons, the inspection is carried out once every two years. Heavy goods vehicles and taxis must undergo technical inspection every year. The most stringent requirements are set for carriers of dangerous goods - such cars are inspected twice a year, because the risks of their malfunction are higher. After passing the inspection, the owner receives an official report on the technical condition of the vehicle with the indicated result and the date of the next inspection. If malfunctions are detected, this is recorded in a separate act, and the car is allowed to be re-inspected only after the problems are eliminated.
The service center draws attention to the fact that it is now possible to check the validity of the protocol online. The official website of the Main Service Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs offers the service "Checking the validity of the OTK protocol", where you can enter the document data and make sure that it is not fake or canceled. This is important for both the carriers themselves and for service customers.
The procedure for passing technical inspection is carried out not by police officers or service center employees, but by authorized technical inspection points - business entities entered in the state register. They are the ones who conduct the inspection, take measurements, and draw up a report. At the same time, the inspection process is now necessarily accompanied by photo and video recording. This is done for transparency - to make it impossible to conduct "paper inspections" without actually driving the car to the stand.
In 2025, several changes were made to the OTC rules. First, the list of documents required for accreditation of inspection points was reduced to make it easier for honest operators to work officially. Second, the procedure for photo and video recording was updated, making the requirements clearer so that it would be possible to prove later that a specific car was actually inspected at a specific time. Third, a mechanism was introduced for canceling technical inspection protocols. This means that if it later turns out that the inspection was formal or carried out with violations, the document may be declared invalid.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs Service Center emphasizes: the role of the state is not just to issue a ticket, but to ensure that technically sound and safe vehicles are on the road, especially those that transport people, cargo, and hazardous materials every day. The current list of points authorized to conduct OTK is available on the Ministry of Internal Affairs website for each region.
In short: you can't get a technical inspection anywhere, but only at an officially authorized point; the Ministry of Internal Affairs service center doesn't do the inspection itself, but it monitors the system; and you can now check your report online.
