Complaint or claim for compensation regarding a vehicle inspection

Traficom monitors the quality of inspections and processes requests for the administrative review (External link) of inspection decisions. Requests for the administrative review of inspection decisions must be filed within 30 days of the inspection.

A decision on a vehicle inspection is an administrative decision, and the inspector exercises public authority just like the authorities. Therefore, inspectors are subject to provisions on criminal liability for acts in office. Inspectors must obey the law and any provisions issued under it, otherwise they may be guilty of an offence. 

Inspectors may violate their official duties if they, for example, deliberately or through negligence approve a vehicle for use on the road even if the vehicle should have failed the inspection because of its defects or missing equipment. Similarly, inspectors can only mark as defects or inadequacies items that are required to be inspected under the relevant provisions if they fail to meet the requirements. If you suspect that an inspector has committed an offence, you can report your suspicion to the police. Traficom does not have competence to investigate the suspected offences of inspectors.

Traficom is not competent to process individual complaints regarding the activities of inspection stations, including those related to expenses incurred as a result of undetected faults or damage caused to a vehicle during an inspection.

Inspection stations have an obligation to process complaints and claims for compensation related to their services and to provide advice regarding inspections.

While Traficom does not process individual complaints or claims for compensation, you are welcome to notify us of any deficiencies you observe in the services of an inspection station. You can also give anonymous feedback on an inspection station by completing our feedback survey. Traficom utilises such feedback in the context of controlling the quality of inspection services.
 

Most common complaints – examples and instructions

My vehicle failed its inspection, but I disagree with the decision.

• Vehicles are inspected in accordance with the Traficom Regulation on the Evaluation Criteria for Periodic Vehicle Inspections (available in Finnish and Swedish). If you think that the inspection decision does not comply with the evaluation criteria, contact the inspection station. If you cannot reach an agreement with the inspection station, you can request for the administrative review of the inspection decision from Traficom. Requests for an administrative review must be submitted within 30 days of the inspection.

I purchased a vehicle that had recently undergone an inspection. However, maintenance later revealed faults that should have been addressed during the inspection. I was under the impression that I had purchased a vehicle that had just passed its inspection without any detected faults. I have incurred expenses as a result of the erroneous decision made by the inspection station and want to receive compensation.

• If you believe that you have purchased a defective vehicle, you must file your complaint with the seller. If you purchased the vehicle at a car dealership or from some other company, you are entitled to protection under the Consumer Protection Act. You can turn to the Consumer Advisory Services for help, if necessary. If you purchased the vehicle from a private individual, the sale is governed by the Sale of Goods Act, not the Consumer Protection Act. In sales between private individuals, the buyer cannot ask for help from the Consumer Advisory Services. 
• If you want to request for compensation from an inspection station because you think that the vehicle you bought passed its inspection in a manner that does not conform to the evaluation criteria and you have suffered damage as a result, your claim for compensation is subject to the provisions of the Damages Act. Because you did not have a contractual relationship with the inspection station, the matter does not fall within the scope of the Consumer Protection Act and you are not entitled to assistance from the Consumer Advisory Services. In the event of a dispute, you can bring an action for damages before the District Court.

My vehicle was damaged during an inspection. I want to claim compensation.

• Vehicles are inspected in accordance with the Traficom Regulation on the Evaluation Criteria for Periodic Vehicle Inspections (available in Finnish and Swedish). If you think that your vehicle has sustained damage during an inspection, you can file a claim for damages with the inspection station in question. If you are unhappy with the decision taken by the inspection station, you can bring an action for damages before the District Court.