Used Car Market Revolution: Strict EU Regulations Take Effect August 13

A groundbreaking European Union regulation on end-of-life vehicles enters into force, revolutionizing the used car market by imposing strict technical checks and recycling standards.

EU Regulation Enters into Force: New Obligations for Car Sales

A landmark EU regulation on end-of-life vehicles enters into force on Thursday, introducing new restrictions on used cars. Any owner wishing to sell or transfer a used car will be required to prove that it is roadworthy.

New Material Recycling Standards in New Vehicle Production

The regulation also governs the design and production of vehicles. Starting in 2032, 15 percent of plastics in new cars must come from recycled materials, and this figure will increase to 25 percent by 2036. The European Commission will also establish a target for using recycled steel and aluminum in vehicles, aiming to develop the secondary raw materials market in the EU and encourage recovery investments.

Access to Disassembly Information and Easier Parts Recovery

The new rules also encourage designing vehicles to facilitate disassembly and reuse. The regulation will increase the availability of information regarding the dismantling and replacement of components during and after the vehicle’s operational life, helping both the automotive and recycling industries recover higher-quality parts and materials more effectively.

End of Wreck Operations: New Criteria for Used Vehicles

Crucial from Poland’s perspective are the provisions concerning used and end-of-life vehicles. The regulation will introduce a distinction between these categories, making it harder to continue operating vehicles that are no longer fit for use.

Proof of Roadworthiness: Inspection Upon Ownership Change

The inspection will be carried out when owners transfer ownership of a car. An owner wanting to sell or hand over a used car must prove it is roadworthy, which will be evidenced by a roadworthiness certificate, such as a vehicle technical inspection certificate in Poland.

Cascading Assessment and Risk of Classification as an End-of-Life Vehicle

If the seller does not possess such a certificate, the car must undergo a special technical assessment. According to the regulation, this assessment will be conducted in a cascading manner, moving from binding criteria to orientational criteria. If the car meets even one binding criterion, it will be classified as an end-of-life vehicle, preventing its further sale as a used car.

Five Years to Repair the Vehicle Under Independent Expert Supervision

If no binding criteria are met, orientational criteria must be checked. If an orientational criterion applies, a further technical assessment is necessary to determine the repairs needed to obtain a roadworthiness certificate, allowing the owner to decide whether the vehicle should be scrapped.

In such cases, the owner will have five years to carry out necessary repairs and obtain a roadworthiness certificate, failing which the car will be deemed an end-of-life vehicle. The technical assessment during this five-year period serves as documentation that the vehicle is not an end-of-life vehicle, and the assessment must be carried out by an independent automotive expert designated by each member state.

Control of Car Exports Outside the European Union Starting in 2031

Starting in 2031, controls will also apply to used cars intended for export outside the EU territory, preventing the export of unroadworthy vehicles to third countries.