Vehicle registration documents and vehicle registration data (Roadworthiness package)

The Committee on Transport and Tourism adopted the report by Johan DANIELSSON (S&D, SE) on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the registration documents for vehicles and vehicle registration data recorded in national vehicle registers and repealing Council Directive 1999/37/EC.

Differences in the content, structure and quality of vehicle registration data across Member States weaken enforcement, hinder efforts to combat fraud and affect the functioning of the internal market. Harmonised and up-to-date registration data are therefore needed to ensure legal certainty and the fair cross-border circulation of vehicles.

The committee responsible recommended that the European Parliament's position adopted at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure should amend the proposal as follows:

General requirements for registration certificates

With effect from 3 years after the entry into force (as opposed to 4 years proposed by the Commission), Member States should only issue physical registration certificates. Upon request of the applicant, Member States should also issue a physical registration certificate without undue delay. Member States should ensure that the procedures for obtaining a physical registration certificate are simple and user-friendly, and that applicants can fulfil their registration obligations effectively, regardless of their level of digital access.

Physical registration certificates

Member States should include one or more QR codes on the physical registration certificates in paper format which they issue. The QR code should allow the verification of the authenticity of the information reported on the physical registration certificate.

Mobile registration certificates

Member States should ensure that mobile registration certificates are issued free of charge as electronic attestations of attributes to the European Digital Identity Wallets. The wallets should provide authorised persons with the possibility, inter alia, to retrieve and store data to verify the validity, correctness and completeness of the authorisation of the vehicle to be used in road traffic.

Data recorded in vehicle registers

The content of the vehicle registers has been amended to include, inter alia: (i) relevant data from the certificate of conformity, including data on automated functions, in electronic format; (ii) information on any change to the ownership of vehicles and the holder of the registration certificate, including vehicles which are not authorised to be used in road traffic due to suspension, or due to the temporary de-registration of the vehicle or due to the cancellation of a registration of the vehicle; (iii) the date and the country where the vehicle was registered for the first time, except where the vehicle is classified as a vehicle of historic interest; (iv) has been stolen or otherwise unlawfully taken over, as confirmed by a police report issued to the last registration certificate holder and the last vehicle owner.

A new article has been included stating that holders of a vehicle should be granted free digital access to their vehicle-related data in the vehicle register.

Suspension of registration

Amendments introduced enhance Member State operational flexibility through a temporary de-registration mechanism, permitting vehicle suspension for up to 3 years with subsequent simplified re-registration procedures that do not require new technical inspections. Member States would retain the right to refuse re-registration where reasonable suspicion of fraud exists and may impose additional verification procedures or require new technical inspections in such circumstances, strengthening Member State capacity to combat cross-border vehicle fraud while maintaining proportionate administrative procedures.

The suspension should be effective until the vehicle has passed a new roadworthiness test.

Identification and re-registration of vehicles

Members stressed that a registration in a Member State should be cancelled when another Member State notifies a re-registration of the vehicle in its national registry.

Exchange of data

Member States should have six months from the adoption of the implementing acts laying down the necessary arrangements for the implementation of the functionalities of the electronic system to adapt their IT systems accordingly.

The Commission in collaboration with Member States should constantly monitor the implementation and correct any errors of the MOVE-Hub and continuously assess improvements to the MOVE-Hub after 3 years of entry into force.