How often is a light vehicle inspected in Chile?

If it is not on the six-monthly list, once a year, in the month matching the last digit of its plate (DS 156/1990, Article 7, third paragraph).

What happens if the vehicle fails?

The next inspection checks that the defects behind the fail were fixed. It is free when the fail came from tests whose results the station staff must interpret and no more than 15 calendar days have passed since the failed inspection (Article 10).

CL · Expiry & renewal tracking

Never let a fleet vehicle drive with an expired inspection

Vehicles not subject to six-monthly inspection, such as private cars and pickups, are inspected once a year in the month matching the last digit of the plate, and may go a month early (DS 156/1990, Article 7). Without a valid inspection the municipality will not issue the circulation permit (Traffic Act, Article 89).

Chile's Supreme Decree 156 of 1990, issued by the Ministry of Transport and Telecommunications, sets how often vehicles undergo the roadworthiness inspection (revisión técnica). Vehicles that are not on the six-monthly list (passenger vehicles with more than 9 seats, goods vehicles carrying more than 1,750 kg, taxis, driving-school vehicles, school transport and LPG or CNG vehicles, among others) are inspected once a year, in the month that matches the last digit of their single licence plate (Article 7, first and third paragraphs).

The inspection due in a given month may also be carried out in the previous month without affecting its validity (Article 7, fourth paragraph). The first inspection of a vehicle covered by an Individual Type-Approval Certificate issued on or after 1 September 2010 is valid for two years and follows the same calendar (Article 7, fifth paragraph).

The inspection is a precondition for the circulation permit: municipalities do not grant the permit to any motor vehicle without a valid inspection or type-approval certificate, as determined by the Ministry (Traffic Act, Article 89). If the vehicle passes, the inspection station issues the certificate with a copy for renewing the circulation permit (DS 156, Article 12).

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At a glance

Frequency	Yearly, in the month matching the last digit of the plate (DS 156, Article 7, third paragraph)
Calendar	9: January · 0: February · 1: April · 2: May · 3: June · 4: July · 5: August · 6: September · 7: October · 8: November (Article 7)
Doing it early	Allowed in the previous month without affecting validity (Article 7, fourth paragraph)
New type-approved vehicle	The first inspection is valid for two years if the Individual Type-Approval Certificate was issued on or after 1 September 2010 (Article 7, fifth paragraph)
Result	Pass or fail; after a fail, the next inspection checks that the defects were fixed (Article 10)
Circulation permit	Not granted without a valid inspection or type-approval certificate (Traffic Act, Article 89)

The Ministry of Transport and Telecommunications may change the inspection frequency and calendar when circumstances call for it (DS 156, Article 7), so it is worth checking whether any extensions or changes apply in your region.

Who is responsible?

The law places the inspection obligation on the vehicle; in a company, the fleet manager usually coordinates it. For vehicles used for public passenger service or goods transport, keeping them on the road without passed inspections is a serious offence for which the owner is liable (Traffic Act, Article 200, item 26).

If the deadline passes

Driving a vehicle without a valid roadworthiness, type-approval or emissions inspection is a serious offence (Traffic Act, Article 200, item 18). A vehicle on the road without an up-to-date inspection certificate is taken off the road and placed at the disposal of the local police court (Article 56). Without a valid inspection, the municipality also will not grant the circulation permit (Article 89).

Company pickups, jeeps and vans in the Santiago Metropolitan Region

Pickups, jeeps and vans that circulate in the Metropolitan Region and were entered in the Motor Vehicle Register after 1 September 1992 in the name of a legal entity are on the six-monthly list (DS 156, Article 7, first paragraph, item vii). They must pass a second inspection, covering emissions only, six months after their calendar month (Article 7, sixth paragraph).

Tracking it with ExpirySuite

Add each vehicle and record the month of its next inspection, based on the last digit of the plate, as the expiry; if you enter the first day of that month, reminders arrive before it starts. For a company pickup, jeep or van in the Metropolitan Region, also record the emissions check six months later.
Email reminders arrive 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before expiry and on the expiry day.
The driver or garage can upload the new certificate through a secure link that is valid for 14 days and needs no account.
Assign a responsible person to each vehicle, such as the fleet manager; if an inspection expires, managers get further reminders 3, 7 and 14 days later.

Frequently asked questions

How often is a light vehicle inspected in Chile?: If it is not on the six-monthly list, once a year, in the month matching the last digit of its plate (DS 156/1990, Article 7, third paragraph).
Can I have it inspected before my month?: Yes, in the previous month, without affecting its validity (Article 7, fourth paragraph).
How long is a new vehicle's first inspection valid?: Two years, if the vehicle is covered by an Individual Type-Approval Certificate issued on or after 1 September 2010 (Article 7, fifth paragraph).
What happens if the vehicle fails?: The next inspection checks that the defects behind the fail were fixed. It is free when the fail came from tests whose results the station staff must interpret and no more than 15 calendar days have passed since the failed inspection (Article 10).

Sources

Last checked: Oct 3, 2026 · This page summarises official sources for general information and is not legal advice. Check the linked sources for current rules and fees.

Made for roadworthiness inspection, light vehicles (Chile)

A ready template for roadworthiness inspection, light vehicles (Chile) with sensible validity defaults, so you enter less and track more.

Reminders on time

Email alerts at 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before each roadworthiness inspection, light vehicles (Chile) expires, plus overdue escalation to managers.

Assign an owner

Give each roadworthiness inspection, light vehicles (Chile) an owner and let employees update their own via a secure link — no login needed.