CL · Expiry & renewal tracking
Never let a truck, bus or taxi in your fleet drive with an expired inspection
Goods vehicles over 1,750 kg, passenger vehicles with more than 9 seats, taxis, driving-school vehicles, school transport and LPG or CNG vehicles undergo the roadworthiness inspection every six months (DS 156/1990, Article 7). School transport aged 15 or more and urban buses aged 20 or more: every four months.
Chile's Supreme Decree 156 of 1990, issued by the Ministry of Transport and Telecommunications, sets a six-month inspection interval for passenger vehicles with more than 9 seats including the driver's; motor goods vehicles able to carry more than 1,750 kg, together with their trailers and semi-trailers; taxis; driving-school vehicles; and school transport vehicles and vehicles running on LPG or CNG (Article 7, first paragraph, items i to v). For vehicles converted to CNG or LPG and approved by an inspection station, the six months to the next inspection run from the date of that conversion inspection (Article 7, first paragraph, item v).
New taxis and school transport vehicles, even when covered by an electronic Individual Type-Approval Certificate, must have their first roadworthiness inspection, including the emissions check, twelve months after that certificate was issued (Article 7, second paragraph). School transport vehicles aged 15 years or more and urban public transport buses aged 20 years or more are inspected every 4 months (Article 7, last paragraph).
The result is either pass or fail; after a fail, the next inspection checks that the defects were fixed (Article 10). The station issues a certificate with the result and, if the vehicle passed, a copy for renewing the circulation permit (Article 12). Municipalities do not grant a circulation permit to any motor vehicle without a valid inspection or type-approval certificate, and the document must always be carried in the vehicle and be valid (Traffic Act, Article 89).
At a glance
| Frequency | Every 6 months (DS 156, Article 7, first paragraph) |
|---|---|
| Vehicles covered | Passenger vehicles with more than 9 seats including the driver's; goods vehicles over 1,750 kg with their trailers and semi-trailers; taxis; driving-school vehicles; school transport; LPG or CNG vehicles (Article 7, first paragraph, items i to v) |
| New taxi or school transport vehicle | First inspection, with emissions, 12 months after the electronic Individual Type-Approval Certificate was issued (Article 7, second paragraph) |
| Every 4 months | School transport vehicles aged 15 or more and urban public transport buses aged 20 or more (Article 7, last paragraph) |
| Vehicle converted to CNG or LPG | The 6 months to the next inspection run from the inspection that approved the conversion (Article 7, first paragraph, item v) |
| 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, and may add further emissions checks (DS 156, Article 7), so it is worth checking whether any extensions or changes apply in your region.
Who is responsible?
The inspection obligation attaches to the vehicle; in a company, the fleet manager usually coordinates it. Keeping a vehicle used for public passenger service or goods transport on the road without passed inspections is a serious offence for which the owner is liable (Traffic Act, Article 200, item 26). If the offence of driving without a valid inspection is committed by a driver who is not the owner of a public passenger or goods vehicle, the driver receives the penalty for a minor offence and it is not recorded in the National Driver Register (Article 200, last paragraph).
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), as is providing public passenger service with a vehicle that failed the inspection or whose inspection was not done on time (Article 200, item 21). 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
Even below 1,750 kg, 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 also on the six-monthly list (DS 156, Article 7, first paragraph, item vii). They have their yearly inspection by the last digit of the plate and, six months later, a second inspection covering emissions only (Article 7, third and sixth paragraphs).
Tracking it with ExpirySuite
- Add each truck, bus, taxi, trailer or semi-trailer and record as the expiry the date six months after the last passed inspection; if the station's certificate shows a validity date, use that. For a new taxi or school transport vehicle, record twelve months from the issue of the Individual Type-Approval Certificate.
- 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 truck inspected in Chile?
- Motor goods vehicles able to carry more than 1,750 kg, together with their trailers and semi-trailers, are inspected every six months (DS 156/1990, Article 7, first paragraph, item ii).
- Are buses and taxis also inspected every six months?
- Yes. Passenger vehicles with more than 9 seats including the driver's, and taxis, are on the six-monthly list (Article 7, first paragraph, items i and iii). Urban public transport buses aged 20 years or more are inspected every 4 months (Article 7, last paragraph).
- Does a new taxi need an inspection?
- Yes. Even with an electronic Individual Type-Approval Certificate, its first inspection, including the emissions check, takes place twelve months after that certificate was issued (Article 7, second paragraph).
- What happens if the vehicle fails?
- The next inspection checks that the defects 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
- Decreto 156 de 1990 (Ministerio de Transportes y Telecomunicaciones), reglamenta revisiones técnicas: artículos 7, 10 y 12 (LeyChile, BCN)
- DFL 1 de 2007, texto refundido de la Ley de Tránsito 18.290: artículos 56, 89 y 200 (LeyChile, BCN)
Last checked: Oct 7, 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, trucks over 1,750 kg, buses and taxis (Chile)
A ready template for roadworthiness inspection, trucks over 1,750 kg, buses and taxis (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, trucks over 1,750 kg, buses and taxis (Chile) expires, plus overdue escalation to managers.
Assign an owner
Give each roadworthiness inspection, trucks over 1,750 kg, buses and taxis (Chile) an owner and let employees update their own via a secure link — no login needed.