(QCOSTARICA) — Good news from the folks at the Riteve, the vehicular inspection service, who say that for the first time in its 11 year history, the percentage of fails on first inspection declined by 23 percentage points.
In 2003, when Riteve began operations and owners had to submit their vehicles to an annual inspection, 71% or almost 3 out of 4, failed the first inspection. Last year, 2014, the first inspection failure was 48%, that is to say that only 1 in 2 vehicles don’t pass on the first time around.
The main cause of failures (rejections as Riteve likes to call it) are gas emissions, brakes and tires.
Last year, according to Riteve general manager Fernando Mayorga , 980.862 vehicles were inspected. Of that 66% were light passenger vehicles, 14% light commercial vehicles (ie vans, pickups), 9% motorcycles and the balance heavy vehicles (trucks, trailers, etc).
According to Riteve, they estimate some 114.495 vehicles, of which almost half (49%) were motorcycles, evaded the inspection. These are vehicles that are circulating without the inspection. In that number also includes vehicles no longer use and have not been unregistered.
Mayorga said that in a survey conducted by the company, the majority of users responded that they think the vehicle inspection is necessary to detect major problems in vehicles.
The Riteve says that the average age of the vehicular fleet in the country is 16 years. For heavier vehicles, such as tractor trailers, etc. the average age of vehicles is older, around 25 years.
Last year 117.759 vehicles were submitted to an inspection for the first time, vehicles entering the country, of which 52.429 or 44.5% were motorcycles. Of the other 50.941, 63% were new and 37% used.
Both new and used vehicles must be submitted to an inspection as part of the registration process.
Riteve is the only vehicle inspection service (a monopoly) in the country and has the concession until 2022.
