Owners are now facing new regulations when it comes to scheduling vehicle inspections through the Ecitizen portal, which replaced the previous TIMS system. Under the old system, vehicle owners had the flexibility to reschedule their inspections, but this is no longer the case. Once an appointment is booked and paid for on the Ecitizen platform, it is locked in, and the vehicle must be presented for inspection on the specified date.

This change was made in response to observed patterns where many vehicle owners continually rescheduled their inspection dates. As a result, numerous vehicles were perpetually booked for inspection without ever actually going through the process. The new policy aims to address this issue by enforcing stricter control over the scheduling system.

However, this rigidity can pose challenges for those who may make an error in choosing their inspection date or center. Currently, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) does not allow any modifications to the booking once it is confirmed. If an error occurs, the vehicle owner is left with few options. While NTSA doesn’t provide a way to officially alter the inspection details post-payment, they do offer a grace period. Vehicle owners are granted an additional 14 days after the original appointment date to have their vehicles inspected, providing a buffer to manage any unforeseen issues.

If missing the scheduled date or needing to change details, the most straightforward solution is to pay for a new booking. However, this is generally not recommended due to the extra costs involved. Vehicle owners are therefore advised to double-check their booking details carefully before finalizing them to avoid these complications.

Understanding these new rules is crucial for all vehicle owners to ensure compliance and to avoid unnecessary expenses and delays. The transition to Ecitizen has created a more controlled but less flexible system for vehicle inspection scheduling, which requires careful attention and planning by vehicle owners.