Starting July 1, 2026, under the new Circular No. 30/2026/TT-BXD issued by the Ministry of Construction, not all motorcycles will need to be taken to inspection centers for emission testing. The regulations outline clear conditions under which owners can avoid this requirement.

According to the new rules, motorcycles that are undergoing their first inspection and are less than five years old do not need to be brought to an inspection center if they meet certain criteria. These include that the motorcycle has not undergone any engine modifications or changes to the emission control system, and that the vehicle's information is already available in the database of the Vietnam Register.

In such cases, owners only need to submit the required documents. Upon receipt, the inspection center will review the documentation and provide results within a maximum of four working hours. If the documents are valid, the center will issue an electronic emission inspection certificate. If not, the center will notify the owner to make necessary corrections.

Conversely, the Circular specifies situations where motorcycles must be taken to inspection centers for direct emission testing. This includes motorcycles that are being inspected for the first time but have been in use for over five years, those that have had engine modifications, or those lacking information in the Vietnam Register database. Additionally, motorcycles undergoing periodic inspections or those with temporary registration certificates are also required to be brought in.

For these cases, once the documents are received and verified, the inspection center will inform the owner of the inspection schedule. The inspection process will involve matching the vehicle with its documentation, checking all emission components according to national technical standards, and photographing the vehicle for record-keeping.

Upon completion of the inspection, if the vehicle meets the requirements, an electronic emission inspection certificate will be issued. If it fails, the center will communicate the results and update the vehicle's status in the Vietnam Register management software. Once the owner rectifies the issues and passes the re-inspection, the vehicle's failure status will be removed from the system.

The Circular also allows citizens to choose any inspection center nationwide for these procedures. Documents can be submitted online via the National Public Service Portal, through the Vietnam Register's inspection application, in person, or via postal service.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister has issued Decision No. 13/2026/QD-TTg, which outlines the timeline for implementing national technical standards for motorcycle emissions. The timeline for emission testing for motorcycles in urban traffic is as follows: starting July 1, 2027, in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City; July 1, 2028, for other central cities; and July 1, 2030, for remaining provinces. Depending on actual conditions, provinces may implement these deadlines sooner.