ian.viles@ntlworld.com writes:
> While we are on the subject could any of our non USA based listers
> comment on car inspection, emission testing, license plate, drivers
> licensing?
I'll pick up the gauntlet - and answer for Sweden...
> Are these safety inspection centers run by the government or local
> garages?
In Sweden the inspection centres are run by a company owned by a mixed
conglomerate of transportation interests; [Why make it simple?! ;-) ]
The Royal Swedish government 52%
the Auto insurance companies Association 12%
the Automotive sale and manufacturing companies organization 12%
the Swedish Motorists Association 5%
the Swedish Teetotal Motorists Association 5%
the Royal Swedish Automobile Club 5%
the Swedish Taxi Owners Association 3%
the Swedish Lorry owners association 3%
the Swedish Bus Operators Association 3%
They operate centres all over the country [with monopoly status in
their area]. The annual check of a car consists of emissions testing,
brakes testing, structural integrity, tyre threads, lights [operation
and adjustment], safety belts, horns, wipers/washers etc.
Cost for the test is currently SEK 300 [~USD 33.30]
Cars 30 years or older do this check bi-annually.
Emissions testing is done by an idle test at ordinary idle rpm and a
test at 'high idle' [What a term!!!] meaning 2500 rpm without any load.
Cars 30 years or older only do the low idle test.
Most carburettor cars struggle with the high idle test, injection cars
with catcons usually don't [if they were once built to cope with this
regulation and are in a good running order].
A car, motorcycle or lorry are issued with its set of license plates
at first registration. The plates and its combination of letters and
figures then follow the car for its life span. [The combination is re-
used 3 to 5 years after the vehicle was recycled.] The license plates
doesn't have anything to do with the taxation and/or insurance of the
vehicle in question.
'Personal license plates' can be bought [for a period of ten years] for
SEK 6000 [~USD 670]. Follow the owner and can be transferred to his new
car when car ownership is transffered/traded...
[btw I had ODDONE for the first ten years the scheme was in effect but
didn't renew. - It was nice to be the first on the block etc...]
Annual road tax is paid for the right to use the roads. The car can be
laid up and then no tax have to be paid.
Drivers licenses are issued with a driving test administrated by the
government. Tight needles eye to pass with both a long theoretical and
an advanced practical driving test done in traffic on public roads and
on ice road circuits - but when you've got your license it's yours for
life. [Provided you don't get caught speeding or committing some other
offence - then they revoke the license. ] The design of the license is
a common European Union decision stating:
issuing country:
the class of vehicles it's valid for:
A Motorcycle, B Car, C Lorry, D Bus, E Heavy trailer.
the name of the person: First and Last name
the signature, and face picture, of the person:
the date of birth and country of birth:
the date of issue:
[A new card is issued every ten years with a new picture on it.]
The heavy classes C and D are renewed every ten years after a medical
check up.
The cost of acquiring a drivers license is somewhere in the SEK 10,000
to 20,000 area - including the driving training and tests [~USD1100
to 2200] Renewal of the heavy ones cost around 1/20th of the above.
95 RON UL Petrol is currently SEK 9.20/~USD 1.027 per litre. That's
~USD 3.889 per US gallon... Petrol tax amounts to roughly 75% of the
price at the tap. The tax is directed straight into the government
black hole, no earmarked money there...
Each time a new car is sold the 25% 'value added sales tax' is sent
to the government, and into the black hole. Importing a used car from
another EU country [for personal use only!] is nowadays tax excempt.
So many people buy their cars down in Germany for instance. The sheer
volume of the market is so much larger there - and prices lower...
Insurance of classic/hobby cars is not costly over here though...
As an example; I pay SEK 478 [~USD 53] per year for my TR8, with un-
limited mileage and full coverage. That is roughly 1/5th of what my
everyday car costs...
Regards
/Odd
---
Odd Hedberg
Pomonagatan 4 International liaison secretary, TR8-rep.,
SE-74236 Vsthammar Registerverdare, MHRF-ansvarig mm mm
Sweden Triumph Club of Sweden
'70 Spitfire Mk3 FD82497LO Signal Red
'80 TR8 DHC EFi TPZDV8AT211468 Midas Gold
E-mail: odd@triumphclub.se
Club URL: http://www.triumphclub.se
Home Phone/Fax/Mobile: Int+ 46-17317131 / 46-17318131 / 46-706917131
Geographical Position: N 60deg 15min 03.5sec E 18deg 23min 40.4sec
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