The import of right-hand drive and hybrid cars to Russia may be suspended. The reason is the non-compliance of low beam headlights, which does not meet the requirements for right-hand traffic.
According to the Telegram channel Mash, in February 2025, several testing laboratories in Vladivostok lost their accreditation to issue SBKTS and EPTS.
- SBKTS — vehicle design safety certificate.
- EPTS — electronic vehicle passport.
One of the laboratories appealed to the court, challenging the decision of Rosaccreditation. After an unscheduled inspection, the agency revoked at least ten previously issued SBKTS for right-hand drive and hybrid cars.
The Arbitration Court of the Primorsky Territory upheld the position of Rosaccreditation: cars must be checked for compliance with the 13th requirement of Appendix No. 8, which had not been applied before.
The requirement includes checking the low beam headlights for compliance with right-hand traffic and a ban on conversion for left-hand traffic. Cars with the left headlight shining brighter than the right or with unacceptable conversion do not receive safety certificates.
The situation is more complicated with hybrid cars: they must be checked for emissions using special devices at idle. Since hybrids on battery cannot pass the test in this mode, such cars also do not receive SBKTS.
As Mash writes, in the current conditions, laboratories will not be able to fulfill the new requirements, and already issued SBKTS can be revoked, which makes the import of right-hand drive and hybrid cars virtually impossible.
Read materials on the topic:
- "Right-handers" can breathe a sigh of relief: the Ministry of Internal Affairs denied plans to ban right-hand drive cars in Russia
- With right-hand drive: Lada Riva based on VAZ-2105 1991 is sold in Moscow
- Not right: the Ministry of Internal Affairs is considering banning the use of right-hand drive cars
