The city of Sao Paulo comprises more than 6 million vehicles, out of which about 1.5 million are of 20-year-old vehicles, worsening even more the problem of atmospheric pollution that has been affecting the city for the last decades.

The vehicle inspection aims to reduce the pollution generated by automobiles through the verification of mechanical problems that lead to greater emission of pollutants and noise. The used methods are the ordinary checking of noise levels above the legal limits, of black smoke expelled through the exhaust as well as the measuring of levels of pollutants emitted by the car’s engine.

The yearly inspection is binding for all vehicles and a certificate will be required for the renewal of vehicle licensing. In case it is not approved, the vehicle must undergo mechanical maintenance before a new inspection. The project started in 2008 with the monitoring of diesel vehicles and part of the alcohol, natural gas and gasoline fleet. Since 2009, all vehicles must be submitted to inspection.