Preparing for a vehicle inspection does not mean repairing the car yourself. The aim is to spot simple issues beforehand and make sure the inspector has the information needed. In 2025, more than 2.18 million periodic inspections of passenger cars were carried out in Finland, and 30% resulted in rejection. A quick check at home cannot prevent every rejection, but many everyday faults are easy to spot in advance.
A quick walk around the car, a light check and a look at the dashboard take only a few minutes. If you notice an obvious fault, you still have time to deal with it before the inspection.
Interactive checklist
1. Lights: check more than the headlights
Check dipped beam, main beam, position lights, indicators, brake lights and number-plate lights. You can test the brake lights with another person or by using a wall in the dark.
2. Tyres: condition, pressure, size and season
Look at each tyre separately. Check for uneven wear, cuts, bulges and foreign objects. Traficom states that the statutory minimum tread depth in the main grooves is 1.6 mm for summer tyres and 3.0 mm for winter tyres.
If the car has tyres or wheels that differ from the original specification, check that the size is permitted for the vehicle. An unsuitable size can affect handling, speedometer accuracy and whether the vehicle meets its requirements. For a significant change, also check whether a modification inspection is required.
3. Visibility: windscreen, wipers and washers
Clean the windscreen inside and out. Test the wipers and washer system. The significance of windscreen damage depends, among other things, on its location and extent.
4. Dashboard: do not hide the symptom
If a warning light remains on, check the cause in the owner’s manual or with a repair shop. Clearing a fault code without fixing the underlying issue does not remove the problem itself.
5. The previous inspection report can tell you a lot
If the previous inspection included repair remarks, check that they have been dealt with. If you are unsure when the car is due for inspection, check the vehicle details before booking.
Ready?
A home check does not replace the official inspection and does not guarantee a pass. It does, however, help you arrive better prepared.
Traficom: 2025 inspection statistics and Traficom: summer and winter tyres. Also SK Katsastus’ own social-media post on checking tyre size, 16 June 2026. Information checked on 29 September 2026.