Abolition of testing on LPG tanks
Following rumours coming from the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, now it's official: testing on LPG tanks will no longer be necessary.
Which law has been amended?
The Decree of the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport 8th January 2021, in compliance to Art. 49 par. g) of law n.120, defines some operations released from the obligation of testing carried out by the operators of Department of Motor Vehicles.
It is actually a modification to the Art. 78 of Highway Code which provided a new testing in case of any change to the manufacturing and operating features of a vehicle, to assure the compliance to the laws in force and the good and workmanlike manner work. In case of positive result, vehicle registration certificate is updated according to the new features.
Now, this new law says testing are no longer necessary in certain circumstances.
Which are those circumstances?
As indicated by enclosure A of the Decree, activities involved in the new procedure are:
1) Replacement of LPG tanks of bi-fuel or mono-fuel supply systems;
2) Trailer towing hitch installation on M1 and N1 vehicles;
3) Installation of driving school dual controls;
4) Installation of disabled drivers’ special controls.
What are the authorised installers?
Installers authorised to realise the operations mentioned above will keep an activity log that will be endorsed by an officer of Department of Motor Vehicles. Then the driver must require the related label to be applied on car documents.
Workshops realising modifications must be registered in mechatronic category (according to law n.122/92 and following amendments) and should register to dedicated offices of Department of Motor Vehicles to be identified by an alphanumeric code.
What are the advantages?
The new law will streamline Department of Motor Vehicles procedures, reducing waiting times for LPG tanks replacement testing.
Good news for the alternative fuels field, as Department long waiting times and difficulties had a negative impact on drivers’ decisions, and consequently on the environment.
Back to the Decree…
Registered installers can replace an LPG tank sending to the Department of Motor Vehicles a declaration about the work made; the Department will control that procedure is compliant to the decree instructions.
On the other hand, the driver must require to the same Department the update of car documents within 30 days from the date of modification, receiving a label to be applied on vehicle registration certificate.
