The Vehicle Inspection Centers will have means to verify the correct functioning of particulate filters. According to the Automobile Association of Portugal (ACAP), the Government has accepted the proposal to increase oversight of vehicles that operate without the device, but there is still no date for the implementation of this measure.
Vehicles operating without particulate filters, especially in the case of Diesel engines, may fail during the Mandatory Periodic Inspections (IPO). According to Hélder Pedro, secretary-general of ACAP, the idea is that harmful fine emissions to human health are controlled much more effectively. The state has already confirmed that it is working on the implementation of methods to enforce the decision, but has not communicated further information, although it is anticipated that the adoption of the measure will coincide with a broader process of updating inspection procedures.
Popularized in diesel vehicles as a means of reducing pollutant emissions, particulate filters require very high operating temperatures, often leading to system clogging, which causes issues such as lack of power, among other symptoms, especially when trips are short. For many drivers, the solution found to eliminate the problem is the removal of the device, which is the reason behind the request for tighter control of the equipment at the Inspection Centers – currently, opacimeters, the devices used to measure the opacity of exhaust gases, do not detect fine particle emissions.
Similarly, the disregard for recall actions, vehicle collections by manufacturers to correct safety-related issues, may lead to failures in the IPO. Launched by ACAP in December 2025, in cooperation with IMT (Institute of Mobility and Transport) and the Directorate-General for Consumers, this free online platform available at www.acap.pt allows all consumers to check for active campaigns for their vehicles.
Hélder Barata Pedro, Secretary-General of ACAP, emphasizes the importance of the platform: “Portugal has one of the lowest recall acceptance rates in Europe, as people ignore the letters communicating this or the databases of owners are outdated”. Various brands have already introduced collection actions on the platform (about 300), but it lacks a connection to the IMT network for the consolidation of the system’s operation, says the same official. Disregard for recall actions, especially those classified with severe or very severe deficiency levels, can lead to the vehicle’s failure in the IPO if the repair is not carried out.
