Turkey is rebuilding its 20-year-old vehicle inspection system through a transformation valued at approximately £2.25 billion. The new system, operated by TURKA Vehicle Inspection, is scheduled to begin on 15 August 2027 and will run for 20 years. The project aims to overhaul testing equipment, data management, automation, and the experience for vehicle owners.

The technology is currently undergoing testing at a 2,500-square-metre Vehicle Inspection Pilot Centre in Istanbul. This five-lane facility is trialling various technologies on real vehicles, including:

• AI-assisted imaging
• Lasers and sensors
• Contactless tyre measurements
• Undercarriage and bodywork scanning
• Robotic equipment

The transition intends to make inspections more automated, detailed, and consistent to accommodate increasingly sophisticated vehicles. Under the new system, data captured by cameras and sensors will be integrated onto a central digital platform. AI systems will then assess the results before they are transmitted electronically. Contactless technology will be utilised to measure tyre tread depth and uneven wear, even while vehicles are in motion. Additionally, high-resolution cameras will provide detailed checks of a vehicle's underbody to assist in spotting problems that may be difficult to see.

System design and training

The overhaul addresses the rise of electric cars, connected vehicles, and cars fitted with driver-assistance systems, which may require more than traditional mechanical checks. The new system is being designed to handle both current vehicles and the technology expected in future cars.

Until 15 August 2027, the Istanbul Pilot Centre will function as a technology and operations laboratory. The facility will be used to test equipment and software, develop processes, and train staff. The standards established at this centre will subsequently be rolled out across Turkey.

Halis Ezer, TURKA Board Chairman, stated:

"Preparing national vehicle inspection systems for the future isn't possible simply by adding new devices to the existing structure. Technology, data management, operational standards, staff training and the vehicle owner's experience all need to be designed together. We believe this transformation, which we are implementing at full scale in Türkiye, will provide an important example for the United Kingdom and other countries working on the future of vehicle inspection systems."

Project consortium and international context

TURKA was founded by the MOI Joint Venture Group, which won an international tender in 2025. The consortium consists of:

• Turkey’s MetGün Group
• US-based Opus Group, which performs 30 million inspections annually
• Spain's Itversia Gestión, which operates to EU standards
• Argentina's VTV Norte

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) 2025–2026 business plan includes research into a future MOT system focused on connected vehicles and the potential of new technology in testing.

On 3 August 2026, the DVSA began a voluntary app trial at approximately 2,500 MOT garages across the UK. This system allows a photo of each tested vehicle to be uploaded to the MOT system to provide digital proof of testing and help combat fraud. While the Turkish plans involve different scales of digital integration, both developments indicate a shift toward inspections that rely less on manual checks and more on AI, cameras, sensors, and automated measurements.