The Riigikogu passed an Act to reduce the number of end-of-life vehicles

The Act on Amendments to the Waste Act and Amendments to Other Associated Acts (461 SE), initiated by the Government, is connected with the Motor Vehicle Tax Act which also provides for taxation of vehicles the registry entry for which has been suspended but which cannot be deleted from the register in certain cases under the current regulation.

According to the Act, it will be possible to delete from the register vehicles that no longer exist or are unaccounted for. In 2025, the deletion of such vehicles from the register will be free of state fee, while a state fee of EUR 15 will have to be paid in 2026. In 2025 and 2026, a vehicle can be deleted from the register in this way if the registry entry for the vehicle has been suspended or if the vehicle has been temporarily deleted and has not passed a roadworthiness test for at least the last two years. From 2027, the state fee for deleting a destroyed or unaccounted-for vehicle from the register will be EUR 800. If a vehicle is handed over to a waste handler, the vehicle will be deleted from the register free of charge on the basis of a certificate of destruction.

From 2025, registry entries for vehicles will no longer be automatically suspended. The aim is to nudge owners to decide what to do with a vehicle that is not being used – whether to transfer it, take it to a scrap yard or temporarily delete it from the register in order to put it back into service later.

According to the Act, it will be possible to tow a parked vehicle from a public road if it does not have a registration plate, if the vehicle has not been registered for more than three months or if the vehicle is not complete, i.e. if it is a “scrap vehicle”. In addition to the right of the police and local authorities to tow vehicles the Transport Board is also given the right to tow vehicles in the case of national roads.

The Riigikogu also amended the Motor Vehicle Tax Act to specify the taxation of vehicles that are temporarily deleted and the registry entry for which is suspended. Such vehicles will be subject to a transitional period until the end of 2026 during which they will not be taxed. An amendment specifies that if a temporary deletion is terminated or a registry entry is reinstated, the motor vehicle tax will be due from the date of entry of the vehicle in the active part of the motor register to the end of the year.

Parliament also included a provision in the Act under which vehicles temporarily deleted from the motor register will be exempted from motor vehicle tax starting in 2027, in order to exempt from the tax burden persons who are not using their vehicle for a longer period due to it being restored, for example. If a temporary deletion is terminated, the tax will be due for the entire current year.

As of 1 November 2026, vehicles the registry entry for which has been suspended for more than seven years as of 1 July of the same year will be automatically deleted from the register. If the owner knows the location of the vehicle, they will have to have a roadworthiness test for the vehicle and insure it, temporarily delete the vehicle from the register or hand it over to a waste handler for destruction. A fine is provided for failure to perform the act.

In order to organize the register, the Transport Administration will have the right to temporarily delete vehicles from it if at least one year has elapsed since the death of the owner or at least one month has elapsed since the owner who is a legal person was deleted from the register. Since temporarily deleted vehicles are deemed to be unregistered vehicles and their use in traffic is not allowed, this should motivate the users and owners of such vehicles to update registry entries more quickly.

The Act creates the possibility for over-30-year-old vehicles with historical value to be deleted for up to five years, and vintage vehicles for the entire period of recognition as vintage vehicles. The status of a vintage vehicle must be renewed every 12 years. Vehicles of historical value will have to be stored in facilities with a rainproof and impermeable surface to avoid environmental disturbance.

End-of-life vehicles that have been deleted from the motor register will have to be handed over to a waste handler holding an environmental protection permit who has a contract with the producer or a producers’ responsibility organisation.

During the debate, Andres Metsoja took the floor on behalf of Isamaa Parliamentary Group, Rain Epler on behalf of the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group, Lauri Laats on behalf of the Estonian Centre Party Group, Igor Taro on behalf of Estonia 200 Parliamentary Group and Anti Allas on behalf of the Social Democratic Party Group.

50 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Act and 16 were against it.

The second reading of a Bill was concluded

The Bill on Amendments to the Status of Member of Riigikogu Act (545 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Lauri Hussar, Toomas Kivimägi and Arvo Aller and Estonia 200 Parliamentary Group, the Social Democratic Party Parliamentary Group, the Estonian Reform Party Parliamentary Group and the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Parliamentary Group, passed the second reading.

The Bill will provide for lowering the upper limit for the reimbursement of work-related expenses of members of Riigikogu from 30 per cent to 25 percent of the salary of the members of the Riigikogu which is currently EUR 5,979.95. The salary of members of the Riigikogu changes on April 1 every year as a result of indexation.

As a result of the amendment proposed by the Bill it will be possible for the state to save approximately 400,000 euro annually. In the opinion of the initiators of the bill, reducing the limit for the reimbursement of work-related expenses of members of Riigikogu by one-sixth is reasonable, and the work of the 15th Riigikogu will not suffer as a result. Work-related expenses are reimbursed on the basis of expense receipts.

If the Act is passed, it is planned to enter into force on 1 January 2025.

The Riigikogu heard presentations by the Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs

Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs Liisa Pakosta presented to the Riigikogu a report on the implementation of “The Fundamentals of Criminal Policy until 2030”.

Pakosta said that right choices had been made in criminal policy for years and by and large our society was safe. She stated, however, that while crime had been on a downward trend in Estonia for over a decade, the number of recorded crimes had started to rise in 2023, and the total number of recorded crimes was continuing to grow this year as well. “Scams account for the largest part of the growth,” said Pakosta, pointing out the significant increase in computer scams and scam calls.

In her presentation, the minister also focused on juvenile delinquency. She pointed out that offences by minors were on a downward trend but recidivism among young people released from prison was high. At the same time, the minister emphasized the importance of prevention in her presentation.

Pakosta also addressed issues related to addiction disorders. She noted that harms from drug use, including overdoses, were on the rise. Speaking about drunk driving, she said that such offences had decreased. She pointed out that, since last year, first-time offenders were given the opportunity to change their behaviour without having their driving privileges revoked.

Pakosta also said that the use of digital solutions had made procedures faster for people, including in the case of international procedures.

During the debate, Jaanus Karilaid took the floor on behalf Isamaa Parliamentary Group, Anti Haugas on behalf of the Estonian Reform Party Group, Andre Hanimägi on behalf of the Social Democratic Party Group, Kert Kingo on behalf of the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group and Igor Taro on behalf of the Estonia 200 Parliamentary Group. Minister Liisa Pakosta also took the floor.

The Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs also gave to the Riigikogu an overview of the implementation of “The Fundamentals of Legislative Drafting Policy until 2030” in 2023, focusing on the legislative situation in Estonia.

According to Pakosta, 64 percent of existing laws were amended last year, which is worrying and indicates that more stable legislation is needed, as amending laws too often reduces trust in the state and burdens both people and businesses.

In her presentation, the minister also talked about the problems related to the involvement of interest groups. According to her, interest groups are often involved too late and given too little time to express their opinion. According to Pakosta, in the case of bills related to the state budget, the average coordination time last year was only five days, which is not enough time to discuss complex issues.

In her presentation, Pakosta also highlighted examples of good legislation and acknowledged that all drafts and legislative intents were public, and everyone could express their opinion. According to her, a feedback loop between ministries is also important in the interests of better legislation. She also stressed the importance of the constitutionality and constitutional review of legislation.

During the debate, Varro Vooglaid took the floor on behalf of the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group, Igor Taro on behalf of Estonia 200 Parliamentary Group and Riina Solman on behalf of Isamaa Parliamentary Group. Minister Liisa Pakosta also took the floor.

During the open microphone Igor Taro from Estonia 200 Parliamentary Group and Rain Epler and Anti Poolamets from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Parliamentary Group took the floor.

After the sitting, it is planned to form the Estonia-Syria Parliamentary Friendship Group on the initiative of Eerik-Niiles Kross.

The sitting ended at 6.45 p.m.

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)

Video recording will be available to watch later on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.

Riigikogu Press Service
Merilin Kruuse
+372 631 6592; +372 510 6179
merilin.kruuse@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: The Riigikogu passed an Act to reduce the number of end-of-life vehicles

Source: Parliament of Estonia