European legislation on TPMS imminent

It's the most topical and important issue currently under consideration within the automotive industry: TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring System).  New EU legislation will require all new-type passenger vehicles to have TPMS installed as of 1st November, and Tech Europe has developed a complete TPMS programme to satisfy all demands.

As of 1st November 2012, all new-type vehicles will be required by EU law to have a pressure based tyre pressure monitoring system installed. This applies to the road wheels, not the spare.

By November 2014, all new passenger vehicles will have to have TPMS installed by the manufacturer.

The law is not currently retrospective, and does not apply to older vehicles.

This law applies to passenger vehicles only, with no more than 7 seats.

Many car manufacturers have already introduced TPMS to their vehicles ahead of the 2012 legislation change.

Renault, Peugeot, and Citroen have fitted TPMS to some models since 2003/4.

More and more cars now have TPMS already fitted. Showrooms are full of TPMS-compliant cars.

TPMS is now part of the annual vehicle test, and applies to all newly registered cars from January 1st 2012.  This means that a car with a faulty TPMS will fail the vehicle test from January 2015.

Until 2015, a faulty TPMS will only be an advisory and be listed on the testing certificate (UK).  Different European countries may interpret the EU legislation differently.  So please refer to your own European country legislation.

There are hundreds of thousands of cars on European roads with sensors removed.  The cost of replacement is high, circa €40.00 to €80.00 for the sensor, and €65.00 for updating the ECU where required.   Rubber tyre valves are used to replace the sensor and the warning light disabled, however this practice will be prohibited on new-type 2012 cars. Insurance implications will be the same as for disabling an airbag or ABS.  Disabling a safety system on a vehicle may become an offence. 

Along with the implications of this new EU legislation, TPMS will also offer environmental benefits and increased safety, helping to optimise fuel consumption and reduce tyre wear.