Booking a Vehicle Inspection in Serbia: Why the Phone Still Dominates—and What That Means for You

Translation to English

Every year, around the same time, the same scenario repeats itself. Your registration is about to expire, you need to get a technical inspection, and the first step is – hunting for a phone number. Sounds familiar? A new study by students of the Faculty of Transport and Traffic Engineering, University of Belgrade, shows you're not the exception. In fact, you're the rule.

A survey conducted among 29 technical inspection centers of various sizes across Serbia reveals a clear picture: even though we live in an era when almost everything can be booked online – from a haircut to a flight – getting a technical inspection is still, to a large extent, a phone-call affair.

The phone is still the main booking channel

According to the survey results, at 62.1% of the technical inspection centers surveyed, appointments are booked by phone, directly through the manager. Another 34.5% use a front-desk clerk, while only 34.5% of surveyed centers use the internet as a booking channel.

For you as a driver, this means something very concrete: to book an inspection, you most likely have to call the center during its working hours, wait for someone to pick up, and hope they can offer you a time slot that works for you.

But what if you remember your registration is due on a Sunday evening?

When you remember your registration outside working hours

The research shows that 58.6% of technical inspection centers receive client calls outside of working hours. In other words, drivers rarely remember their registration exactly when the center happens to be open.

This creates an awkward situation for both sides. As a driver, you either have to wait until the next day to even try to book a slot, or risk forgetting and delaying the whole process. On the other side, employees at technical inspection centers end up fielding calls outside working hours, because the phone is the only channel they have.

Online booking solves this problem in the simplest possible way – you can reserve a slot whenever it suits you, regardless of whether the center is currently open.

Why appointments are usually booked at the last minute

The survey further shows that as many as 59% of appointments are booked one or two days in advance, while only 10.3% are reserved two to three weeks ahead. That's understandable – as long as the only booking method is a phone call, there's little incentive to think ahead about a time slot when you have to call the center anyway.

When booking is available at your fingertips, at any time, behavior naturally shifts: it becomes easier to reserve a slot as soon as you get a reminder that your registration is expiring in a few weeks, instead of waiting until the last moment.

Do you know when your registration expires? On autokonekt.rs you can find a technical inspection center near you and check available time slots without a phone call – any time of day.

Recommendations still lead, but they don't solve everything

Interestingly, as many as 96.6% of surveyed technical inspection centers cite word-of-mouth recommendations as their main source of new clients. The internet is cited as a channel by 31%, and location by 20.7% of respondents.

This confirms something every driver intuitively knows – we choose a technical inspection center we trust, most often based on the experience of family, friends, or neighbors. That part of the story likely won't change, nor should it.

What is changing is what happens after the recommendation. When someone recommends a technical inspection center to you, the next step no longer has to be searching for a phone number and hoping someone answers. Instead, it's enough to open a platform like AutoKonekt, find the recommended center, and check available time slots – without a single phone call.

No-shows and forgotten appointments – a problem that affects drivers too

The research shows that 79.3% of technical inspection centers occasionally experience clients who don't show up for their booked appointment. That may sound like the center's problem, but drivers bear the consequences too – since that same missed slot could have gone to another client waiting in line.

The good news is that 89.7% of technical inspection centers already send some form of reminder to clients. A system that, alongside the reminder, also offers a simple way to confirm, reschedule, or cancel an appointment – with one click, no phone call – reduces no-shows and makes planning easier for everyone.

Browse the partner network in one place. At autokonekt.rs/lokacije you'll find technical inspection centers, auto repair shops, tire shops, and car washes in your city.

Registration is more than just one inspection

The research also shows that all surveyed technical inspection centers offer insurance services and registration renewal, and some also help with trips to the police administration (MUP) or issuing the green card. For a driver, this means a technical inspection center is often not just a place to check whether your vehicle is roadworthy, but also a place where much of the registration paperwork gets handled.

Still, if you need a minor repair, a tire change, or a car wash before the inspection, few technical inspection centers offer all of that in one place – only 31% of surveyed centers say they provide additional automotive services. That's why connecting technical inspection centers with auto repair shops, tire shops, and car washes within the same partner network makes sense: the driver resolves everything needed before registration faster, instead of having to search for each service separately.

What this means for you as a driver

If you've ever been frustrated waiting for someone to pick up the phone while trying to book a technical inspection, you're not alone – the data confirms it. The good news is that this picture is slowly changing. More and more technical inspection centers are opening up to digital booking channels, and platforms like AutoKonekt let you find a center, check time slots, and book an appointment without a single phone call.

Next time your registration is about to expire, you might not need a phone at all – just a few clicks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I book a technical inspection online in Serbia?
A growing number of technical inspection centers in Serbia offer online booking, although a large portion of appointments are still arranged by phone. Platforms like AutoKonekt make it easier to find centers that offer this option.

Why is it hard to get a technical inspection appointment by phone outside working hours?
According to the Faculty of Transport and Traffic Engineering research, most technical inspection centers still book appointments exclusively by phone during working hours, so calls made outside that window often go unanswered.

How far in advance should I book a technical inspection?
While in practice most appointments are booked one or two days in advance, it's recommended to book several weeks before your registration expires to avoid crowds and have a wider choice of time slots.

What happens if I miss my booked technical inspection appointment?
Missing a booked appointment frees up a slot that could have gone to another driver. If you know you won't make it, it's best to cancel or reschedule as soon as you find out.

Do technical inspection centers offer services beyond checking the vehicle?
Most technical inspection centers in Serbia also offer registration renewal and insurance, and some assist with additional paperwork. For services like repairs, tire work, or car washing, drivers are usually referred to partner service providers.

Source: Research conducted by students of the Faculty of Transport and Traffic Engineering, University of Belgrade, based on a sample of 29 technical inspection centers (April 2026). Note: the sample is small, and the results do not represent the views of all technical inspection centers in Serbia, but rather tendencies observed among the surveyed participants.