Artificial demand or system failure? The truth behind Uzbekistan’s car testing nightmare

Long waiting lines at the Piskent auto testing laboratory

The queue at the Piskent automobile testing laboratory in Tashkent region continues to grow.

This issue was predictable, as the laboratory's capacity is several times lower than the actual demand.

Since November 1, 2024, imported vehicles have been undergoing technical tests at the Piskent auto testing ground, rather than at customs facilities. Additionally, a new electromagnetic compatibility test for imported vehicles has been introduced at this site.

Queues for the laboratory first emerged in November, sparking public complaints. In response, authorities moved to an electronic queue system. However, simply shifting the visible queues to customs warehouses – out of public sight – has not solved the problem.

Queues disappear in seconds

On March 26, the "RASTAMOJKA" Telegram channel reported that waiting times at the Piskent testing ground had become chaotic.

"The queue opens at midnight, and within one or two minutes, all spots are gone," the channel’s author wrote, comparing the situation to the scramble for online contracts for a Cobalt car in Uzbekistan.

Another blogger described how one car owner managed to secure an April 10 appointment and celebrated as if he had won a jackpot.

"He was so happy that he could finally get tested on April 10. He had already spent 10 million soums while waiting. If he doesn’t get his certification by May, he’ll have to pay an additional $2,500."

The blogger added that auto monopolies have achieved their goal, emphasizing the role of the Technical Regulation Agency in this situation.

On March 27, the Autodeklarant Telegram channel reported that appointments were already fully booked until April 12. The queue, which opened at 00:00, was gone in just 20 seconds.

"They need to cancel these outdated vehicle inspections. In all this time, how many defective cars have they actually identified? Why do they keep testing the same models over and over again? If the first import of a model is tested, why can’t the same results apply to all subsequent imports?"

The blogger went on to compare the Technical Regulation Agency to a second car factory, saying:

"Just like local automakers, this agency forces people to wait for months before they can access their own property."

UzTest’s official response

In response to the growing concerns, the UzTest center under the Technical Regulation Agency issued an official statement.

According to the center, the electromagnetic compatibility laboratory in Piskent has the capacity to test 100-120 vehicles per day. It operates 24/7, including on public holidays.

"To prevent corruption, appointments for M1 category vehicles are now booked exclusively through the Unified Interactive Public Services Portal of Uzbekistan. The electronic queue system generates a QR code, and users must log in via the OneID system or use an electronic digital signature."

UzTest also acknowledged issues with the electronic queue system.

"Between March 20 and 25, we detected repeated, high-frequency requests from certain IP addresses, artificially overloading the system and occupying slots unfairly."

To address these issues, specialists from the Digital Government Projects Center and UZINFOCOM are working on improving security and upgrading the queue system. Currently, the system is undergoing testing.

UzTest also dismissed rumors about excessive service fees, publishing the official certification prices:

• Electric vehicles – 4,479,888 soums
• Hybrid, gasoline, and diesel cars – 5,599,888 soums

"If any additional fees are demanded beyond the official rates, please report the issue directly to the Technical Regulation Agency by calling the short number 1880," UzTest stated.

Vehicle imports plunge

Following new non-tariff restrictions on car imports last year, the number of imported vehicles has dropped sharply.

According to the Customs Committee, in January-February 2024, 17,404 passenger cars were imported. However, in the same period in 2025, this number plummeted to just 4,369 vehicles – a fourfold decrease. This means an average of only 74 imported cars per day.

A study by the Center for Economic Research and Reforms found that sales in the primary market for imported cars dropped by more than half in February compared to January.

The situation could worsen further: Starting from May 1, 2025, the utilization fee for electric vehicles will increase significantly.