What A-Katsastus does

A-Katsastus is Finland's leading provider of statutory vehicle inspections, vehicle registrations, and driver licence examinations, operating a nationwide network of approximately 100 service stations from Hanko to Ivalo. The company is a private entity headquartered in Helsinki (Valimotie 9-11, 00380 Helsinki) and operates as part of the Tradeka-konserni cooperative group, with wholly owned subsidiaries K1 Katsastajat Oy and Ajovarma Oy. Ajovarma handles Traficom-authorised driving licence theory and practical examinations and traffic permit issuance at nearly 100 localities, with services typically co-located at A-Katsastus stations.

The service portfolio centres on periodic vehicle inspections (määräaikaiskatsastus) and registrations granted under statutory authority from Traficom (the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), augmented by Traficom-approved certified-expert statements across nine vehicle-compliance categories including underrun protection, brake systems, tyre-pressure monitoring, cyber attack assessment, lamp installations, masses and dimensions, bus body structures, and software updates. Proprietary diagnostic offerings include Autotohtori, a ~100-checkpoint condition inspection for combustion vehicles, and the newer eAutotohtori service for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles that integrates Aviloo State-of-Health (SOH) battery measurement via OBD and a comparison benchmark against a database of similar vehicles. Supporting services include Muistakatsastus.fi inspection reminders, BG carbon-deposit removal (€45) and interior-disinfection (€32), teaching-vehicle inspections (€29), electronic parking discs, screenwash fluids, wiper blades, and oils.

Revenue is generated almost entirely through transaction fees: statutory inspection prices (which include a €2.73 Traficom statutory fee), Traficom-set driving examination fees (VAT-exempt), registration and licence-plate fees, optional add-on inspections, and consumables/hardware sales at stations. Distribution is conducted exclusively through the physical station network, complemented by self-serve online booking via ajanvaraus.a-katsastus.fi and national phone lines. Customer segments are primarily private vehicle owners, with a secondary corporate fleet segment serviced via dedicated invoicing and bulk registration handling. The company holds ISO 9001 certification, GDPR compliance, and WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility compliance, and operates under Finnish-origin branding (Avainlippu).

Name

A-Katsastus

Legal name

A-Katsastus Oy

Website

https://a-katsastus.fi

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

A-Katsastus is Finland's leading vehicle inspection, registration, and driving examination provider, operating approximately 100 nationwide service stations under Traficom authorisation. The company serves Finnish private vehicle owners and corporate fleets through statutory inspections, registrations, driver licences (via Ajovarma), and value-added services including the eAutotohtori EV-specific condition inspection.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vehicle Inspection Services

NAICS

Automotive Repair and Maintenance (8111), Specialized Automotive Repair (811114), All Other Automotive Repair and Maintenance (811198)

SIC

Services-Automotive Repair, Services & Parking (7500), Wholesale-Motor Vehicles & Motor Vehicle Parts & Supplies (5010)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Point Inspections & Safety Checks (DVIR/Annual/Periodic) (TLAKAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

DOT/Annual Vehicle Safety Inspections & Roadworthiness Certification (TLAKANAJ), DOT / Regulatory Compliance Inspections & Certifications (FMCSA/State) (TLAKAGAC), Container/Chassis Inspection, Certification & Compliance Services (CSC, IICL, DOT/FMCSA) (TLAKACAK)

Keywords

• Vehicle inspection services
• Statutory vehicle inspections
• Vehicle registration services
• Driving examination services
• Automotive condition assessment

Headquarters

HQ city

Helsinki

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Statutory Vehicle Inspections: Fees charged for periodic (määräaikaiskatsastus) and other legally mandated vehicle inspections. Prices vary by service point and time, and include Traficom's statutory fee of €2.73. This is a recurring, per-transaction revenue stream driven by mandatory vehicle inspection intervals set by law.
2. Driving Examinations (Ajovarma): Ajovarma Oy receives and processes driving licence examinations and traffic permit applications under Traficom authority. Prices are set per the Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communications fee regulation and are not subject to VAT.
3. Vehicle Registrations and Administrative Services: Fees for vehicle registration, de-registration (liikennekäytöstä poisto), commissioning (liikennekäytöstäotto), licence plate issuance, and related administrative services performed at service stations.
4. Autotohtori and eAutotohtori Vehicle Condition Inspections: Fee-for-service vehicle condition inspections offered to private buyers and sellers of used vehicles. Autotohtori (combustion) is priced at €79 during inspection or €99 standalone. eAutotohtori (electric/hybrid) is separately priced. These are optional, non-statutory services that augment core inspection revenue.
5. Vehicle Accessories and Consumables: Sale of wiper blades, screenwash fluids, engine oils, light bulbs, electronic parking discs (Park Lite, Park Micro), and BG automotive maintenance products (carbon deposit removal, disinfection). Products sold at service stations with free installation for some items.
6. BG Maintenance Services: BG Carbon deposit removal service (€45) and BG Car interior disinfection service (€32) provided at inspection stations. These are fee-for-service add-ons that complement the core inspection offering.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

A-Katsastus conducts Traficom-authorised statutory periodic vehicle inspections and vehicle registration services (ownership changes, decommissioning/commissioning, licence plates, boat registrations, insurance transactions) at approximately 100 service stations across Finland. Through its wholly-owned subsidiary Ajovarma Oy, it administers Traficom-authorised driver licence theory and practical examinations and road traffic permits at nearly 100 co-located service points. The offering is extended by fee-based, value-added vehicle condition assessment services (Autotohtori for combustion vehicles and eAutotohtori for electric/hybrid vehicles), plus on-site automotive consumables sales and maintenance services such as BG carbon deposit removal and interior disinfection.

Product overview

A-Katsastus is Finland's leading provider of vehicle inspection, registration, and related automotive services. The company operates a nationwide network offering core katsastuspalvelut (vehicle inspection services) and rekisteröintipalvelut (vehicle registration services) alongside subsidiary Ajovarma for driving license examinations. The product portfolio includes condition inspection add-ons: Autotohtori for combustion engine vehicles and eAutotohtori for electric and hybrid vehicles. Additional services include Muistakatsastus.fi (inspection reminder), BG Karstanpoistopalvelu (carbon deposit removal), BG car interior disinfection, opetusajoneuvon tarkastuspalvelu (teaching vehicle inspection), hyväksytty asiantuntija (certified expert statements), and autotarvikkeet (car equipment/accessories). The ecosystem provides a unified service platform for vehicle owners across Finland.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Autotohtori: Vehicle condition inspection service for combustion engine vehicles, covering over 100 inspection points
• eAutotohtori
• Muistakatsastus.fi
• Autotohtori
• Autotohtori

Products and services

• Katsastuspalvelut (Vehicle Inspection Services) Statutory periodic vehicle inspections (määräaikaiskatsastus) and other legally mandated inspections carried out under Traficom authorisation at A-Katsastus service stations across Finland for passenger cars, vans, campers, moped cars, heavy vehicles and quad bikes.
• Rekisteröintipalvelut (Vehicle Registration Services) Vehicle registration services covering ownership changes (omistajanvaihdokset), decommissioning and commissioning (liikennekäytöstä poisto / otto), licence plate issuance, boat registration, and associated insurance transactions performed at A-Katsastus service stations.
• Autotohtori Optional ~60-minute condition inspection for combustion-engine passenger cars and vans (up to 3,500 kg) covering nearly 100 checkpoints including brake fluid boiling point, coolant freeze resistance, tyre pressure and tread, and operation of all electrical equipment — priced at €99 standalone or €79 when booked with a periodic inspection, and used by both used-car buyers and sellers.
• eAutotohtori Specialized condition inspection for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles combining Aviloo SOH (State of Health) battery measurement via OBD connector with chassis inspection for battery pack damage, wiring inspection, and precise undercarriage photography, plus an Aviloo comparison analysis benchmarked against a database of similar vehicles. The Aviloo Flash test is a prerequisite for booking.
• Ajovarma (Driving Examinations and Traffic Permits) Ajovarma Oy handles Traficom-authorised driving licence theory and practical examinations, licence category changes, and road traffic permit services for personal customers and professional transport operators at nearly 100 localities shared with A-Katsastus; prices are set per the Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communications fee regulation and bookings are made via varaus.ajovarma.fi or 029 534 5115.
• Muistakatsastus.fi Free electronic inspection reminder service that notifies Finnish vehicle owners ahead of their periodic inspection deadline, with subscription options for both private and business customers and a raffle for inspection gift cards among subscribers.
• BG Karstanpoistopalvelu (BG Carbon Deposit Removal Service) Fee-for-service BG engine carbon deposit removal treatment (€45) added to the fuel tank of petrol or diesel vehicles at the inspection station, recommended annually or every ~30,000 km to improve engine power, reduce emissions and lower fuel consumption (a documented customer result showed a drop from 8.7 L/100km to 7.6 L/100km).
• Auton sisätilojen desinfiointipalvelu (BG Car Interior Disinfection) BG Automotive Sanitising Fogger treatment (€32) applied at the inspection station over ~25 minutes, effective against viruses (including SARS-CoV coronaviruses), bacteria, fungi and moulds, and used to remove unpleasant interior odours — no appointment required.
• Opetusajoneuvon tarkastuspalvelu (Inspection Service for Teaching Vehicles) Vehicle inspection specifically tailored to learner-driver teaching vehicles (€29 per inspection), verifying teaching pedal structure, location, attachment and braking force plus additional mirror, teaching triangle, brake light and safety equipment compliance.
• Hyväksytty asiantuntija (Certified Expert Statements) Traficom-authorised certified expert service delivering official compliance statements on rear underrun protection, side protection, air brake systems, tyre pressure monitoring, cyber attack protection, lamp and signal device installation, masses and dimensions, bus body structure, and software updates.
• Autotarvikkeet (Car Equipment and Accessories) Retail sale at service stations of wiper blades (Bosch and Trico), summer and winter methanol-free screenwash fluids (filled into the vehicle tank for free on purchase), Valvoline engine oils, light bulbs, electronic parking discs (Park Lite €29.90; Park Micro €21.90), and BG fuel maintenance consumables (BG Supercharge II €27.90 / 60L; BG DFC Plus €24.90 / 177ml).

Quantifiable outcome

• 86% of net vehicle inspection bookers in May would recommend A-Katsastus to their close contacts.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• AviloocoreTechnology or IntegrationAviloo provides the SOH (State of Health) battery measurement technology used in A-Katsastus's eAutotohtori service for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. The Aviloo Flash test is a prerequisite for eAutotohtori booking — customers must verify vehicle eligibility via the Aviloo database before booking. Aviloo also provides a comparison analysis feature that benchmarks the tested vehicle against a large database of similar vehicles.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• TÜV SÜD:
• Trafi (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency): National regulator that licenses and oversees vehicle inspection operators in Finland. Not a peer but a key counterpart: A-Katsastus operates under Traficom's authority, making Traficom a structural stakeholder that determines fee levels, inspection scope, and licensing.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Finnish applied research organization that performs vehicle type approval, certification, and homologation testing. Comparable to A-Katsastus as a domestic testing/inspection authority, though focused on R&D-level certification rather than consumer-facing periodic inspections.

Broad incumbents

• SGS: Swiss-headquartered global TIC leader offering vehicle inspection, certification, and homologation services. Comparable to A-Katsastus as an accredited inspection authority, though at vastly larger scale and across many industries.
• DEKRA: German-based global testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) giant with vehicle inspection operations across multiple European countries. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering periodic vehicle inspections, expert opinions, and homologation services at much larger scale than A-Katsastus.
• Applus+ IDIADA: Spanish-headquartered testing, inspection, and certification group operating vehicle inspection services in several countries. Comparable as a regulated inspection incumbent with a portfolio that includes statutory vehicle inspection alongside broader TIC services.
• Bureau Veritas: French global TIC incumbent with automotive testing and inspection capabilities. Comparable as a regulated, accredited vehicle inspection operator with a diversified service portfolio.

Direct peers

• K1 Katsastajat: A-Katsastus's wholly-owned subsidiary operating a competing brand of vehicle inspection stations across Finland. Directly comparable on core katsastus (vehicle inspection) services and provides an internal benchmark for share-of-voice and station productivity within the group.
• Yksityisyrittäjä-katsastusasemat (Independent Finnish inspection operators): Privately-owned Finnish vehicle inspection stations operating under Traficom authorization. Directly compete with A-Katsastus for periodic inspection volume in overlapping geographies and represent the fragmented long tail of the Finnish inspection market.

Regional players

• AVL Finland (Autovuokraamo inspection partners): Finnish vehicle rental operator that periodically requires fleet inspection services. Comparable as a Finland-only automotive operator with overlapping regulatory needs, though not a direct inspection competitor — better framed as a regional fleet-services adjacency.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCykxHKe8jwheXBwfiF4-E-A/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/akatsastus
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/a-katsastus-oy
• Instagraminstagram.com/akatsastus

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about A-Katsastus