German Car Inspection

This page contains topics:

  1. Which organization offers general inspection (TÜV)?
  2. What is car inspection (HU) in Germany?
  3. TUV sticker
  4. Periodic inspection of different vehicle classes
  5. Vehicle classes that don’t need emission test (AU)
  6. Self-checklist, before going for the TUV inspection
  7. Classification of defects

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Which organizations offer general inspection?

Car inspection in Germany is generally known as TÜV. The exact German term for general vehicle inspection is Hauptuntersuchung (HU in short form).

TÜV (Technischen Überwachungsvereine) is a private firm, which previously enjoyed monopoly over general car inspections (Hauptuntersuchung) in Germany. However, today, TÜV is not the solo firm responsible for the periodic vehicle inspections. Other firms like DEKRA, GTÜ and KÜS are also eligible for vehicle inspections (HU).

You might not need to drive far for the inspection of your car. Inspection can be performed at any workshop of above-mentioned firms or even at your local/nearby workshop that has the contract with inspection firms for HU.

What is car inspection (HU) in Germany?

HU is mandatory in Germany since 1951. The test comprises two parts.

  1. Vehicle’s general traffic safety and compliance test (HU)
  2. Emission test (AU)

AU (Emission test) is carried out before the main inspection (HU). The emission test (Abgasuntersuchung or AU in short form) is the measure of emitting gases through the vehicle’s exhaust pipe, like carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, and also soot particles in the case of diesel motors. Since 2018, tailpipe particle measurement is reintroduced. The test is performed at different engine speeds and temperatures. Before 2018, just OBD readings were considered sufficient and no tailpipe measurements were required. Environmental stickers are issued on the basis of AU test. Please read the topic, Environmental Zones in Germany for further details.

HU is the test of mechanical and electrical performance of a vehicle. If there is any mechanical or electrical fault found during the inspection, the owner is given 4 weeks period to remove the particular fault. After completing the test successfully, the car gets a new HU sticker for two years.

TUV sticker

HU badge, which is normally known as Tüv sticker, shows the year and month of the upcoming inspection. Tüv sticker is round and gets a specific new color each year.

Authorities change the color so that the sticker can be recognized from a distance. The above sticker is valid till 2018, which is mentioned in the center of the circle, in two digits. The month is mentioned directly above the two-digit year number, exactly at 12 o'clock. In the above sticker, it is March. So, the owner must arrange the inspection in March 2018.

The numbers are not easy to read on a small sticker. There is also a second indication for the month. There are black bars at the edge of the circle. They show the month in the form of the clock’s hands. In the above image, the clock hand, formed by black bars, is at exactly 3 o'clock. Which indicates the 3rd month, i.e. March. With the help of the sticker’s color and black bars, law enforcement authorities can easily read the next due inspection date, even without going closer to the vehicle.

The following table shows how the colors of Tüv stickers are changed periodically each year.

Brown Pink Green Orange Blue Yellow
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027
2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033

Inspection timeline of different vehicle classes

For some vehicle classes, the due time of the first inspection (inspection of the brand new car) is different from the following inspections. Please see the below table to see periodic inspection timetable of different vehicle types.

Vehicle type First inspection Following inspectons
Cars and Motorcycles
Cars (up to 8 seats) After 3 years After every 2 years
Motorcycles After 2 years After every 2 years
Motorhomes
Up to 3500 kg vehicle gross weight After 3 years After every 2 years
From 3500 to 7500 kg vehicle gross weight After 2 years After 2 years
When the vehicle is 7 years old: Every 12 months
Over 7500 kg vehicle gross weight After 12 months Every 12 months
Trailers and caravans
Without Brakes After 3 years After every 2 years
Up to 750 kg gross weight After 3 years After every 2 years
From 750 to 3500 kg gross weight After 2 years After every 2 years
From 3500 to 10000 kg gross weight After 12 months After every 12 months
Trucks and commercial vehicles
Having up to 40 km/h top speed After 2 years After every 2 years
Up to 3500 kg vehicle gross weight After 2 years After every 2 years
From 3500 to 7500 kg gross vehicle weight After 12 months After every 12 months

Vehicle classes that don’t need emission test (AU)

The following vehicles do not require to undergo the emission test. However, they do require general traffic safety and compliance test (HU).

Self-checklist, before going for the TUV inspection

Classification of defects

Defects are classified based on the severity from HW (lowest) to VM (highest).

According to inspection guidelines (HU guidelines) following are classifications and details of defects that can be found during an inspection.

  1. HW is the short form of the German word Hinweise which means comments.
    Comments indicate future defects such as early wear and tear of a specific part, corrosion, etc, that are already becoming apparent. Comments do not cause a problem with the current inspection.
  2. GM stands for the German term Geringe Mängel (minor defects).
    GM are expected to be eliminated immediately. If the minor defect is eliminated, a HU-sticker is issued.
  3. EM stands for Erhebliche Mängel (serious defects).
    EM is issued for the defects that endanger traffic or pollute the environment. A review inspection is mandatory in this case. The inspection sticker (HU-sticker) is not assigned in this case.
  4. VM stands for Verkehrsgefäharde Mängel (traffic-endangering defects).
    VM is assigned to more dangerous defects than EM classification, but they do not cause the immediate ban on the vehicle to operate on public roads. VM represent repairable classification of most dangerous defects. The inspection sticker (HU-sticker) is not assigned in this case. However, if defects are removed in the given time period, the sticker is issued.
  5. VU stands for Verkehrsunsicher (unsafe to drive).
    VU is the last classification. The vehicle is extremely unsafe for public roads or is the cause direct hazard to the environment. In this case the existing sticker is removed and the authorities are informed. The vehicle is no longer eligible to operate on public roads. However, a review is possible.

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