PTI
With periodical technical inspection (PTI), you can ensure that your car, motorcycle, or camper remains safe, compliant with regulations, and roadworthy. Whether it's the initial inspection after three years for new cars or the regular HU every two years, we provide you with clear information about deadlines, sticker colors, typical defects, necessary documents, and follow-up inspections.
Cars and motorbikes belonging to private individuals generally have to undergo a general inspection every two years. New cars must be inspected for the first time after three years. If you miss the "MOT date" and do not renew your sticker in time, you can expect a fine when your vehicle is inspected. Don't let it come to that. Here you can find out everything you need to know about the main vehicle inspection and with our TÜV NORD MOT checklist you can prepare your vehicle for the MOT in the best possible way.
The round sticker on the rear licence plate and in the vehicle registration document indicates when your vehicle has to undergo an emissions test. The emissions test is part of the main inspection for all cars - for petrol vehicles from first registration on 01 July 1969 and for diesel vehicles from first registration on 01 January 1977 - and for motorbikes from first registration on 01 January 1989.
For your safety, our experts go through a list of over 150 test points during the main inspection so that you can enjoy your mobility without any worries.
Our independent experts check the following, among other things
Use our TÜV NORD general inspection reminder: you will never miss a general inspection appointment again. Simply enter your details and we will automatically send you a reminder.
The price for the main inspection varies depending on the federal state and vehicle inspection.
The law stipulates: "All motor vehicles and their trailers that are required to carry their own licence plate must be inspected at regular intervals for road safety and compliance with regulations in accordance with Section 29 of the Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (StVZO)."
The main inspection has been mandatory for motor vehicles in Germany since 1 December 1951.
The main inspection (HU) - commonly known simply as "TÜV" - is intended to ensure that only vehicles that do not have any significant defects and therefore do not pose a risk to road safety are allowed on the road.
The main inspection involves a visual, functional and efficiency test of the vehicles.
The vehicle owner is responsible for ensuring that the vehicle is presented for the main inspection on time.
Only officially recognised experts, inspectors or test engineers are permitted to carry out the general inspection. When it comes to the technical safety of your vehicle, you can rely on the expertise of our inspection organisation at TÜV NORD Mobilität. Our experienced and skilled employees are always up to date thanks to regular training and further education.
After our experts have inspected your vehicle, they will explain the results of the inspection to you and talk to you in detail about possible risks and dangers. You will also receive a written inspection report, which you should keep carefully until the next main inspection.
The HU report is used exclusively for the documentation of official vehicle inspections and is labelled with features that make it difficult to forge. The inspection report must be presented to the relevant persons or authorities (police, road traffic authority) on request. However, it is not necessary to carry the inspection report in the vehicle. Test certificates for modifications to the vehicle that are not entered in the vehicle documents must be carried in the vehicle.
You will receive the sticker if our experts have not found any recognisable defects. This means that all safety-relevant functions of your vehicle are in order.
Sometimes our experts find minor defects. Nevertheless, you will receive the sticker. A re-inspection is not necessary. However, you are obliged to have the discussed defects rectified as quickly as possible.
If dangerous defects are found on your vehicle, they must be repaired. Until then, the vehicle may not be used on public roads.
Please bring your vehicle in for a follow-up inspection within one month. Otherwise, our inspectors will have to carry out a complete new general inspection. Please have all defects, even minor ones, rectified at the follow-up inspection. Only then can our inspection centres issue you with a new inspection sticker!
If you do not attend the re-inspection, you may be fined for exceeding the deadline in the event of a police check.
How often a vehicle has to undergo a regular main inspection ("TÜV") depends on the type of vehicle. Here you will find an overview of the frequency of main inspections for cars, motorbikes, motorhomes and trailers.
A vehicle with a seasonal licence plate must be presented for a general inspection (HU) every two years. This applies regardless of the duration for which the vehicle is registered each year.
The vehicle must be presented for the main inspection in the month in which it is re-registered. For example, if the vehicle is registered from April to September, the main inspection must be carried out in April. Further information on seasonal licence plates and how you can also save on insurance can be found here.
Motorbikes must undergo a general inspection every 2 years.
This applies to
Motorbikes with an engine capacity of more than 50 cc
Motorbikes with a maximum design speed of over 45 km/h
During the general inspection, all safety-relevant components and functions of the motorbike are checked.
During a test ride, the steering and braking functions as well as the functions of electronic safety assistants - such as the anti-lock braking system (ABS) - are tested.
If you do not receive a new sticker, you must rectify the defects on the machine within one month.
You must have a follow-up inspection carried out on the repaired motorbike no later than one month after the failed main inspection.
The German main inspection (HU) is generally not recognised abroad. If a vehicle is to be used abroad, it must be ensured that the legal requirements for the vehicle inspection there are met.
It is often necessary for the vehicle to undergo a valid vehicle inspection abroad in order to prove its roadworthiness. It is advisable to find out in advance about the specific requirements of the country in question to ensure that the vehicle complies with local regulations.
Please present the following documents for the main inspection:
Registration document: vehicle registration certificate or registration certificate part I, in the case of deregistered vehicles, vehicle registration document or registration certificate part II if applicable
In the case of a follow-up inspection, the inspection report from the previous main inspection
If applicable, the test certificates or modification acceptance certificates for add-on parts, e.g. special wheels, lowering springs or accessory steering wheels, if these are not entered in the vehicle documents
Since 1 January 2010, the exhaust emissions test has been an integral part of the main inspection and is therefore covered by the HU report. However, the UMA (= examination of the engine management and exhaust gas purification system) - formerly known as the AU - may also be carried out by recognised workshops and documented separately. However, the exhaust emissions test may be carried out at the earliest one month before the main inspection.
You can find more information on the exhaust emissions test procedure here.
If you have lost the original of an inspection report for an official vehicle inspection or if it has become unusable, you can have a duplicate made.
You can find more information on duplicates and a request form under Duplicates of inspection reports.