The European Union has a unified legal framework governing regular inspections of vehicles and trailers. The main goal of these procedures is to maintain minimum road safety standards and monitor harmful emissions.
European regulations clearly define the minimum requirements for technical inspections. In particular, they set intervals between checks, a list of mandatory points for inspection, and the criteria for determining whether a vehicle is allowed on the road.
In Spain, the technical inspection system is considered one of the most effective in Europe. In Germany, a similar procedure is known as TÜV. There, the first inspection takes place three years after vehicle registration, followed by checks every two years. Special attention is given to carbon dioxide emissions.
In Italy and Belgium, the first visit to a technical inspection station is required four years after purchasing a car, with subsequent inspections every two years. The French system is largely similar to Spain’s; however, drivers are required to undergo an inspection every two years once the vehicle reaches four years of age.
In Portugal, annual inspections become mandatory when a car reaches eight years old. In Spain, this requirement only starts after ten years of use. Thus, the frequency and timing of inspections vary significantly depending on the country.
Motorcycle inspections are a special case. In Spain, the accident rate among motorcycle owners remains under close scrutiny by road authorities. Until 2022, mandatory checks for motorcycles were required only in Spain, Italy, Croatia, Austria, and Lithuania. After the update to European regulations, all EU countries must introduce regular inspections for this type of vehicle. However, France has not yet implemented the new rules.
The results of a technical inspection can vary. If the inspection is passed successfully, the owner receives two documents: a report on the procedure and a special V-19 sticker, which must be placed on the inside of the windshield. If the result is negative, the vehicle must be immediately taken off the road and cannot be used. In this case, the car is only allowed to be transported by tow truck to a repair shop, where the identified issues must be fixed within two months. If the result is deemed unsatisfactory but not critical, the driver is allowed to drive the car to a service center and back to the inspection station for a re-check, also within two months.
Thus, despite common European standards, each country maintains its own specifics in organizing vehicle inspections, which affects the timing, requirements, and procedures.
