Technical inspection of a passenger car
Verified 15 December 2021 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
You bought a car and wonder when and where to do the roadworthiness test and what is the price? You want to know what functions are being monitored and how to do it if a failure is detected? This page tells you what you need to know about roadworthiness testing.
A private vehicle (VP) whose PTAC: titleContent is less than or equal to 3,5 tons is subject to technical inspection, whether thermal, hybrid or electric.
Type of vehicle | Compulsory roadworthiness tests? |
|---|---|
Yes | |
Yes | |
Motorhome with a maximum total authorized laden weight (TCAW) of 3,5 t | Yes |
Yes | |
Yes | |
Collection vehicle put into circulation from 1960 | Yes |
Collection vehicle used as a chauffeur-driven transport car (VTC) | Yes |
Collection vehicle put into circulation before 1960 and with a PTAC of 3,5 t maximum | No |
Collection vehicle with a PTAC greater than 3,5 t | No |
Unlicensed car | No |
Motorcycle, 2 wheels and 3 wheels | No |
Motor quadricycle | No |
Caravan with a PTAC of 3,5 tons or less | No |
Agricultural tractor | No |
Trailer with a PTAC of 3.5 tons or less not used for dangerous goods transport | No |
Car registered in the diplomatic service or equivalent | No |
Car registered in the FFECSA series (French Forces and civil elements stationed in Germany) | No |
Roadworthiness tests shall cover all private vehicles (VP).
The 1er check is to be made within 6 months before 4e anniversary of the 1re putting into service of the vehicle.
No summons are sent. Control is at your initiative.
Example :
For a vehicle put into circulation on 1er october 2019, 1er roadworthiness test to take place between 1er April 2023 and September 30, 2023.
The date of the next check will depend on the outcome of this 1er control.
Roadworthiness tests shall not relieve the vehicle owner of the obligation to to keep in good working order and in satisfactory condition for maintenance.
In any accredited center in France.
Carte grise You must present the original certificate of registration (new name of the except in certain situations.
Who shall I contact
Fees are at the expense of the owner of the vehicle.
The price periodic technical inspection and counter-inspection services are center-specific variables.
They must be displayed at the main entrance of the center in a visible and legible manner.
The prices are classified by type of energy : petrol, diesel, gas, hybrid, electric.
You can use a online service to find out the prices charged by the technical inspection centers.
To know the prices charged by the technical inspection centers
In image
Functions checked during the roadworthiness test of a car
The controller should check 133 checkpoints concerning the following functions:
- Identification of the vehicle: vehicle documents, registration plate...
- Equipment for braking : platelets, disks...
- Direction : steering wheel, housing...
- Visibility : windshield, mirrors...
- Lights, reflective devices and electrical equipment (in particular those of an electric vehicle such as the battery, the charging cable, the tractor battery box, etc.)
- Axles, wheels, tires, suspension
- Chassis and chassis accessories
- Other equipment: safety belts, horn (audible warning device)...
- Nuisance : pollution, noise level
At each controlled point, a severity level is indicated if a failure is found.
- Minor failure : no impact on the safety of the vehicle or the environment
- Major Failure : could endanger the safety of the vehicle, have a negative impact on the environment or endanger other road users
- Critical Failure : constituting a direct and immediate danger to road safety or having a serious effect on the environment
In case of major or critical failure, a new control, called counter-visitis to be done after making the necessary repairs.
The points checked during a counter-visit depend on the major and critical deficiencies found during the previous inspection.
The date of the next check depends on deficiencies found during roadworthiness tests.
Deficiencies found | Advice | Validity of the check | Prescription of a counter-visit |
|---|---|---|---|
Absence of major and critical failure | Favorable (A) | 2 years from audit | No counter-visit |
At least one major failure | Unfavorable (S) | 2 months from inspection | Mandatory within 2 months of roadworthiness testing |
At least one critical failure | Unfavorable (R) | Day of inspection |
If the vehicle is subject to a counter-inspection, the favorable counter-inspection shall be valid for 2 years from date of the unfavorable periodic technical inspection at the origin of the counter-inspection.
You are not required to make a counter-visit to the approved center where the deficiencies were found.
The counter-visit can be carried out in any approved center in France.
You are given a report after each roadworthiness test.
The minutes shall include the following points:
- Nature of the control (periodic technical inspection, counter-inspection)
- Date of control
- Outcome control (favorable, unfavorable for major failure, unfavorable for critical failure)
- Limit of validity of control
- Nature of the next check (periodic inspection, counter-inspection)
- Identification of the center control and controller
- Identification of the vehicle
- Mileage record
- Information on unfavorable roadworthiness tests
- Failures and Severity Levels (critical, major, minor, mileage recorded in roadworthiness since May 20, 2018, comments)
- Measurements taken
Carte grise The controller puts on the stamp indicating the result control and its deadline :
- Letter A : Result favorable
- Letter S : Unfavorable result for major failures
- Letter R : Unfavorable result for critical failures
The controller shall place on the vehicle a thumbnail which indicates the expiry date of the check carried out.
It shall no longer be possible to include the following in the report of the roadworthiness test non-rolling vehicle.
FYI
the modification of the vehicle registration shall not affect the validity of the roadworthiness test. For example, following the registration of a second-hand vehicle.
Owners of private vehicles who fail to comply with roadworthiness requirements shall be liable to a fine of up to €750.
As a general rule, it is a flat-rate fine of €135.
In the event of control by the police (police or gendarmerie), a detention order can be taken.
Carte grise In this case, the driver's registration certificate (new name of the vehicle) shall be used.
A valid movement record 7 days it is given to him to do the roadworthiness test.
Carte grise In order to retrieve the vehicle, the driver must submit to the police or gendarmerie the report of the roadworthiness test attesting to its satisfactory result.
In the event of a dispute as to the result of the roadworthiness test, the means of appeal are displayed in the center who issued the report.
- Highway Code: Article L323-1Obligation to carry out a roadworthiness test
- Highway Code: Articles R323-1 to R323-5Technical inspection rules
- Highway Code: Articles R323-6 to R323-21Obligations of the Technical Inspection Center in relation to pricing (Article R323-13-1)
- Highway Code: Article R323-22Frequency of roadworthiness tests
- Order of 27 March 1987 on the advertising of prices for maintenance or repair services, roadworthiness tests, breakdown and towing services and for the parking of vehicles
- Order of 18 June 1991 on roadworthiness tests for vehicles weighing not more than 3.5 tons
- Order of 29 July 2020 on the advertising of the prices of roadworthiness tests for certain categories of light vehicles
- Ministerial reply of 11 August 2020 on the obligation of roadworthiness tests for vehicles on public roads
- Carte grise Ministerial Response of 15 December 2020 on roadworthiness tests for vehicles adapted for the carriage of persons in wheelchairs (transport handicap endorsement on the
FAQ
- Technical inspection of the vehicle: compulsory or dispensed with?
- Can you sell a used car without a roadworthiness test?
- Technical inspection of a collector's vehicle: what are the rules?
- Carte grise How to do the roadworthiness test without the vehicle?
- Can we do the roadworthiness test abroad?
- What should I do if I lose my roadworthiness test report?
- Traffic offensesService-Public.fr
- Carte grise (Certificate of Registration)Service-Public.fr
- Pollution control measuresService-Public.fr
- Technical inspection of a commercial vehicle (van)Service-Public.fr
- Technical inspection of a motorhome (maximum 3,5 tons)Service-Public.fr
- Checkpoints for the roadworthiness test of a light vehicleLegifrance