Technical inspection of a commercial vehicle (van)

Verified 15 December 2021 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

You bought a van and you wonder when and where to do the roadworthiness testing and at what cost? Want to know more about controlling polluting emissions? You want to check what functions are being checked and how to do it if a failure is found? This page tells you what you need to know about roadworthiness testing.

One van of which the PTAC: titleContent is less than or equal to 3,5 tons is subject to roadworthiness testing, whether thermal, hybrid or electric.

Tableau - Vehicles subject to roadworthiness tests or exempted from roadworthiness tests

Type of vehicle

Compulsory roadworthiness tests?

Private vehicle (VP)

Yes

Utility

Yes

Motorhome with a maximum total authorized laden weight (TCAW) of 3,5 t

Yes

Motorhome with a PTAC of more than 3,5 t

Yes

Heavyweight

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

Periodic technical inspection

The 1er periodic inspection must be carried out during the 6 months preceding the 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 result 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.

Supplementary roadworthiness test

The additional technical inspection shall make it possible to check pollutant emissions of the vehicle.

It concerns every vans over 4 years.

However, the following vehicles are exempt carte grise (see the

  • Vehicle diesel source of energy GA
  • Vehicle electric and hydrogen source of energy EL, AC, H2, HE and HH

Additional roadworthiness tests shall be carried out within 2 months before the end of the 1-year period after the roadworthiness test.

Example :

For a technical inspection done on 1er october 2021, the supplementary visit must take place between 1er August 2022 and September 30, 2022.

No summons are sent. Control is at your initiative.

In any approved center in France.

Carte grise You must present the original certificate of registration (new name of the except in certain situations.

Fees are at the expense of the owner of the vehicle.

The price periodic technical inspection and counter-inspection services are variables according to the centers.

They must be displayed at the main entrance to 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 for prices charged by technical inspection centers:

To know the prices charged by the technical inspection centers

The controller should check 133 checkpoints concerning the following functions:

  • Identification of the vehicle: vehicle documents, registration plate, etc.
  • 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

In the course of the additional roadworthiness test, the verifier shall only check the items relating to the pollutant emissions.

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 check shall be carried out after the necessary repairs have been made: a counter-visit or a complementary counter-visit.

Checked points then depend on the major and critical deficiencies found during the previous check.

The date of the next check depends on deficiencies found during roadworthiness tests.

Tableau - Result of periodic and additional technical inspections in the light of deficiencies noted

Deficiencies found

Advice

Validity of the check

Prescription of a counter-visit

Absence of major and critical failure

Favorable (A)

2 years for periodic inspection

1 year for additional control

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

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, supplementary inspection, supplementary 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, supplementary inspection, supplementary counter-inspection)
  • Identification of the center control and controller
  • Vehicle identification
  • Mileage reported
  • 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 inspector shall affix a stamp to the person concerned indicating the result of the inspection and its final date:

  • Letter A : Result favorable
  • Letter S : Unfavorable result for major failures
  • Letter R : Unfavorable result for critical failures
  • Hairy Letters for the supplementary inspection

It shall no longer be possible to include the following in the report of the roadworthiness test non-rolling vehicle.

Owners of vans who fail to comply with roadworthiness requirements are 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 dose is taken.

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 remedies available are displayed in the center who issued the report.