General Inspection

A MATTER OF TRUST: MOTOR VEHICLE TESTING AT THE TÜV

Having your vehicle regularly tested affords you the highest possible degree of safety. At the same time, you make a contribution to protecting the environment. These are precisely the objectives of the law, which prescribes general inspections, engine management and emissions inspections (EMI for short, also known as emissions inspections, or EI) for “owners of vehicles requiring registration” (§ 29 of the Road Traffic Permit Act – StVZO).

TÜV Saarland automobil GmbH carries out these inspections in a joint venture with TÜV Rheinland. The quickly advancing development of motor vehicle technology demands a high level of up-to-date expertise amongst employees, and cutting-edge testing technology. The many electronic assistance systems (e.g. for braking, the chassis, steering) place high requirements on vehicle inspections. Meeting these requirements is the massive undertaking that we, together with our partner TÜV Rheinland, reliably fulfil at all of our test centres, as well as with the mobile service of TÜV Saarland automobil GmbH.

PASSENGER VEHICLE TESTING INTERVALS

New vehicles require a general inspection and emissions testing after three years. After that, it’s every two years.

Your Next Appointment

To see when your vehicle’s next general inspection is due, just consult your vehicle registration document or part I of the new registration certificate. The plaque on your rear license plate also displays this information. The number in the middle of the plaque shows the year (e.g. 2016) the next general inspection is due, and the upper number in the outer circle displays the month (e.g. December). If you have any questions about your appointment, the staff at your nearest TÜV Rheinland test centre will be pleased to help you. Or simply call our hotline free within Germany (0800) 8838 8838.

What’s Included in the Test?

Our staff will thoroughly test your vehicle during the general inspection. If your vehicle passes, you can drive home with a smile: My car, my motorcycle or my trailer is in good technical condition.

A summary of the inspection points
There are around 160 inspection points on the checklist. Amongst other things, we test:

  1. Equipment:
    License plate, mirrors, horn, tachometer, radio interference
  2. Lights:
    Headlamps, dipped beam, main beam, brake lights, rear lights, parking lights
  3. Braking system:
    Function, pedal travel, tightness, brake tubes and pipes, brake drums and disks, brake pads
  4. Tyres/wheels:
    Damage to tyres or wheels, profile depth
  5. Chassis and body:
    Ruptures, tears on load-bearing parts, underride guard, shock absorbers, wheel bearings, axle beam, oil loss
  6. Fire safety for the fuel/gas components and electric cabling
  7. Exhaust emissions and acoustic characteristics