Roadworthiness Tests in Europe: MOT, TÜV, ITV and CT Explained

What EU law requires

Directive 2014/45/EU on periodic roadworthiness tests applies across the EU from 20 May 2018. Its main rules for passenger cars (category M1) and light vans (N1):

• Frequency: first test four years after the date of first registration, then every two years. Countries may also require a test after a serious accident, after safety-relevant modifications, on a change of keeper or at 160,000 km.
• What is tested: identification of the vehicle, braking, steering, visibility, lamps and electrical equipment, axles, wheels, tyres and suspension, chassis, other equipment such as seat belts, and nuisance, which covers noise and exhaust emissions.
• Defect categories: minor defects allow a pass but should be repaired; a major defect means a fail and a retest within at most two months; a dangerous defect means a fail, and the country may forbid using the car until it is repaired.
• Mileage: the test certificate records the odometer reading, inspectors can see the previous reading, and odometer tampering is penalised. This record is valuable when you buy a used car.
• Recognition: EU countries must recognise roadworthiness certificates issued in other member states, including when a car is re-registered after a move.

Test intervals by country

The intervals below are for private cars, as summarised by Wikipedia's vehicle inspection overview and checked against the EU minimum.

Rules can change, and some countries add tests for older cars, imported cars or cars changing owner. Check the national authority's site before relying on a date, especially when the car was first registered in another country.

What fails most often

The TÜV Report 2026, based on 9.5 million general inspections in Germany, found that 66.1% of cars passed with no defects. Another 12.3% had only minor defects, and 21.5% failed with significant defects. The most frequent problems were in lighting, brakes and the drive system. Age matters a lot. Depending on the model, between 2.9% and 17.3% of cars up to three years old had significant defects. The range rises to between 18.3% and 40.4% for cars up to 13 years old.

In the UK MOT, several common failures are written into the inspection manual as major defects. An engine warning light that is lit or does not work is a major defect for petrol cars first used from July 2003 and diesels from July 2008. The same applies to a diesel with a particulate filter that emits visible smoke of any colour, or a filter that has been tampered with.

How to prepare: a self-check before the test

Work through the same areas the inspector will, following the test areas of the EU directive. A helper makes the light check easier.

1. Lights and signals. Dipped and main beam, sidelights, indicators and hazards, brake lights including the high-level light, rear fog light, reversing light and number plate light. Replace any blown bulb.
2. Warning lamps. All should light briefly at ignition and then go out. A lit engine, airbag or ABS warning is a problem; our on-board computer guide explains the displays.
3. Tyres. At least 1.6 mm of tread across the central three quarters of the tread in the UK and the EU minimum elsewhere, no cuts or bulges, and the size and load rating listed in the car's papers. Our tyre size calculator helps check a replacement size.
4. Brakes. No grinding noises, no pull to one side, a firm pedal and a parking brake that holds the car on a slope. Brake fluid within the marks.
5. Visibility. No cracks in the driver's field of view, wipers that clear the screen, a working washer with fluid, and intact mirrors.
6. Seat belts and horn. Every belt should latch and retract; the horn must work.
7. Leaks and exhaust. No dripping oil or fluid, no blowing exhaust, no visible smoke from a diesel with a particulate filter.
8. Identification. Clean, legible number plates, and a vehicle identification number (VIN) that matches the papers. Our VIN decoder shows what the code says about the car.
9. Papers. Registration certificate, previous test report and, where required, proof of insurance.

Costs and what happens after a fail

Fees are set nationally or by the test centres and vary by country, so check the price list of your local station. What happens after a fail is set by the EU rules. With a major defect you have at most two months for the retest. With a dangerous defect the country may forbid using the car until it is repaired. Keep the test report: it lists every defect, so the garage knows exactly what to fix.

Common mistakes

• Letting the date slip. Put the due date, shown on the test sticker or in the registration papers, in your calendar.
• Clearing the engine light just before the test. If the fault is still there, the light comes back, and the defect with it.
• Ignoring advisories and minor defects. They are the next test's major defects.
• Testing a car with worn tyres. Replacing tyres before the test is cheaper than a failed test and a second visit.