Questions about the HU

The main inspection at the TÜFA-TEAM

How do you recognize when the main inspection is due?

As a general rule, a new car must be inspected for the first time three years after initial registration and every two years thereafter. The registration certificate part 1 (formerly the vehicle registration document) or the HU sticker on the rear license plate provide all the necessary information.

The date of the next general inspection is stamped on the registration certificate or printed on new vehicles.
The HU sticker shows the year of the next inspection in the center of the sticker (e.g. “21” for 2021). The sticker is affixed in such a way that the month in which the HU is due is at the top (12 o’clock position).

Do I need an appointment?

Does the vehicle owner have to come in person?

What happens if you overdue the HU?

The law knows no tolerance here. You should present your vehicle for a general inspection as soon as possible. If your sticker has been expired for more than two months, the law requires an in-depth inspection. There is a 20% surcharge for this. The new deadline for cars and motorcycles is then 24 months after the last inspection date.

If your sticker has been expired for more than two months and you are caught in a traffic check, you can expect to receive a warning, up to a fine and points. It is also critical to be involved in an accident with an expired HU sticker. You may then be prosecuted by the insurance company.

By the way: We will be happy to remind you when your next HU is due – conveniently and free of charge. Register here.

What do I need to bring to the main inspection?

What can you check yourself in advance?

Discontinuation of backdating

The duration of the sticker is 24 months, e.g. for cars and motorcycles, from the date of the general inspection. If you miss the inspection date in future, the sticker will no longer be backdated.

The following therefore applies to cars and motorcycles: The general inspection is always due 24 months after the last inspection date. However, if the sticker has expired by more than 2 months, we have to carry out an in-depth inspection, for which we charge you a surcharge of 20 percent.

P.S.: If the sticker has been expired for more than two months and you are caught in a traffic check, you can expect a warning fine or even a fine and points. It is also critical if you are involved in an accident with an expired HU sticker. You can then be prosecuted by the insurance company.

How long do I have to keep the test report?

I have lost my test report, what can I do?

Re-register a deregistered vehicle with an overdue inspection?

If you have not reserved a license plate, you must go to the registration office and initiate the registration process before the main inspection. To do this, you will need the EBV number from the insurance company and your vehicle documents (registration certificate, parts I and II). You will then receive a new license plate number from the registration office. You can use this to drive to us and have the general inspection carried out. You can then complete the registration process with the certificate confirming that you have passed the main inspection.

Diagram: Test points for passenger cars

Diagram: Motorcycle checkpoints

Diagram: Truck checkpoints

Diagram: Bus checkpoints

With a motorhome to the HU and gas test - what is important?

Motorhomes up to 3.5 tons are treated like passenger cars. Motorhomes from 3.5 to 7.5 tons must undergo a general inspection every two years during the first six years of registration. From the seventh year of registration, the annual general inspection is mandatory.

The gas test must be carried out every two years and is a prerequisite for the issue of the HU sticker. Please check in advance that the components that must be replaced within ten years (gas regulator, gas hoses, stopcocks) have already been replaced in advance, if necessary, so that you can obtain the gas test and thus also the HU without delay.

We also need the initial certification booklet from the manufacturer; the gas cylinder should also be filled. In addition, the same applies as for a car: please bring the vehicle registration document and remember to bring the warning triangle and first aid kit.

What do I need to consider when having a caravan inspected?

Why do you need a fine dust sticker?