Vehicle inspection
Workshop glossary › Workshop operations · UpdatedThe mandatory roadworthiness check required by EU Directive 2014/45/EU and equivalent national laws. Called MOT (UK), TÜV/HU (DE), besiktning (SE), contrôle technique (FR), ITV (ES), bilsyn (DK/NO).
A periodic technical inspection is the mandatory roadworthiness check every passenger car in the EU has to pass at fixed intervals. EU Directive 2014/45/EU harmonises the minimum standard; each member state operates its own scheme:
- UK — MOT, annually from year 3.
- Germany — Hauptuntersuchung (HU) and Abgasuntersuchung (AU) combined, every 2 years (3 years for the first inspection on a new car). Performed by TÜV, DEKRA, GTÜ, or KÜS.
- Sweden — kontrollbesiktning (besiktning), every 14 months after the first inspection, which is due in the month corresponding to the last digit of the registration plate. Performed by Bilprovningen and accredited competitors.
- Denmark — bilsyn (synet), first at year 4, then every 2 years.
- Norway — EU-kontroll (EU-kontroll/PKK), first at year 4, then every 2 years.
- France — contrôle technique, first at year 4, then every 2 years.
- Spain — Inspección Técnica de Vehículos (ITV), first at year 4, then every 2 years until year 10, then annually.
For a workshop, the inspection date is the single best lead generator: most owners only think about brake pads, tyres, suspension, and lighting when the inspection is two months away. A reminder pipeline built off inspection due dates outperforms generic "have you had your service?" emails by a wide margin.