Technical inspection for a 2, 3-wheel or four-cycle motor (category L)

Verified 14 December 2023 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

What is the date of the 1er mandatory technical inspection for a motorcycle or scooter? What is the deadline for carrying out the periodic roadworthiness test? Where to find a licensed center? What's the price? Here are the main rules to know about the technical inspection of a motor vehicle with two or three wheels and a motor quadricycle (L-category vehicle).

Roadworthiness tests shall cover 2- or 3-wheel motor vehicles and motor quadricycles (L-category vehicles): motorcycles, scooters, quads...

Please note

Roadworthiness tests shall not relieve the vehicle owner of the obligation to to keep in good working order and in satisfactory condition for maintenance.

Roadworthiness tests shall not apply to 2- or 3-wheel motor vehicles and motor quadricycles (L-category vehicles) below:

  • Collection vehicle put into circulation before 1960
  • Competition motorcycle (enduro and trial) whose owner has a license of the french motorcycling federation

The date of 1er technical inspection of a L-category vehicle varies according to its date of registration.

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Vehicle put into service before 2017 and whose anniversary date of first entry into service is before 15 April

The 1er technical inspection must be carried out between april 15 and august 14, 2024.

Example :

Vehicle registered in 2015, put into service on 20 January 2015.

The 1er the roadworthiness test must be carried out by 15 april to 14 august 2024.

Vehicle registered before 2017 and whose anniversary date of first entry into service is after 15 April

The 1er technical inspection must be completed no later than 4 months after the anniversary date of 1re putting into circulation, up to 31 december 2024

Example :

Vehicle registered in 2015 put into service 20 June 2015.

The 1er roadworthiness test to be conducted by 20 october 2024

Vehicle registered in 2017, 2018 and 2019

The 1er technical inspection must be carried out in 2025.

The check must be carried out at the latest 4 months after the anniversary date of their 1re putting into circulation, no later than 31 December 2025.

Example :

Vehicle registered in 2018 put into service 20 June 2018.

The 1er roadworthiness testing must be completed by 20 october 2025.

Vehicle registered in 2020 and 2021

The 1er technical inspection to be completed in 2026.

The check must be carried out at the latest 4 months after the anniversary date of their 1re bets putting into circulation, no later than 31 December 2026.

Example :

Vehicle registered in 2021 entered into service 20 June 2021.

The 1er roadworthiness testing must be completed by 20 october 2026.

Vehicle registered in 2022 and after

The 1er technical inspection must be completed within 6 months before 5e birthday of their 1re putting into circulation.

Example :

Vehicle registered in 2022, put into service on 1er October 2022.

The 1er technical inspection must be carried out between 1er April 2027 and September 30, 2027.

Warning  

Control is at your initiative. You don't get a summons.

You can use a on-line service for find a center technical inspection close to your home.

Check to the centre that he is approved for the technical inspection of a L-category vehicle.

You must present the original of the registration certificate carte grise (vehicle) except in certain situations.

The expense of the roadworthiness tests are at the expense of the owner of the vehicle.

The price periodic technical inspection and counter-inspection services are center-specific variables.

The controller should check 80 checkpoints concerning the following functions:

  • Identification of the vehicle: vehicle documents, registration plate...
  • Equipment for braking 
  • Direction 
  • Visibility 
  • Lights, reflective devices and electrical equipment
  • Axles, wheels, tires, suspension
  • Chassis and chassis accessories
  • Other equipment: horn (audible warning device)...
  • Nuisance : pollution, noise level

Roadworthiness tests shall entail a result :

  • Favorable (A) in the absence of a major and critical failure
  • Unfavorable (S) if there is at least major failure
  • Unfavorable (R) if there is at least one critical failure

The result favorable (no deficiencies found) of the technical inspection of a L-category vehicle is valid 3 years.

There is no counter-visit to make.

Example :

Favorable outcome of a roadworthiness test conducted on 14 May 2024

The check is valid for 3 years, until May 14, 2027.

The next check, called periodic inspection, to be carried out by 14 May 2027.

Deadline for making the counter-visit

The period of validity varies if the result is unfavorable for major failure(S) or critical (R).

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Unfavorable result for major failure (S)

In case of result unfavorable for major failure(S), the validity of the control is 2 months from the date of the periodic roadworthiness test.

One counter-visit duty be realized in the time limit of 2 months after the periodic roadworthiness test.

Example :

Unfavorable result for major failure(S) a roadworthiness test conducted on 14 May 2024

One counter-visit duty be realized in the time limit of 2 monthsbefore 14 July 2024.

Unfavorable result for critical failure (R)

In case of result unfavorable for critical failure (R), the validity of the control is limited to day of inspection.

One counter-visit must be realized in the time limit of 2 months after the periodic roadworthiness test.

Example :

Unfavorable result for critical failure (R) a roadworthiness test conducted on 14 May 2024.

The validity of the check shall be limited to 14 May 2024.

One counter-visit duty be realized in the time limit of 2 monthsbefore 14 July 2024.

Documents to be submitted for counter-visit

You must present the subsequent documents :

If you are unable to submit the report, and the computer data of the unfavorable roadworthiness test cannot be consulted, your vehicle is subject to a new periodic roadworthiness test.

Where to make the counter-visit?

You can make the counter-visit in the approved centre who has carried out the periodic roadworthiness test where the deficiencies have been identified, or in another approved center.

Checked points during the counter-visit

During the counter-visit, the controller check that the faults found during the roadworthiness tests have been repaired.

Period of validity of favorable counter-visit

In case of favorable result of the counter-visit, the validity of the counter-visit is 3 years from date of unfavorable periodic roadworthiness test at the origin of the counter-visit.

Example :

Date of unfavorable periodic inspection: 5 June 2024

Date of favorable counter visit: July 4, 2024

Period of validity of the counter-visit (date of the next periodic inspection): 5 June 2027

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)
  • 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)
  • Identification of the center control and controller
  • Identification of the vehicle
  • Mileage record
  • Information on unfavorable roadworthiness tests
  • Failures and Severity Levels (critical, major, minor, mileage recorded in roadworthiness)
  • Measurements taken

Technical inspection report

The report which is given to you after the check constitutes the proof that the roadworthiness test has been carried out.

In case of loss of the minutes, you can request a duplicate and a certificate from the center where the check was carried out.

Carte grise completed with stamp registration certificate

The controller puts on the vehicle registration certificate carte grise () one stamp, said stamp registration certificate.

This stamp specifies the result of the technical inspection and its deadline.

The certificate of registration carte grise (person) of the vehicle constitutes a proof of roadworthiness tests if it is completed with the stamp registration certificate or with the expiry date of the check.

FYI  

The controller also places on the vehicle a thumbnail which indicates the expiry date of the check carried out.

If you don't respect technical inspection obligations, you risk one fine up to €750.

As a general rule, it is a flat-rate fine of €135.

In case of control by law enforcement (police or gendarmerie), a detention order can be taken.

In this case, the certificate of registration carte grise (vehicle) is restrained.

One traffic record valid 7 days you are delivery for allow you of carry out roadworthiness tests.

For carte grise retrieve the, you must present at the police station or gendarmerie on technical inspection report attesting its satisfactory result.

The vehicle impoundment can also be decided in the following 2 cases:

  • If you do not show your vehicle for the mandatory roadworthiness tests
  • If you do not have the prescribed repairs or alterations carried out

In case of dispute on the result of the roadworthiness test, the means of appeal are displayed in the center who issued the report.

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