Contents
Periodic technical inspection and safety inspection
The intervals depend on vehicle type, permissible gross weight and, in some cases, on age since first registration. The safety inspection falls between two periodic technical inspections. The figures in months refer to the interval since the last inspection in each case.
| Vehicle | HU | SP |
|---|---|---|
| Cars | first after 36 months, then every 24 | none |
| Cars for commercial passenger transport, such as taxis | every 12 months | none |
| Lorries, vans, tractors and work machines up to 3.5 t or up to 40 km/h | every 24 months | none |
| over 3.5 t up to 7.5 t | every 12 months | none |
| over 7.5 t up to 12 t | every 12 months | none in the first 36 months, then every 6 months |
| over 12 t | every 12 months | none in the first 24 months, then every 6 months |
| Buses and other vehicles with more than 8 passenger seats | every 12 months | none in the first year, up to 36 months every 6 months, then 3, 6 and 9 months after the HU |
| Trailers up to 0.75 t or without their own brakes | first after 36 months, then every 24 | none |
| Trailers over 0.75 t up to 3.5 t or marked for a maximum of 40 km/h | every 24 months | none |
| Trailers over 3.5 t up to 10 t | every 12 months | none |
| Trailers over 10 t | every 12 months | none in the first 24 months, then every 6 months |
If vehicles are rented out commercially without a driver and not registered in the renter’s name, an interval of 12 months generally applies for the HU. For cars and lorries up to 3.5 t that go to the same renter for at least one year, the normal deadlines apply.
UVV inspection under DGUV Regulation 70
The accident prevention regulation “Vehicles” requires vehicles to be inspected for operational safety by a competent person as required, but at least once a year (Section 57). The company is responsible for this and must document the inspections. The inspection replaces neither the HU nor the daily check by the driver.
Tachograph
Keepers must have recording equipment and tachographs inspected at their own expense to confirm that installation, condition, measuring accuracy and operation comply with the regulations (Section 57b StVZO). The re-inspection is due no later than 24 months after the last inspection. It falls due earlier after a repair, after a change to the tyre circumference or the pulse count, and when a seal has been replaced. For digital devices, it is also required if the time deviates by more than 20 minutes or if the registration number changes.
Pre-departure check by the driver
Regardless of the inspection deadlines, the driver checks before the start of every work shift that the controls and safety devices work, watches for obvious defects during the shift and reports them (Section 36 DGUV Regulation 70). How to do this with documentation is described in Pre-departure check by app; the checklist for each vehicle type is under Pre-departure check: obligation, checklist and proof.
Keeping deadlines in view
In a mixed fleet, a dozen deadlines soon run in parallel. With the Vehicles add-on, FleetCred records them for each vehicle, reminds you beforehand by email and, once an inspection has been completed, proposes the next date according to this table. Dates may be entered as a month, as on the inspection sticker.
This article gives an overview and is not a substitute for legal advice. For your individual case, please ask your legal department, a specialist lawyer or your trade association.