Testing to ensure the safety of vehicles and trailers

SUMMARY OF:

Directive 2014/45/EU on periodic roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE DIRECTIVE?

It aims to improve road safety by setting minimum requirements for periodic roadworthiness tests of vehicles and trailers in the European Union (EU).

KEY POINTS

Scope

The law applies to vehicles capable of speeds of more than 25 km/hour in the following categories.

• Passenger cars and light commercial vehicles (categories M1 and N1). To be tested 4 years after first registration and thereafter every 2 years.
• Vehicles in category M1 used as taxis or ambulances, buses or minibuses (M2, M3), heavy goods vehicles (N2, N3) and heavy trailers (O3, O4). To be tested 1 year after first registration and thereafter yearly.
• Fast tractors with a design speed above 40 km/h (T1b, T2b, T3b, T4.1b, T4.2b and T4.3b) and used commercially. To be tested 4 years after first registration and thereafter every 2 years.

Powerful motorcycles

Two- or three-wheeled vehicles (category L) with a combustion engine larger than 125 cm³ will be tested from 2022, unless road safety statistics for the previous 5 years show that the same level of road safety could be achieved by alternative measures.

Roadworthiness tests prior to the due dates

In certain circumstances, vehicles may be required to undergo a test before the due dates:

• after an accident;
• when the holder of the registration certificate has changed;
• on reaching 160,000 km;
• in cases where road safety is seriously affected.

Exemptions

The following types of vehicles may be exempted from roadworthiness tests:

• vehicles of historic interest;
• diplomatic vehicles;
• vehicles used by the armed forces, police, customs, fire services or for agricultural and forestry purposes only;
• vehicles used exclusively on small islands.

Approved testing centres

Each EU Member State must have approved and compliant testing centres, while inspectors must meet competence criteria and be free from any conflict of interest.

Assessment of defects

• Defects are classified as minor, major or dangerous, with minor defects being insufficient to fail vehicles.
• Where defects are dangerous, the use of the vehicle on public roads may be suspended until the fault is rectified.

Roadworthiness certificate

When a vehicle already registered in another Member State is re-registered, its certificate must be recognised by other Member States, even where ownership has changed.

By 2021, testing centres will be required to share relevant information with the national authority of their Member State.

European electronic vehicle information platform

The feasibility, costs and benefits of setting up a European electronic vehicle information platform are to be examined.

Fraud

• To detect odometer fraud (manipulating the device used to measure distance travelled), data from the preceding test is to be made available to the inspectors.
• Misrepresenting the distance a vehicle has covered is a punishable offence.

FROM WHEN DOES THE DIRECTIVE APPLY?

The directive had to be transposed into national law by 20 May 2017. These rules should apply from 20 May 2018.

BACKGROUND

For further information, see:

• Road safety (European Commission).

MAIN DOCUMENT

Directive 2014/45/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 April 2014 on periodic roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers and repealing Directive 2009/40/EC (OJ L 127, 29.4.2014, pp. 51–128).

Successive amendments to Directive 2014/45/EU have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.

last update 22.06.2023