The corona crisis also affects everyday driving. The trip to the main inspection, the workshop appointment or a test drive with a possible new car: What do you need to know now?
Hamburg (dpa / tmn) - The corona crisis and the blockage of contacts mean that even drivers are no longer taken for granted at the moment. So what should you know when the main inspection (HU) is due, a workshop appointment or even a police subpoena?
No car or motorcycle owner has to worry or even fear a fine because he misses an HU appointment. In order to take the current situation into account, the Federal Ministry of Transport recommended that the police authorities and the Federal Office for Freight Transport temporarily refrain from punishing exceedances by up to four months, says Daniela Mielchen, specialist lawyer for traffic law from Hamburg. This should ensure mobility if no HU can currently be carried out. Usually, an HU appointment may only be exceeded by a maximum of two months.
Do not ignore subpoenas
There will currently be few subpoenas. "You are generally not obliged to comply with a subpoena by the police. This is only the case if the subpoena is issued on behalf of the public prosecutor or by a court," explains Mielchen. However, even in the current situation, it is not advisable to simply ignore a subpoena or just cancel by phone.
A certificate is always necessary for a cancellation. "In order to slow down the spread of the virus, courts, public prosecutors and other authorities are required to reduce negotiations and hearings to important cases that cannot be postponed," says Mielchen.
What do the protective measures look like in workshops?
The situation is different in car dealerships and car workshops. In many places, operations continue to run normally there, albeit under different circumstances. "Comprehensive protective measures are being taken everywhere, we keep our distance and we have returned to single-use protection for the steering wheel and seats in many companies," explains Thomas Peckruhn from the Central Association of the German Motor Vehicle Industry (ZDK).
However, test drives are no longer offered in many places and are even prohibited in some federal states. Because in the federal state there is an exit restriction like in Bavaria, there must be a valid reason for visiting the workshop, for example a necessary, safety-related repair, explains the ADAC. "Many workshops now offer a pick-up and delivery service so that car owners don't have to leave the house," says Peckruhn.
If you currently want to do without an inspection and fear that you will lose your guarantee if you exceed the maintenance intervals, you should contact your authorized workshop or the manufacturer as the guarantor, advises the ADAC. Since there has never been a situation like this, it is not clear how the automakers will deal with it.
Can I still register or re-register my vehicle now?
If you want to register, deregister or re-register your car, you usually go to the registration office. It is theoretically also possible to register or register a car from a distance. "Basically, there has been the possibility of internet-based vehicle registration since October 1, 2019, but far from all authorities offer this service," says Mielchen. Drivers should therefore find out from their registration office whether and when it has opened. There are no uniform regulations here.
