One of the duties of a vehicle owner is to regularly drive the car over to the TÜV. Anyone who repairs some things beforehand increases their chances of "getting through".
- Every vehicle has to undergo the main inspection (HU) regularly in order to have its roadworthiness checked by a test organization such as TÜV, Dekra, KÜS or GTÜ .
- Around 160 positions are checked during an HU.
- Legislators stipulate that new cars have to be checked for the first time after three years, after which the check is due every two years .
- With little effort, car owners can check at least some of the test points themselves in advance.
TÜV: When is the test date due?
The next date is noted in the registration certificate part I - better known as a vehicle registration certificate. It can also be read on the inspection sticker on the rear license plate.
The large, central number indicates the year, the number above it indicates the month in which the vehicle has to go to the HU. The color of the badge also shows the year when the next HU is due. There is a color sequence with six colors (orange, blue, yellow, brown, pink and green) that is repeated.
If, for example, a blue sticker is stuck on the sign, the car must be examined this year. If there is a yellow one, the next appointment is not due until 2021. The colored badges make it easier for the police, for example, to recognize whether a vehicle with a valid badge is on the road.
TÜV & Co .: What to do before the main inspection
In the run-up to the HU *, drivers can already check a lot. Is a first- aid kit with a valid expiry date on board? There must also be a warning triangle, at least one warning vest and the charging cable for electric and plug-in vehicles. If you search your vehicle for these things, the best thing to do is take the opportunity to clean it. A rolling garbage dump does not make a good impression on auditors. Washing the car also increases acceptance, and the license plates * are also clearly visible afterwards. A point that is also checked.
For a good view, the windscreen washer system should also work, and the wipers and wiper blades must also be in good condition. The mirrors must not be blind, the windscreen must be intact in the area above the steering wheel.
The horn can be tested quickly, because it also has to work, of course. The tires can also be easily checked. You must have a minimum profile depth of 1.6 millimeters . In addition, the tires must not be damaged; Tires with cracks, dents or cuts are not accepted.
It is also advisable to check the lighting . All lighting equipment on the vehicle must work. The light housings and reflectors as well as the reflectors of the headlights must not be damaged. If the control lamps in the driver's display light up constantly, this is criticized just as much as incorrectly adjusted headlights.
Wiper blades or worn tires can be changed relatively easily before the HU. The replacement of broken lightbulbs is not always easy in modern vehicles; if LED lights come into play, the specialist has to do it. He is also the point of contact when it comes to somewhat more complex vehicle components. If the steering wheel is fluttering, the handbrake is stuck or the windscreen is damaged, a workshop visit is recommended before the main inspection. A loud engine, oil loss or exhaust gas problems should also be checked.
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TÜV for the car: What should you have with you for the main inspection?
You must bring the Part I registration certificate (vehicle registration) with you to the HU. In addition - if changes have been made to the vehicle - the test certificates or change acceptance confirmations of add-on parts such as special wheels or lowering springs. If you have to go to the follow-up examination, the examination report of the previous main examination should also be available.
What to do if the HU does not pass?
If the inspector does not issue a new badge, but only a defect report *, these defects must be remedied immediately . The vehicle must be presented again within one month of the day of the main inspection.
Missed the appointment for the main inspection?
Anyone who has missed the prescribed inspection date should visit an inspection body as soon as possible. Overdrawing is considered an administrative offense if the month binding for the appointment has been exceeded. A warning fee is due if the period for the HU has been exceeded by more than two months. From this point on, the test organizations are obliged to carry out an extended HU. By the way: If you move, you cannot stretch the time until the next appointment. This is entered after the actual date.
You can find more information about the main inspection here.
Elfriede Munsch / SP-X
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