Technical inspection of a car (category M1)

Verified 01 January 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

You are wondering how soon you need to do the periodic technical inspection of your car after a counter-visit favorable? We tell you what you need to know about the technical inspection of a vehicle of category M1 of which the PTAC: titleContent is less than or equal to 3,5 tons ( private car, motorhome)

The roadworthiness test shall not relieve the owner of the vehicle of the obligation to maintain in good working order and in a satisfactory state of maintenance.

One vehicle of category M1 of which the PTAC: titleContent is 3.5 tons maximum (car, camper) is subject to a mandatory periodic technical inspection regardless of the energy source used (thermal, hybrid, electric, etc.). Some vehicles are, however dispensed.

Technical inspection of a vehicle of category M1 relates to a vehicle whose PTAC: titleContent is less than or equal to 3,5 tons which meets one of the following criteria (see box J of the certificate of registration (indent):

  • Category M1 or M1G (box J)
  • National gender VP (box J1)
  • Gender VASP: titleContent (box J1) and body corresponding to category M1 (box J3)
  • Type VTSU (box J1) and body CARAVAN or FG FUNER (box J3)

On 1er technical inspection must be carried out in the 6 months before the 4e birthday of the 1re putting the vehicle into circulation.

Control is at your initiative. You do not receive a summons.

Example :

On 1er roadworthiness test of a vehicle put into service on 1er october 2022 must take place between 1er April 2026 and September 30, 2026.

You can contact any center technical inspection approved in France.

An online service allows you to locate the approved centers by department or municipality:

Search for an approved technical inspection center and its prices

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

In addition to the certificate of registration, you must submit one of the following documents, depending on the situation:

  • In the event of a significant modification of the vehicle, the certificate of receipt of the information package in isolation, indicating the reason for receipt, dated less than one year
  • In the presence of a vehicle-settled superethanol kit whose registration certificate does not mention one of the expected energies (FE-FL-FN-FG-FH-FR-FQ-FM or FP), the certificate of conformity issued by the manufacturer and the prototype approval report
  • In the case of a vehicle where electrical energy is the only driving energy (no thermal engine), if the registration certificate does not mention the expected energy (EL, HE or HH), the certificate of conformity issued by the manufacturer
  • In the presence of a VASP/HANDICAP vehicle for public or non-public use, put into circulation from 01/03/2021, a certificate of fitting out of a vehicle of category M1 equipped to be accessible to persons with reduced mobility.

The fees of technical inspection are at the expense of the vehicle owner.

The price periodic technical inspection and counter-visit are variables by center.

Prices must be displayed at the main entrance to the center in a visible and legible manner. They are classified by type of energy : gasoline, diesel, gas, hybrid, electric.

An online service allows you to locate the authorized centers and consult the catalog of their prices.

Search for an approved technical inspection center and its prices

The controller checks 133 checkpoints concerning the following functions:

  • Identification of the vehicle: license plate, identification number, chassis or serial number, recall campaign, etc.
  • Equipment of braking : wafers, disks…
  • Direction : steering wheel, housing…
  • Visibility : windshields, mirrors…
  • Lights, reflective devices and electrical equipment (in particular those of an electric vehicle such as the battery, the charging cable, the trunk with traction battery…)
  • Axles, wheels, tires, suspension
  • Chassis and chassis accessories
  • Other material: safety belts, horn (horn)...
  • Nuisance : pollution, noise level
Illustration X - Illustration
Illustration X
Crédits: Direction de l’information légale et administrative

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The functions checked during the roadworthiness test of a car are as follows:

· Identification of the vehicle. For example, license plate.

· Braking equipment. For example, platelets, disks.

· Direction. For example, steering wheel, housing.

· Visibility. For example, windshields, mirrors.

· Lights, reflective devices and electrical equipment

· Axles, wheels, tires, suspension

· Chassis and chassis accessories

· Other equipment. For example, seat belts, audible warning.

· Nuisance: pollution, noise level

FYI  

Since 1 ᵉʳ January 2026, the inspector checks whether your vehicle is affected by a recall campaign that the manufacturer has described as serious. For example, vehicle with Takata airbag.

  • If the vehicle is classified stop drive and that it has not been repaired, it is put in counter-visit and can't move until it's fixed.
  • If the vehicle is classified as a simple recall, you are informed to verify that the necessary repairs have been made.

The failures found during the roadworthiness test of a vehicle are classified according to their level of severity.

  • Minor failure : there are no consequences for the safety of the vehicle or the environment.
  • Major failure : it may compromise the safety of the vehicle, have a negative impact on the environment, or endanger other road users.
  • Critical failure : it poses a direct and immediate danger to road safety or has a serious impact on the environment.

The roadworthiness test of the vehicle results in a result :

  • Favorable (A) in the absence of a major and critical failure
  • Unfavorable for major failures (S) in the absence of a critical failure and where at least one major failure is identified
  • Unfavorable for critical failures (R) when at least one critical failure is found.

The result favorable (no failure found) of the periodic technical inspection is valid 2 years for one vehicle of category M1 of which the PTAC: titleContent is 3.5 tons maximum (car, camper).

There is no counter-visit to be made.

One stamp on the vehicle registration certificate (-) indicates the expiry date of the control.

Example :

A periodic technical inspection carried out on 14 May 2025, with a favorable result, shall be valid until 14 May 2027. The next periodic inspection must be carried out by 14 May 2027.

FYI  

The modification of the vehicle registration shall not affect the validity of the roadworthiness test. For example, following the registration of a used vehicle.

The unfavorable result of a roadworthiness test entails the obligation to carry out a counter-visit .

Duration of validity of unfavorable roadworthiness test

The validity of the periodic roadworthiness test depends on the result:

  • The validity of the check shall be 2 months from the date of the periodic technical inspection if the result is unfavorable for major failure (S).
  • The validity of the check shall be limited to day of inspection if the result is critical failure adverse (R).

In the 2 cases, a counter-visit must be carried out within 2 months after the periodic technical inspection.

Example :

A roadworthiness test carried out on 14 May 2026, with an unfavorable result for major failure (S), is valid until 14 July 2026.

A roadworthiness test carried out on 14 May 2026, with an unfavorable result for critical failure (R), is limited to 14 May 2026.

In all 2 cases, a counter-visit must be carried out before July 14, 2026.

Documents to be presented in counter-visit

You must submit the following 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.

Center where to make the counter-visit

You can make the counter-visit in the approved center that carried out the periodic technical inspection where the failures were found, or in another approved center.

Checked points during the counter-visit

The controller shall determine the items to be checked on the basis of the deficiencies found during the roadworthiness test and shall verify that the deficiencies found have been repaired.

You can download the order of 18 June 1991 defining the points to be checked in Annex I.

Duration of validity of the favorable counter-visit

The favorable counter-visit has a validity of 2 years from the date of the unfavorable periodic technical inspection at the origin of the counter-inspection

Example :

A periodic technical inspection is carried out on 5 June 2026 with an unfavorable result. The counter-visit is carried out on July 4, 2026 with a favorable result. The favorable counter-visit is valid until 5 June 2028, the date of the next periodic inspection.

One minutes the roadworthiness test shall be given to the person presenting the vehicle.

The minutes mention the following points:

  • Nature of the control (periodic technical inspection, counter-inspection)
  • Date of control
  • Result 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 statement
  • Information on unfavorable roadworthiness test
  • Failures and severity levels (critical, major or minor failures, mileages recorded in technical inspection, possible comments)
  • Measurements carried out.

FYI  

It is no longer possible to include the statement on the roadworthiness test report non-rolling vehicle.

Technical inspection minutes

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

completed with the certificate of registration stamp

At the end of the roadworthiness test, the inspector shall affix a stamp, referred to as a registration certificate stamp, to the vehicle registration certificate ({circumflex over (X)}). This stamp indicates the result and the expiry date of the inspection carried out.

The certificate of registration of vehicle completed with the stamp of the registration certificate or with the expiry date of the inspection constitutes a evidence technical inspection.

Copy of minutes or duplicate of minutes

A copy of the minutes or a duplicate the minutes signed by the controller shall also constitute proof of the roadworthiness test. This document must be accompanied by a attestation issued by the approved center which carried out the roadworthiness test.

The certificate shall indicate the identification of the approved inspection center which carried out the roadworthiness test, the vehicle registration number, its serial number of the vehicle type or VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) and the information on the stamp of the registration certificate.

FYI  

At the end of the roadworthiness test, and when the vehicle is equipped with a windshield, the controller shall position a thumbnail inside the vehicle, front visible from the outside, on the lower right part of the windshield. The thumbnail indicates the expiry date of the inspection carried out.

The site HistoVec allows you to view the administrative history of your vehicle registered in the SIV: titleContent, in particular the mileage history linked to the various technical inspections.

View your vehicle information online on the “HistoVec” platform

You can also apply online:

Online request for history of technical inspections of his vehicle

In case of loss of the minutes, you must request a duplicate and a certificate at the center where the inspection was carried out.

The certificate shall indicate the identification of the approved inspection center which carried out the roadworthiness test, the vehicle registration number, its serial number of the vehicle type or VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) and the information on the stamp of the registration certificate.

An online service allows you to obtain the coordinates of the last pass center of your vehicle.

Find the coordinates of the technical control center of the last passage of his vehicle

The owner of the vehicle who does not comply with the roadworthiness test obligations shall be sanctioned by a fine up to €750. As a rule, it is a flat-rate fine from €135.

In case of control by the police or gendarmerie, a decision to immobilize can be taken. The immobilization decision shall prescribe the presentation of the vehicle to a roadworthiness test at a driver's choice testing facility. In this case, the driver's certificate of registration (*) shall be retained. One traffic card valid for 7 days it is handed over to enable it to carry out the technical inspection. In order to recover his/her license, the driver must present to the police station or gendarmerie the technical inspection report attesting to his/her satisfactory result.

The impounding the vehicle may also be decided in the absence of presentation to the mandatory technical inspections, or in the case where the prescribed repairs or improvements are not carried out.

In the event of a dispute over the result of the roadworthiness test, remedies are displayed in the center who issued the minutes.

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