Technical inspection for a 2, 3 wheel or motor quadricycle (category L)

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

You wonder in what time frame you have to do the 1er mandatory technical inspection of your motorcycle? We inform you about the technical inspection of a motorized vehicle with 2 or 3 wheels and motor quadricycle (L-category vehicle).

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.

The roadworthiness test concerns motor vehicles with 2 or 3 wheels and motor quadricycles (L-category vehicles): motorcycles, scooters, quads... Some vehicles are, however dispensed.

The following vehicles belong to category L:

  • Vehicle category L1e  : 2-wheeled vehicle with a maximum design speed of 6 km/h or more and not more than 45 km/h and fitted with an engine of a cylinder capacity not exceeding 50 cm ³ if it is spark-ignition internal combustion and a maximum net power not exceeding 4 kilowatts
  • L2e vehicle: 3-wheel vehicle with a maximum design speed of 6 km/h or more and not more than 45 km/h and fitted with an engine of a cylinder capacity not exceeding 50 cm3 if it is a positive-ignition internal combustion engine or has a cylinder capacity not exceeding 500 cm³ if it is a compression-ignition internal combustion engine with a maximum net power not exceeding 4 kilowatts
  • L3e vehicle: two-wheeled vehicle without sidecar other than L1
  • Vehicle category L4e: vehicle of category L3e equipped with a sidecar capable of carrying not more than 4 persons, including the driver, of whom not more than two are in the sidecar
  • L5e vehicle: 3-wheeled vehicle other than L2e and with a mass in running order not exceeding 1 000 kg
  • L6e vehicle: 4-wheel motor vehicle with an unladen weight not exceeding 425 kg, a maximum design speed not exceeding 6 km/h and not exceeding 45 km/h and a cylinder capacity not exceeding 50 cm³ for positive-ignition internal combustion engines, 500 cm³ for compression-ignition internal combustion engines and designed to carry not more than two persons including the driver
  • Vehicle category L7e: 4-wheeled motor vehicle not belonging to category L6e with an unladen weight not exceeding 600 kg for quadricycles used for the carriage of goods and 450 kg for quadricycles used for the carriage of passengers.

The roadworthiness test of a motor vehicle with 2 or 3 wheels and four-wheel motor cycles concerns a vehicle which meets one of the following criteria (see certificate of registration :

  • Category L (box J)
  • National gender (box J1): CL 2-wheel moped or 3-wheel unbodied moped, or CYCL 2-wheel moped or 3-wheel unbodied moped, or MTL Light motorcycle, or MTT1 Motorcycle with a maximum net power EC of 25 kW or less with a power to weight ratio not exceeding 0,16 kW/kg, or MTT2 Other motorcycles, or QM Motor quadricycle, or TM Motor tricycle.

The date of 1er roadworthiness test of a L-category vehicle varies according to its date of registration.

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

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2020 and 2021 registered vehicle

The 1er roadworthiness test to be completed in 2026.

The check must be carried out no later than 4 months after the anniversary date of their 1re bet putting into circulation, up to 31 December 2026.

Example :

On 1er roadworthiness testing of a vehicle registered in 2021 and put into service on 20 June 2021 must be carried out by 20 October 2026.

Vehicle registered in 2022 and after

The 1er roadworthiness test must be completed within 6 months before 5e birthday of their 1re putting into circulation.

Example :

On 1er roadworthiness test of a vehicle registered in 2022, put into service on 1er october 2022, must be completed between 1er April 2027 and September 30, 2027.

FYI  

The 1er roadworthiness test vehicles registered in 2017, 2018 and 2019 was to be realized in 2025.

An online service allows you to locate the approved centers for technical inspection of a L-category vehicle by department.

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

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.

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 must check 80 checkpoints concerning the following functions:

  • Identification of the vehicle: vehicle documents, license plate…
  • Equipment of braking 
  • Direction 
  • Visibility 
  • Lights, reflective devices and electrical equipment
  • Axles, wheels, tires, suspension
  • Chassis and chassis accessories
  • Other material: horn (audible warning device)…
  • 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.

  • 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 technical inspection of the vehicle shall result 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 roadworthiness test is valid 3 years for one L-category vehicle.

There is no counter-visit to be made.

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

Example :

A roadworthiness test carried out on 14 May 2025, with a favorable result, shall be valid until 14 May 2028.

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.

Duration of validity of the favorable counter-visit

The favorable counter-visit has a validity of 3 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 2029, 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.

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 immobilization decision 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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