©Thomas Rosenthal/VdTÜV

Many technical defects in motor vehicles have serious implications - not only for the driver. Regular technical inspections save lives. Motor vehicles registered in Germany already require such an inspection periodically (e.g. two years for passenger cars). In 2014, new EU directives, updated to improve road safety, the so-called 'roadworthiness package' (Directive 2014/45/EU, Directive 2014/46/EU, Directive 2014/47/EU), have been adopted. The Member States agreed on minimum common standards for periodic technical inspections, vehicle registration documents and roadside inspections of commercial vehicles. It will, however, be possible for individual Member States to keep or impose higher standards than those laid down in the directives.

However, according to the political consensus in Germany, the high level of technical inspections should not be reduced by lower EU standards. Independent testing and inspecting guarantees impartiality and protects the consumer.