Main inspection
High costs: Because of these little things, cars fail the MOT
For testing companies like TÜV, cleanliness and age only play a minor role when it comes to the sticker. What you should pay attention to instead.
Last year, one in five cars failed the general inspection. Only 67.8 percent made it through the exam “without any complaints.” It’s actually not that difficult to get a new sticker on your car on the first try and avoid expensive inspections.
Basically, there are four classes of defects at TÜV (and other testing companies, such as Dekra or GTÜ). Vehicles “with no identified defects” have it easiest – the sticker is issued and there is nothing further to do. So-called “minor deficiencies” do not necessarily lead to failure of the exam. This could be scratches on the mirror or a defective license plate light. In this case, the defect will be noted on the test report and it is expected that it will be remedied immediately – without further inspection. Minor defects can be seen as a goodwill arrangement, as long as you don’t collect too many small defects.
From minor defects to dangerous situations
The situation is different with “significant defects”: If the tires are worn out, the brakes are defective or load-bearing parts are rusted, you fail. You are then given four weeks to correct the defects and go to the HU follow-up examination. The vehicle may be moved within this period. If a proper repair is confirmed when it is presented again, the vehicle will receive a sticker again.
Things are a little more drastic when it comes to “dangerous defects”. If the inspector finds defects that “represent a direct and immediate traffic hazard or affect the environment,” the sticker will be refused. What’s more: If a so-called dangerous situation is noted in the inspection report, the vehicle may only be driven home or to the workshop. The car can be presented again within a month. If everything is OK, you get a sticker.
However, if the inspector determines “an immediate traffic hazard,” the vehicle can also be shut down on site. Participation in road traffic is then immediately excluded. This happens, for example, if the braking or steering systems are defective or the chassis is riddled with rust.
Avoid defects, get the TÜV sticker on the first try
How to avoid a follow-up examination – and get a new sticker straight away – is no secret: . Some things can only be checked in a rudimentary manner, others are very easy to check. There would be, for example:
- Does every lamp on the vehicle work, both inside and outside?
- Are all glasses (headlights, windows) undamaged?
- Do the windshield wipers and windshield washers work?
- Does the car brake as intended?
- Does the horn work?
- Is the engine compartment “dry”?
- How deep is the remaining tire tread?
- Are there a warning triangle, safety vest and first aid kit with a valid expiry date in the car?
- Do any indicator lights light up while driving?
- When tuning: All papers included?
As long as all of this has been checked, there is actually nothing standing in the way of a successful general inspection. The easiest way is of course to have the sticker issued during an inspection. If the vehicle is in a workshop anyway, it is more likely that the defects will be identified and corrected before the inspector arrives – then you don’t have to worry or go through checklists.
Missing sun visors and accessories
But there are also curiosities during the general inspection that you probably don’t have on your list and that aren’t part of the checklists. For example, so-called blind spot mirrors that can be stuck onto the vehicle mirrors. A reviewer will always ask you to remove them. Or, as “” writes, a missing sun visor. According to the specialist magazine, this can be a reason for a minor defect in a convertible.
Also unpopular with inspectors are films on the front windows, painted headlight covers or supposedly suitable LED lamps without explicit approval for the vehicle in question.
Source: Stern
I’m a recent graduate of the University of Missouri with a degree in journalism. I started working as a news reporter for 24 Hours World about two years ago, and I’ve been writing articles ever since. My main focus is automotive news, but I’ve also written about politics, lifestyle, and entertainment.
