Modification of technical inspection deadlines

In summary

Due to the health crisis related to COVID-19, many vehicles had to undergo their technical inspections during lockdown. To help drivers meet this obligation despite restrictions, the government modified the deadlines for the technical control. In this article, we will explore the changes made and their impact.

Statistics and data

Recent statistics and data highlight the importance of deadline extensions for technical inspections, especially in the context of the COVID-19 health crisis.

Impact of deadline extensions

According to data provided by the networks Sécuritest and Auto Sécurité, around 3 million drivers risked being in violation without the deadline extensions. This figure underscores the extent of the problem and the need for exceptional measures to prevent an overload of technical inspection centers.

Increased deadlines for appointments

The average wait time to get an appointment at a technical inspection center has increased to about 2 weeks from 2 days previously. This increase is due to several factors:

• Reduced capacity: Centers had to reduce their capacity to comply with health measures, thus lengthening wait times.
• Rising demand: With extensions, many drivers postponed their visits, causing a congestion at centers.

Effects on road safety

The deadline extensions also helped maintain high levels of safety on roads. Giving motorists more time to prepare their vehicles reduced the risks of major or critical failures. Here are some key points:

• Necessary repairs: Drivers had more time to perform necessary repairs, ensuring vehicles were in good condition before the technical inspection.
• Reduction in accidents: By avoiding rushing, drivers could focus on their vehicle’s safety, which contributed to decreasing accidents related to mechanical failures.

Adaptation of control centers

Technical inspection centers had to quickly adapt to new regulations and increased demand. Some measures taken include:

• Extended opening hours: Some centers extended their hours to accommodate more vehicles each day.
• Strengthening teams: Additional technicians were temporarily recruited to handle the surge in requests.
• Health measures: Strict protocols were established to ensure employee and customer safety, including regular disinfection of premises and maintaining social distancing.

Changes following the confinement period

As part of the state of health emergency in effect until July 10, 2020, the government decided to modify the deadlines for technical checks. This modification concerns all vehicles whose technical inspections expired after March 12, 2020.

What is the purpose of the technical inspection?

The main objective of the technical inspection is to detect defects in vehicles. It thus helps enhance safety on the roads.

Since May 2018, 132 inspection points are checked for each vehicle during every visit. The main points include braking, steering, pollution, etc.

Pollution is increasingly emphasized during technical checks to prevent the circulation of polluting vehicles. Car manufacturers must comply with standards to be in compliance. They add integrated pollution regulators to their vehicles. The most common regulator is the particulate filter (FAP).

It is present on most diesel vehicles and is gradually starting to appear on petrol vehicles.

Drivers thus become aware of minor, major, and critical failures in their vehicle.

From there, they can have necessary repairs made, thus avoiding more significant problems.

Environmental impact

The new technical regulations have been implemented with a clear goal: reduce CO2 emissions and protect the environment. These rules are especially strict for diesel vehicles, often criticized for their polluting emissions.

Enhanced anti-pollution testing

Anti-pollution tests have been significantly strengthened to ensure vehicles do not exceed emission levels observed at purchase. Here are some key aspects of these tests:

• Precise measurement of emissions: Technical checks now include accurate measurements of CO2, NOx (nitrogen oxides), and particulate emissions, especially for diesel vehicles.
• Strict standards: Vehicles must comply with tighter emission standards. For example, particulate and NOx levels must be lower than at the time of purchase.
• Continuous monitoring: On-board diagnostic systems (OBD) are used to continuously monitor engine performance and emissions control systems.

Repairs and compliance

Necessary repairs to meet environmental standards must be carried out at specialized garages, not at inspection centers. This guarantees repairs are performed by qualified professionals capable of handling complex emission issues. Here’s how it works:

• Issue detection: During the technical check, if high emission levels are detected, the vehicle must be repaired to resolve these issues before a reinspection.
• Intervention by specialized garages: These garages can perform repairs such as replacing particulate filters (FAP), repairing exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) systems, and other critical components to reduce emissions.
• Certification of repairs: After repairs, vehicles often need to pass a new test to certify that emission levels comply with current standards.

Positive effects on the environment

The new regulations and strengthened technical controls have several beneficial effects on the environment:

• Reduction of emissions: Decreasing CO2 and NOx emissions helps improve air quality, especially in densely populated urban areas.
• Fewer polluting vehicles on roads: By detecting and requiring repairs for vehicles with high emissions, the new rules contribute to reducing the number of polluting vehicles circulating.
• Encouragement of clean technologies: Strict regulations push manufacturers and vehicle owners to adopt cleaner technologies, such as electric or hybrid vehicles, which emit fewer pollutants.

Concrete cases of positive impact

Take the example of Mrs. Martin, owner of a diesel vehicle. During her technical inspection, NOx emissions were found to be above standards. She was directed to a specialized garage which replaced the faulty EGR system. After repairs, her vehicle not only passed the technical check, but its emissions were also significantly reduced, contributing to better air quality.

Changes to technical check deadlines post-confinement

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the government extended the deadlines for technical checks (https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/actualites/A13969).

The new deadlines are part of the Ordinance No. 2020-560 of May 13. Thus, owners of vehicles with scheduled technical inspections or re-inspections between March 12 and June 23 will have additional time to go to a control center.

For light vehicles:

• The deadline is extended until August 23 inclusive for technical checks (or re-inspections) scheduled between March 12 and June 23. Without vehicle regularization after August 23, the driver will be liable to sanctions.

For heavy vehicles:

An additional 18 days are granted compared to the initial date of the technical check or re-inspection.

However, if the validity date of a vehicle’s technical check is before March 12, 2020, these new deadlines do not apply, and the owner is in violation if the check is not performed.

As a reminder, to pass your technical inspection, you need to have:

• the registration document of the vehicle,
• the compliance certificate,
• the technical sheet,
• the visit certificate and the appointment.

Why this modification of the technical check deadline?

This modification aims to prevent the congestion of many drivers rushing to centers to be compliant by August 23, 2020.

It is also intended to help reduce the overload of centers that may not be able to inspect all vehicles by August 23.

With all the sanitary measures the centers will need to adopt, the inspection time will be increased by approximately 20% according to industry professionals.

Due to COVID-19, several other deadlines have been extended by the government. Notably, the deadline for contesting fines has been prolonged.

For more information on these new deadlines and control centers: https://www.papernest.com/etat-des-lieux/actualites/delais-controle-technique/

Case studies and practical examples

Case of Mr. Dupont

Let’s consider Mr. Dupont, a motorist whose technical check expired on March 15, 2020. Due to confinement measures, Mr. Dupont could not go to a control center before this date. Fortunately, thanks to the deadline extension implemented by the government, he was able to benefit from an additional period to regularize his vehicle’s situation.

During this tolerance period, Mr. Dupont took several measures to ensure his vehicle was in perfect condition:

1. Personal inspection: Mr. Dupont performed a personal inspection of his vehicle, checking basic elements such as brakes, lights, and fluid levels.
2. Visit to the mechanic: He then scheduled an appointment with his usual mechanic for a more in-depth inspection, including brake systems, suspension, and emissions control.
3. Necessary repairs: Minor repairs were identified, including replacing brake pads and fixing a faulty headlight. Mr. Dupont had these repairs carried out without delay.

Thanks to this preparation, Mr. Dupont was able to visit the control center in July, where his vehicle passed the examination without issue. He thus avoided a fine and ensured his vehicle was secured and compliant with current environmental standards.

Case of Mrs. Legrand

Another example is that of Mrs. Legrand, owner of a diesel vehicle whose technical check was due in April 2020. Thanks to the extension of deadlines, she also had extra time to prepare. Mrs. Legrand, concerned about pollution standards, chose to have an de-catalyzation of her engine to reduce her vehicle’s emissions.

1. De-catalyzation of the engine: She scheduled an appointment at a specialized garage for de-catalyzation, a process that cleans carbon deposits in the engine, thus improving performance and reducing pollutant emissions.
2. Verification of filters: The particulate filter (FAP) and air filter were checked and replaced if necessary, ensuring better combustion efficiency and emission reduction.
3. Successful technical check: With these measures, Mrs. Legrand passed the technical inspection successfully in August 2020, avoiding sanctions and contributing to a cleaner environment.

Case of Mr. Ahmed

Mr. Ahmed, owner of a utility vehicle, saw his technical check expire on March 20, 2020. Thanks to the deadline extension, he was able to plan repairs without rushing.

1. Complete revision: He took advantage of this period to carry out a full revision of his vehicle, including a thorough check of steering, suspensions, and braking systems.
2. Document update: Mr. Ahmed made sure all necessary documents, such as the registration card and the compliance certificate, were up to date and ready for inspection.
3. Smooth technical check: In July 2020, he presented himself at the control center, where his vehicle passed the examination without issue, avoiding penalty risks and ensuring road safety.

Practical tips for drivers

1. Plan ahead your appointment several weeks in advance.
2. Prepare all necessary documents before going to the center.
3. Check common inspection points, such as lights, brakes, and tires, before the check.

Comparison with other countries

Technical inspections vary considerably from one country to another, each emphasizing different aspects of vehicle safety and performance. Let’s compare the technical inspection systems in France and Germany to understand key differences.

Germany: Focus on electronic systems

In Germany, inspections are known to be particularly rigorous. The checks, called Hauptuntersuchung (HU), include not only standard safety and pollution tests but also specific checks for electronic systems in modern vehicles.

German technicians pay special attention to the following:

• Driver assistance systems: Vehicles are examined to ensure systems like ABS (Anti-lock Braking System), ESP (Electronic Stability Program), and parking sensors function correctly.
• On-board diagnostics systems (OBD): Modern cars are equipped with OBD systems that monitor engine performance and emissions. In Germany, inspectors verify these systems to ensure they properly report faults.
• Lighting and signaling: Automatic daytime running lights, adaptive headlights, and other sophisticated lighting systems are also tested for compliance with standards.

France: Focus on emissions and road safety

In France, the technical check emphasizes reducing CO2 emissions and improving road safety. Since the strengthening of standards in July 2019, vehicles must pass a rigorous test with 133 inspection points. The main inspection areas are:

• Pollutant emissions: Pollution tests are intensified for diesel vehicles, with strict requirements on particulate and NOx (nitrogen oxides) levels. Vehicles must also have functioning particulate filters (FAP).
• Brake and steering safety: Particular attention is paid to braking systems and steering to ensure no major or critical failures.
• Visibility and lighting: Inspections verify the condition of windshields, mirrors, and the effectiveness and compliance of lighting and signaling systems.
• Chassis and suspension: The vehicle’s structure and suspension systems are checked for wear or damage that could compromise safety.

Common points and differences

• Thoroughness and depth of checks: Both countries have strict systems, but Germany’s inspections go further in checking advanced electronic systems, whereas France focuses more on emissions and mechanical safety components.
• Technology and modernization: Germany’s emphasis on electronic systems reflects adaptation to modern vehicles equipped with advanced technologies. Conversely, France emphasizes environmental impacts and mechanical safety, addressing rising concerns about pollution and road safety.
• Regulatory framework: Regulations in France and Germany are both influenced by EU directives, but each country customizes these directives to its national priorities.

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