TÜV in Germany: How to Pass the HU/AU Inspection, Deadlines, Costs, and Fines

TÜV in Germany is the colloquial name for the mandatory Hauptuntersuchung (HU), meaning the technical inspection of a car, motorcycle, trailer, or other registered vehicle. For most new passenger cars, the first HU is due 3 years after first registration, then every 2 years. Since 2010, the emissions test Abgasuntersuchung (AU) has been part of the overall HU procedure.

The main purpose of the inspection is to confirm that the vehicle is safe for road use, complies with operating regulations, and does not violate environmental requirements. It is not a service appointment and not a guarantee that the car is in perfect condition: the inspector is looking specifically for defects that matter from a legal point of view.

HU, AU, and why everyone says “TÜV”

Historically, vehicle inspections were long associated with TÜV organizations, so in everyday speech Germans still say TÜV machen, TÜV bekommen, or TÜV-Plakette. Formally, this is the Hauptuntersuchung under § 29 StVZO.

You can pass the HU not only at TÜV. The inspection is carried out by accredited organizations and technical services, for example:

• TÜV;
• DEKRA;
• GTÜ;
• KÜS;
• FSP;
• partner workshops where a Prüfingenieur comes on scheduled days.

If you service your car at a Werkstatt, it is often more convenient to ask there about the next HU date. The workshop can check weak points in advance, fix obvious defects, and then arrange the inspection through one of the authorized organizations.

What is checked during the inspection

HU evaluates not comfort and not the remaining lifespan of the car, but whether it is fit for use on the road. The inspection usually covers:

• brakes and steering;
• lights, indicators, brake lights, and license-plate illumination;
• tires, rims, suspension, and the condition of the underside of the body;
• license plates, mirrors, windows, and seat belts;
• leaks of oil, fuel, and other fluids;
• the function of electronic safety systems, if they are present;
• mandatory items in the car: a first-aid kit, a warning triangle, and a reflective vest;
• modifications to the vehicle and the documents for them.

If the vehicle electronics allow it, the inspector may use an HU adapter to read data from onboard systems. The inspection of a passenger car itself usually takes around 30 minutes, but the actual time depends on the queue, the type of vehicle, and the defects found.

Inspectors also check mandatory items to keep in the car.

Abgasuntersuchung: emissions test

AU checks whether the engine stays within the permitted emissions values. For petrol and diesel cars, the components related to the exhaust system are checked, and if necessary measurements are taken at the exhaust pipe.

For an ordinary driver, the important points are these:

• AU is part of the HU, and there is no longer a separate front sticker for emissions;
• electric cars undergo HU, but the emissions check does not apply to them;
• if the AU was done separately before the HU, the confirmation must still be recent enough, so it is better to confirm the time limit with the Prüfstelle in advance;
• older, special, or non-standard vehicles may have exceptions, but it is safer to verify them in the vehicle documents and the StVZO rules.

When to do TÜV: main deadlines

The exact date of the next HU is shown in the Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I (Fahrzeugschein), in the report from the last inspection, and on the rear license-plate sticker. The table below shows the basic intervals for typical cases.

Vehicle	First HU	Following HUs
Private passenger car	after 36 months	every 24 months
Motorcycle	every 24 months	every 24 months
Electric car	same as a regular passenger car	same as a regular passenger car
Motorhome up to 3.5 t	after 36 months	every 24 months
Motorhome over 3.5 t up to 7.5 t	every 24 months during the first 72 months	then annually
Motorhome over 7.5 t	annually	annually
Trailer up to 750 kg or without its own braking system	after 36 months	every 24 months
Trailer over 750 kg up to 3.5 t	every 24 months	every 24 months
Trailer over 3.5 t up to 10 t	annually	annually
Truck or commercial vehicle up to 3.5 t	every 24 months	every 24 months
Truck or commercial vehicle over 3.5 t up to 7.5 t	annually	annually

For taxis, buses, rental vehicles, heavy trucks, and some special categories, the intervals may differ. If the vehicle is used commercially or has a non-standard registration, rely not on the general table but on the documents and the official Prüfstelle.

What to bring with you

The minimum set for the HU:

• Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I: vehicle registration certificate;
• documents for structural modifications, if any: ABE, Teilegutachten, Eintragung, and permits for tuning;
• the previous HU report, if you are coming for a repeat inspection after defects were found;
• keys for the trunk, tow bar, or other elements that need to be opened or checked.

Before the visit, it is worth making sure the car contains a first-aid kit that is still within its expiry date, a warning triangle, and a high-visibility vest. If a removable tow bar, extra seats, or accessories are part of the inspected configuration, it is better to have them with you as well.

Preparation checklist before the HU

A simple self-check often saves money on a Nachuntersuchung:

• the license plates are readable, clean, and securely attached;
• all headlights, rear lights, indicators, hazard lights, brake lights, and license-plate lighting work;
• the windshield wipers and washer system work properly;
• the horn works;
• the seat belts are undamaged and lock properly;
• there are no permanently lit ABS, airbag, ESP, or engine warning lights on the dashboard;
• the tires have no visible damage and the tread depth is not below 1.6 mm;
• the brakes do not make suspicious noises and the car does not pull to one side;
• there are no fresh traces of oil, fuel, or coolant under the vehicle;
• the mirrors, windshield, and the driver’s field of vision have no critical damage;
• the exhaust system is not hanging loose and is not excessively loud;
• tuning parts, the tow bar, wheels, and other modifications are documented if required.

For winter and long trips, it is also useful to separately review the rules on winter tires.

Defect categories at the HU

After the inspection, the vehicle receives a result according to the defect category. This determines whether a new sticker will be issued.

Category	What it means	What happens to the sticker
OM — Ohne erkennbare Mängel	no defects were found	issued immediately
HW — Hinweise	these are not defects but warnings about possible future problems	issued immediately
GM — Geringe Mängel	minor defects with no expected danger to traffic or the environment	the sticker may be issued, but the defects must be fixed quickly
EM — Erhebliche Mängel	significant defects affecting safety or environmental compliance	the sticker is not issued; a Nachuntersuchung is required
VM — Gefährliche Mängel	defects create a direct danger, but without an immediate operating ban	the sticker is not issued; you may continue driving only with great caution and for the purpose of fixing the defect
VU — Verkehrsunsicher	the vehicle is unsafe for road traffic	the sticker is removed, use of the vehicle is prohibited, and the Zulassungsstelle is informed

If the car fails the HU because of significant or dangerous defects, they must be repaired and you must come for a Nachuntersuchung within one month. If you miss that deadline, you will usually have to pay for a new full inspection.

On the sticker, the number in the center shows the year of the next HU, and the number at the top shows the month.

What happens after a successful TÜV

If the HU/AU is passed:

• you receive a Hauptuntersuchung report;
• a note is entered in the Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I;
• a new Prüfplakette is placed on the rear license plate;
• the old deadline is no longer relevant: the new date is counted from the actual month of the successful HU.

Vehicle inspection documents are useful when selling a car, registering it, or re-registering the vehicle.

A note about the HU is entered in the registration documents.

It is best to keep the HU report together with the vehicle documents.

AU is part of the overall Hauptuntersuchung system.

The HU sticker is placed on the rear license plate.

How to read the Prüfplakette

The TÜV sticker is read like this:

• the number in the center is the year when the next HU is due;
• the number at the top is the deadline month;
• the black sector helps the police and other road users identify the month from a distance;
• the color shows the year of the next inspection.

In 2026, vehicles whose HU is due in 2026 have a blue sticker. After a successful inspection in 2026, a car with the usual two-year interval receives a sticker for 2028, which means brown. The sequence of colors repeats every six years: orange -> blue -> yellow -> brown -> pink -> green.

The color helps you quickly understand the year of the next inspection, but legally the month and the entries in the documents also matter.

How much TÜV costs in Germany

There is no single price across all of Germany. The cost depends on the federal state, the type of vehicle, its weight, whether AU is included, the organization, and the specific Prüfstelle.

Reference points for 2026:

Service	Approximate range for an ordinary case
Passenger car up to 3.5 t without AU	about 100-110 € in some federal states, but local price lists differ
Passenger car up to 3.5 t with AU	often around 160-166 €
Motorcycle with AU	around 94 € at some inspection organizations
Trailer without brakes	around 45-50 €
Braked trailer up to 3.5 t	around 68 €
Nachuntersuchung	usually noticeably cheaper than a full HU; the exact amount depends on the organization

If the HU is overdue by more than 2 months, the inspection becomes extended, and the net HU cost may increase by about 20%. Before booking, it is better to open the price list of the specific organization in your federal state.

Fines for an overdue HU

The inspection organization does not issue the fine, but the police or the Straßenverkehrsbehörde may notice the delay. For ordinary vehicles that do not require a separate Sicherheitsprüfung, the basic amounts are:

How overdue the HU is	Fine	Points in Flensburg
up to 2 months	usually no fine, but you should go for the inspection as soon as possible	—
more than 2 up to 4 months	15 €	—
more than 4 up to 8 months	25 €	—
more than 8 months	60 €	1

For vehicles that must undergo a Sicherheitsprüfung, the amounts may be higher. Separately, there may be a 15 € fine if you do not come for the Nachuntersuchung in time after defects have been identified.

If an overdue HU comes up after an accident, liability insurance usually does not disappear automatically: motor third-party liability insurance protects the injured party. But if the accident is linked to a defect that could have been detected during the HU, the insurer may bring recourse claims or limit payments under comprehensive insurance. In complicated cases, it is worth clarifying your insurer’s position and consulting a specialist.

Common mistakes before TÜV

• Going to the HU with the airbag, ABS, or check engine light on and hoping the inspector will not notice.
• Treating a service appointment as a replacement for the Hauptuntersuchung. These are different procedures.
• Forgetting the documents for tuning, the tow bar, wheels, or other modifications.
• Coming to the Nachuntersuchung later than one month.
• Looking only at the color of the sticker without checking the month.
• Buying a used car without checking how recent the HU is and what defects were listed previously.

FAQ on vehicle inspection in Germany

Question	Short answer
Can I do the HU in another federal state or city?	Yes, the place where the car is registered usually does not limit your choice of Prüfstelle.
Do I need to carry the HU report with me?	The deadline is usually visible from the sticker and documents, but it is better to keep the report in the car or at home with important papers.
What should I do if the car fails the HU?	Fix the defects and come for the Nachuntersuchung within one month.
Can I keep driving after EM or VM?	Only taking the nature of the defects into account and for the purpose of fixing them; in the case of VU, use of the vehicle is prohibited.
Do I have to pay if the HU is not passed?	Yes. The inspection itself is paid for regardless of the result.
Is it possible to “arrange something” with the inspector?	No. Attempts to get around the inspection are illegal and may lead to serious consequences.
What should I look at when buying a used car?	The date of the next HU, the report from the last inspection, the list of defects, and whether tuning matches the documents.
Does an electric car need TÜV?	Yes. An electric car undergoes HU on the usual schedule, but without an emissions check.