Conducting periodic technical inspections

Amendment to the ‘Guidelines for Conducting Periodic Technical Inspections (HU)’ and the assessment of defects identified in vehicles during such inspections pursuant to Section 29, Annexes VIII and VIIIa of the StVZO (‘HU Guidelines’)

The main aim of the changes is to standardise the assessment of defects during periodic technical inspections (HU) across the country and to improve the quality and traceability of these tests.

Material changes

Changes to the way mileage is recorded: The existing entry on Union Code 4 is clarified. In the future, it shall read as follows: ‘Odometer reading at the time of the test (if available)’.
Revised version of the assessment criteria for defects (No. 4): The defects listed in Annex 2 and their related assessments must be applied in accordance with the provisions set out therein. Deviating classifications by testing centres are not permitted in principle. Technical testing centres and monitoring organisations must also implement these requirements in their testing programmes.

Introduction or mandatory use of a ‘defect categorisation structure’:
The defects listed in Annex 2 are supplemented by detailed descriptions and damage patterns. All testing organisations must use the same defect categorisation structure. This is intended to facilitate a more uniform assessment of defects.
For vehicle owners, the test reports will become more comprehensible, as the defects will be described with greater detail.

Update to the list of defects:
The structure of Annex 2 is based on the EU Directive 2014/45/EU. In addition, national German defect categories have been retained. These are marked with a ‘D’ or with numbers starting from ‘100’ and are intended to improve road safety