Technical inspection of commercial vehicles: the infallible guide to success

Par
 
Justine Demarque
 
le
 
18/7/2022

For a commercial vehicle to be able to carry out its functions successfully, its technical inspection should be carried out regularly. Mandatory, this diagnosis is an essential preventive measure for the preservation of road safety and the environment. Indeed, this visit is essential to verify the safety elements of the car as well as the physical failures that are likely to cause incidents of use. What does the technical inspection of a commercial vehicle consist of? When and how does this audit take place? This guide gives you the answers.

What is a commercial vehicle?

First of all, it is essential to fully understand what we are talking about when talking about a commercial vehicle. Thus, a commercial vehicle is intended for professional use. It is therefore used to transport goods, equipment or people. It can be recognized by the mention “CTTE” on its registration certificate. In addition, the law defines a commercial vehicle as a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight (GTAC) of less than 3.5 tonnes. Moreover, there are various models of commercial vehicles: van, minibus, truck, truck, truck, van, pick-up, refrigerated vehicle, etc.In addition, it must comply with several instructions, namely:

    • Own only two front seats : the commercial vehicle can only have two seats in the front. So the rear seats cannot be present. In addition, the latter cannot have a mount to install rear seats.
    • Have a large storage capacity.
    • Have cargo space whose length measures at least 50% of the distance between the front and rear wheels.

Technical inspection of the utility vehicle: 3 categories

Commercial vehicles subject to technical inspection are divided into three categories:

    1. Vehicles with more than 9 seats that are used for the public transport of people.
    2. Those weighing less than 3.5 tonnes in load that are intended for the transport of goods.
    3. Vehicles that weigh less than 3.5 tons and that are attached to a trailer or semi-trailer.

When to do the first technical inspection of a commercial vehicle?

The 1st commercial vehicle technical inspection must be carried out in the 6 months preceding the 4th anniversary of the introduction into circulation of the vehicle. This process is done at the initiative of the owner.

What is the frequency of a technical inspection?

As mentioned above, the first technical inspection of a new commercial vehicle is carried out within 6 months before the day of its 4th year of circulation. Then, a additional examination should take place no later than 1 year after this first commercial vehicle technical inspection. Finally, it will be necessary to respect a periodicity of the commercial vehicle technical inspection of 2 years for each type of diagnosis.Nevertheless, the date of the next check will depend on the results of the previous technical inspection. If no major or critical failure is observed, the validity of the commercial vehicle technical inspection is valid for 2 years. Whether during a periodic or additional inspection, when the inspector notes a major or critical failure, the vehicle owner has a period of time Of 2 months to fix the faults. After this period, the car will have to go through a counter-inspection to get the inspection approved.

Special case: vans older than 4 years

In fact, vans older than 4 years old must be subject to a additional control in the year following the periodic audit. This inspection is essential to verify the polluting emissions of the car. It consists in comparing the quantity of particles emitted by the exhaust pipe and that mentioned by the manufacturer. This antipollution test is particularly reinforced for diesel-powered cars. It must take place during the 2 months preceding the first anniversary of the last technical inspection.

Where to do the check?

The technical inspection on a commercial vehicle is carried out in one of the approved centers available on French territory. These institutions hold an accreditation issued by the State to carry out such a mission. They are the only ones able to validate technical visits.

What is the price of a technical inspection of a commercial vehicle?

The price of a commercial vehicle technical inspection varies from one center to another. The state does not determine the pricing for visits. The centers have a great deal of freedom in setting their service fees. The only commercial vehicle technical inspection regulation is to display the price of the service at the main entrance of the visitor center. In addition, the amount to be paid for a technical visit also depends on the type of energy used by the vehicle: diesel, gasoline, gas, gas, electric, hybrid.

What are the technical inspection checkpoints?

The technical inspection of commercial vehicles covers 133 points relating to the following functions:

    • Automobile identification
    • braking equipment (discs, pads, etc.)
    • the steering (steering wheel, gearbox, etc.)
    • visibility (mirrors, windshield...)
    • lights, reflective devices and electrical equipment
    • wheels, tires, suspension, axles
    • chassis and accessories
    • safety devices (seat belt, horn, airbag, etc.)
    • pollution (exhaust, gaseous emissions)

If the inspected elements are the same as those of passenger cars, the frequency of commercial vehicle technical inspection is higher. In the presence of a Fault, the verifier assigns a severity level to each point checked:

    • Minor: the defect poses no danger to safety and the environment.
    • Major: in this case, the defect may compromise the safety of the vehicle, its passengers, and the environment.
    • Critical: the vehicle represents an imminent danger to road safety and the environment.

What are the risks if you don't pass the technical inspection?

A failure to comply with the technical inspection obligations of a commercial vehicle is punishable by a financial penalty of up to 750 euros. In general, the amount of this fine is fixed at 135 euros. In the event of a check by the police or the gendarmerie, you risk having your vehicle immobilized and your vehicle registration confiscated. You will then receive a traffic sheet. Valid for 7 days, this document will allow you to start a technical inspection. At the end of the latter and when the result is satisfactory, you can recover your vehicle registration document by presenting the technical inspection report to the police station or the gendarmerie.

Do you use one or more commercial vehicles in your daily life as a professional delivery driver? A real work tool, do you know how to choose the best insurance to protect it? Or what are the development or financing options? Find out everything you need to know about commercial vehicles in our guide dedicated and comprehensive.