Periodic roadworthiness inspection of vehicles

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All motor vehicles, trailers and articulated lorries subject to registration and driven in Luxembourg must pass a periodic roadworthiness inspection.

This check is carried out at set intervals by one of the approved roadworthiness inspection bodies in Luxembourg:

  • DEKRA Automobile s.a.r.l.;
  • Luerenzweiler Kontrollstatioun s.a.r.l. – LUKS;
  • Société Nationale de Contrôle Technique s.a. – SNCT.

Who is concerned

This applies to any person residing in Luxembourg who:

  • owns or holds a vehicle that is registered and in use in Luxembourg; and
  • whose roadworthiness inspection certificate has expired or is due to expire soon.

The following are not subject to periodic roadworthiness inspections:

  • small trailers (with maximum weight of under 750 kg);
  • motor vehicles not exceeding a maximum speed of 25 km/hour;
  • mopeds and light quadricycles;
  • tractors and mobile machinery:
    • whose maximum speed is limited to 40 km/hour; and
    • whose unladen mass exceeds 600 kg; and
    • that are not meant to exceed 25 km/hour when they are towing one or more other vehicles;
  • vintage vehicles driven for the first time prior to 1 January 1950.

Vehicles subject to registration in Luxembourg but not subject to roadworthiness inspections may be driven only if they bear a currently valid registration sticker.

Deadlines

Time limits for mandatory roadworthiness inspections

A roadworthiness inspection must be carried out:

  • before a vehicle in which the technical characteristics of the approved standard model have been modified (for example, by tuning) is put back on the road;
  • after a major repair following an accident (wheels, suspension, crumple zones, steering, brakes, airbags, etc.);
  • after a repair or transformation of the chassis;
  • upon special notice if an insurance-company inspector has noted a technical defect in a part that could affect the vehicle's safety in an accident;
  • in connection with periodic roadworthiness inspections;
  • upon special notice if the police noticed during a police roadside check that:
    • the vehicle is not compliant with official approved technical specifications;
    • the vehicle has an obvious technical malfunction.

If the vehicle – whether new or used – has undergone modifications that alter its technical characteristics, the vehicle owner/holder must undertake certain procedures before the next roadworthiness inspection and no more than 2 months after the date of the conversions or modifications. These procedures apply to vehicles weighing under or over 3.5 tonnes.

Depending on the type of modification(s), the owner must:

  • if a combination of modifications was performed (i.e. 2 or more modifications that affect each other): have the vehicle checked at an approved technical service to prove that the modifications comply with the legal framework; and/or
  • if a single modification was performed (not in combination) on a car, van or motorcycle: have the modification registered.

Additional details and examples of modifications are available on the SNCA website.

Frequency of technical inspections

The frequency of roadworthiness inspections for automobiles (including driving-school cars and motor homes whose maximum authorised weight does not exceed 3,500 kg), motorcycles, and trailers (maximum authorised weight of between 750 kg and 3,500 kg) are as follows:

  • first periodic inspection: 4 years after the vehicle was first put on the road;
  • second periodic inspection: 6 years after the vehicle was first put on the road;
  • and every year thereafter.

The following are subject to annual roadworthiness inspections:

  • heavy-duty lorries and trailers weighing more than 3,500 kg;
  • trailers intended for the transport of passengers;
  • vans;
  • vehicles intended for the transport of persons, with no more than 9 seats, including the driver's seat, registered as taxis, rental cars or ambulances.

Vehicles over 5 tonnes exhibiting minor defects or non-compliance that have a direct impact on the vehicle's safety must undergo their next roadworthiness inspection within 6 months

If the vehicle is imported or purchased abroad, the roadworthiness inspection certificate of a road vehicle previously registered in another EU Member State or in Switzerland will remain valid if the vehicle is registered in Luxembourg. The validity of this certificate is provided for under Luxembourg law.

Costs

The 3 bodies approved in Luxembourg set their own prices for roadworthiness inspections. These prices may be found in the price lists published online by each body:

How to proceed

Type of inspection

Roadworthiness inspections relate to the condition and maintenance of the vehicle, and in particular to:

  • vehicle identification (chassis number, licence plates);
  • environmental nuisances (noise, exhaust emissions);
  • the braking mechanisms;
  • lights and reflectors;
  • the electrical equipment;
  • axles, wheels, tyres and suspension;
  • the chassis and its accessories;
  • seatbelts;
  • steering;
  • visibility.

Organisation of roadworthiness inspections

For periodic inspections, a notice is sent to the vehicle holder by post approximately 8 weeks before the expiry of the roadworthiness inspection certificate.

In this notice, the vehicle holder is invited to schedule an appointment with one of the roadworthiness inspection bodies in Luxembourg.

The vehicle holder may schedule this appointment online directly with:

If the validity of the tax disc has expired by more than 60 days, the roadworthiness inspection will be refused.

Supporting documents

Vehicles must be presented for inspection in a satisfactory state of cleanliness and be covered by insurance.

The person presenting a vehicle for a roadworthiness inspection must bring the following documents relating to the vehicle:

  • registration card (grey card) or registration certificate Part I (grey);
  • previous inspection certificate;
  • European certificate of conformity (for vehicles registered after 1 January 1998);
  • proof of currently valid insurance (green card);
  • currently valid tax disc.
  • if the vehicle has undergone a combination of modifications: the report from an approved service proving that the modifications made to the vehicle comply with the legal framework.

The roadworthiness inspection body has the right to refuse to conduct the inspection if the requested vehicle documents are not provided.

Follow-up roadworthiness inspection

If the vehicle undergoing inspection fails for one or more counts of failure to comply with the current Luxembourg Highway Code (Code de la route), the owner will be required to carry out the repairs or bring the vehicle into compliance.

In that case, an inspection certificate is issued that is valid for 4 weeks. The vehicle's owner will be required to remedy the deficiencies and return for a follow-up roadworthiness inspection within 4 weeks.

During that period, the certificate will cover the vehicle in Luxembourg for travel:

  • between the inspection centre and the location where the vehicle will be immobilised, repaired, brought into compliance, or destroyed;
  • between the inspection centre and the vehicle owner's or holder's registered office or residence;
  • between the vehicle owner's or holder's registered office or residence and the location where the vehicle will be immobilised, repaired, brought into compliance, or destroyed;

After the defects are repaired or the non-compliance is corrected, a new roadworthiness inspection certificate is issued.

Roadworthiness inspection certificate

On completion of the roadworthiness inspection, a roadworthiness inspection certificate will be issued to the person who brought the road vehicle in for inspection (the owner, the holder or their agent) if no major problems are detected.

If minor defects or non-compliance issues having no notable impact on the vehicle's safety or on the environment are found, a valid roadworthiness inspection certificate will still be issued. Such problems must be rectified.

Validity period of the roadworthiness inspection certificate

The validity of the roadworthiness inspection certificate is calculated from the date of the inspection. However, if the roadworthiness inspection is conducted less than 8 weeks prior to the expiry of the previous certificate's validity, the validity of the new certificate is calculated from the expiry date of the previous certificate.

Roadworthiness inspection certificates issued before 1 February 2016 remain valid for the duration of the validity stated on the certificate.

Vehicles currently in circulation and which, since 1 February 2016, are no longer subject to roadworthiness inspections, may continue to be driven under their roadworthiness certificate until it expires. After expiry of the certificate, such vehicles may remain in use on public roads only if they have a currently valid conformity sticker.

Online services and forms

Appointment booking

Prise de rendez-vous pour le contrôle technique auprès de la SNCT

Terminvereinbarung für die technische Überwachung beim DEKRA

Prise de rendez-vous pour le contrôle technique auprès de la LUKS

My data

Your vehicles and license plates

Consult the list of your vehicles and license plates

Other language(s)

Who to contact

  • Transport SNCT - national technical inspection centre

    Address:
    Luxembourg

  • SNCT - national technical inspection centre SNCT Esch-sur-Alzette

    Address:
    22-28, rue Jos Kieffer L-4176 Esch-sur-Alzette Luxembourg
    11, rue de Luxembourg L-5230 Sandweiler
    Phone:
    (+352) 26 15 62 500
    Phone:
    (+352) 26 15 62 222
    Appointments for technical inspections
    Fax:
    (+352) 26 15 62 200
    Email address:
    info@snct.lu
    Website:
    http://www.snct.lu/

  • SNCT - national technical inspection centre SNCT Sandweiler

    Address:
    11, rue de Luxembourg L-5230 Sandweiler Luxembourg
    11, rue de Luxembourg L-5230 Sandweiler
    Phone:
    (+352) 26 15 62 500
    Phone:
    (+352) 26 15 62 222
    Appointments for technical inspections
    Fax:
    (+352) 26 15 62 200
    Email address:
    info@snct.lu
    Website:
    http://www.snct.lu/

  • SNCT - national technical inspection centre SNCT Bissen

    Address:
    4, Z.A.C Klengbousbierg L-7795 Bissen Luxembourg
    11, rue de Luxembourg L-5230 Sandweiler
    Phone:
    (+352) 26 15 62 222
    Appointments for technical inspections
    Fax:
    (+352) 26 15 62 200
    Email address:
    info@snct.lu
    Website:
    http://www.snct.lu/

  • SNCT - national technical inspection centre SNCT Livange

    Address:
    251, route de Luxembourg L-3378 Livange Luxembourg
    11, rue de Luxembourg L-5230 Sandweiler
    Phone:
    (+352) 26 15 62 222
    Appointments for technical inspections
    Fax:
    (+352) 26 15 62 200
    Email address:
    info@snct.lu
    Website:
    http://www.snct.lu/

  • SNCT - national technical inspection centre SNCT Marnach

    Address:
    23, Marbuergerstrooss L-9764 Marnach Luxembourg
    11, rue de Luxembourg L-5230 Sandweiler
    Phone:
    (+352) 26 15 62 222
    Appointments for technical inspections
    Fax:
    (+352) 26 15 62 200
    Email address:
    info@snct.lu
    Website:
    http://www.snct.lu/

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