The general inspection (HU) is an important safety check for cars. But even seemingly banal and sometimes strange defects can prevent you from passing.
Safety on German roads is very important. That’s why every car has to undergo a general inspection (HU) every two years . If the TÜV finds damage that affects safety, no new sticker is issued. There can be many reasons for failure: worn or damaged tires, inadequate lighting or a broken windshield. But what about an incorrectly installed cell phone holder? Or a missing sun visor? These “defects” are hardly noticeable, but can cost you your TÜV sticker.
TÜV sticker refused: Six strange reasons why cars fail
Anyone who drives up to the MOT with worn brake pads or a rusted-through body can probably imagine why their vehicle fails the general inspection (HU). After all, these defects are among the most common reasons why a car does not get a new sticker, as “werkstatt-tipp.de” reports. But there do not have to be serious defects to fail. According to “autobild.de”, even tires that are too small or accessories from the Internet are enough.
With these strange “defects” drivers fail the TÜV inspection:
- Tablet or smartphone holder incorrectly placed
- Missing sun visor
- Tires that are too small
- accessories from the Internet
- tint film for car windows
- Painted headlights
According to “bussgeldrechner.org”, drivers who have not passed the main inspection with their vehicle have one month to appear for the re-inspection. Anyone who misses the deadline must expect additional costs . An extension of the deadline is not possible.
Main inspection (HU) failed: mobile phone holder and sun visor as reason
But how can it be that an otherwise flawless vehicle does not receive a new sticker because of a cell phone holder or a missing sun visor? This can happen if the holder is attached to the dashboard exactly where the airbag deploys in the event of an impact, explains “autobild.de”. This can lead to serious injuries and is therefore not permitted.
Even a missing sun visor, which can have a secret function, seems far too trivial to fail the MOT. However, anyone who drives to the inspection station in a convertible and cannot show a sun visor will certainly not receive a defect-free MOT report from an attentive inspector and, in the worst case, will have to go through the MOT again.
Wrong tires and wrong accessories – that’s why the car could fail the TÜV test
Even if the tires are too small, the car can fail the MOT. The reason: powerful brakes on powerful engines need large wheels. If the wheels are too small, the speedometer will show incorrect values and noise emissions will increase due to the higher rpm – at the same driving speed. Drivers should therefore always find out in advance what size the manufacturer approves for the model when buying tires.
The same applies to accessories from the Internet or from authorized dealers. Not everything that the authorized dealer offers or can be found on the Internet has been approved for retrofitting by the vehicle manufacturer. If you are unsure, you should ask a testing organization such as TÜV, Dekra or GTÜ before purchasing.
Tinting film and painted headlights could also cost you the TÜV sticker
Tint films and painted headlights can also cause problems with the TÜV. Tint films for car windows are not generally prohibited. However, they may only be applied to the rear side windows and the rear window, according to “autobild.de”. So no car will fail because of the film alone. The reason is usually that the film has been applied incorrectly. The rubber seals on the windows must not be covered. For safety reasons, a minimum distance of one millimeter must be maintained between the film and the seal.
Like many other vehicle features, such as the presence of certain driver assistance systems , the color of the headlights is also prescribed for vehicles and may not be changed. Can transparent covers of headlights or taillights be painted?
The answer: No! If the headlights are painted or polished, the operating license expires. It is also not permitted to convert halogen headlights into LED headlights by using LED lights with a suitable base. Exact compliance with the focal point, light intensity and other lighting requirements must always be guaranteed.
