Expired Technical Inspection: Risks and Solutions

Driving with an expired technical inspection can prove costly - and may even result in your vehicle being taken off the road.

The technical inspection is a legal requirement for every vehicle over 4 years old driven in France. As stated on the government website, it must then be carried out every two years. It checks that components essential to road safety and environmental protection are operating properly.

But what happens if you forget to arrange your technical inspection by the required deadline? What are the implications of an expired technical inspection, and how can you put things right? Here is what you need to know.

Risks of an expired technical inspection

An expired technical inspection means your vehicle has not undergone regular checks of its equipment and performance. This can endanger both you and other road users. A non-compliant vehicle may have technical faults - such as defective brakes, worn tyres or incorrectly adjusted lights - that could lead to an accident or breakdown.

An expired technical inspection can also lead to administrative and criminal penalties if you are stopped at the roadside. Under the French Highway Code, driving with an expired technical inspection is a fourth-class offence, carrying a fixed fine of 135 euros. This is reduced to 90 euros when paid within three days, or increased to 375 euros if it remains unpaid after 45 days.

Vehicle documents and possible immobilisation

In addition, the police may confiscate your vehicle registration document and prevent you from driving the vehicle until the technical inspection has been completed. If the vehicle poses a threat to road safety, it may even be immobilised and impounded.

How to avoid an expired technical inspection

To prevent these difficulties, it is advisable to comply with technical inspection deadlines and book an appointment with an approved professional as soon as possible. The technical inspection is required every 2 years for vehicles over 4 years old. For vehicles bought new, the first inspection must take place after 4 years. A technical inspection is also required before selling a used vehicle, unless the existing one is less than 6 months old.

Checking the technical inspection deadline

To help you remember the date of your next technical inspection, record the date of the previous one in your diary. You can also use the Ministry for Ecological and Solidarity Transition website, which lets you check whether your technical inspection remains valid using your registration number.

If you exceed the technical inspection deadline, you have one month to regularise your situation. During this period, you may still drive your vehicle provided it has no major or critical defect. Should you be stopped during that time, you will need to show proof that you have booked an appointment with an approved professional.