Drivers in Germany and Austria face a faster and deeper change to the way cars are inspected: negotiators in Brussels are closing in on a revision of the EU’s Periodic Technical Inspection (PTI/HU) rules that would expand checks for emissions, odometers, electric powertrains and advanced‑driver systems — and make some inspection results mutually recognised across Member States. The draft has moved through trilogue talks this autumn and national trade bodies and test houses are already preparing for field trials next winter.
What the revisions propose
The European Commission’s proposal to amend Directive 2014/45/EU would, if adopted, widen the PTI scope (for example to electrically powered motorcycles), increase testing frequency for older vehicles, and require enhanced inspection methods for electric vehicles and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). It also obliges manufacturers to provide, free of charge, the technical information inspection centres need, standardises digital PTI certificates across the EU and seeks measures to curb odometer fraud by recording readings and improving data exchange. These are set out in the Commission proposal and the Parliament’s legislative file.
Practical consequences flagged so far include the possibility that cars older than ten years could be subject to annual inspections, more intrusive checks of ADAS function and calibration, and new test items for electrified drivetrains and on‑board emissions systems. The draft also makes it easier for a PTI certificate issued in one Member State to be recognised in another — a step that directly affects cross‑border trade in used cars between Germany and Austria.
Timing and implementation steps
EU negotiators entered trilogue discussions over the Roadworthiness Package in 2026; Member State, Parliament and Commission talks in October produced initial compromises and the Irish Council presidency is aiming for a final political agreement by early December 2026. National bodies expect technical field tests to follow: a recent summary by the Kfz‑Gewerbe Landesverband Hessen notes that a field test of the updated device guidance (software version 7) is planned for January 2027 at selected TÜV/DEKRA test stations to validate new measurement procedures before wider roll‑out.
