31.5.86 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 133/3 
n 
(Preparatory Acts) 
COMMISSION 
Proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 77/143/EEC on the approximation of the 
laws of the Member States relating to roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers 
COM(86) 214 final 
(Submitted by the Commission to the Council on 2 May 1986) 
(86/C 133/04) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community and in particular Article 75 
thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European 
Parliament, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and 
Social Committee, 
Whereas the Council and the representatives of the 
Governments of the Member States, meeting within the 
Council, adopted a resolution on 19 December 1984 on 
road safety ('); 
Whereas Council Directive 77/143/EEC (2) provides for 
the regular roadworthiness testing of certain road 
vehicles only (buses, heavy goods vehicles, heavy trailers 
and semitrailers, taxis and ambulances); 
Whereas there is a need to subject other road vehicles, 
and in particular cars and light goods vehicles, to such 
testing on the grounds of road safety; 
Whereas the present systems of testing such vehicles, 
where they exist, differ widely and whereas it is 
therefore necessary not only to require the testing of 
such vehicles but also to harmonize as far as practicable 
the frequency of tests and the compulsory items to be 
tested; 
Whereas the fixing of the date of application of the 
measures referred to in this Directive should allow time 
for the administrative and technical arrangements 
required for carrying out the tests to be set up or 
(') OJ No C 341, 29. 12. 1984, p. 1. 
O OJ No L 47, 18. 2. 1977, p. 47. strengthened, particularly in those Member States where 
no provision for the tests yet exists; whereas for reasons 
of safety it is necessary in these latter Member States 
that older vehicles be tested first, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: 
Article 1 
Directive 77/143/EEC is hereby amended as follows: 
1. Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 2 are replaced by the 
following: 
'1. The categories of vehicles to be tested, the 
frequency of the tests and the items which must be 
tested are listed in Annexes I, II and III. 
2. Member States shall have the right to exclude 
from the scope of this Directive vehicles referred to in 
points 1, 2 and 3 of Annex I belonging to the armed 
forces or the forces of law and order.' 
2. Article 3 is replaced by the following: 
Article 3 
1. Notwithstanding the provisions of Annexes I, 
points 1, 2, 3 and 4 and of Annex II. 
Member States may: 
— bring forward the date for the first compulsory 
roadworthiness tests and, where appropriate, 
submit the vehicle for testing prior to registration, 
— shorten the interval between two successive 
compulsory tests, 
— make the testing of optional equipment 
compulsory, 
— increase the number of items to be tested, 
— extend the periodic test requirement to other cat­
egories of vehicles, 
— prescribe special additional tests. 
No C 133/4 Official Journal of the European Communities 31.5.86 
2. Notwithstanding the provisions of points 5, 6, of 
Annex I and Annex III. 
Member States may: 
— bring forward the date for the first compulsory 
roadworthiness test, 
— shorten the interval between two successive 
compulsory tests, 
— increase the number of items to be tested, 
— prescribe special additional tests.' 
3. The following words are added to Article 4: 
'or, in respect of vehicles referred to in (5) and (6) in 
Annex I, by approved workshops having the necessary 
equipment and supervised and regularly controlled by 
the State.' 
4. The following paragraph is added to Article 5: 
'4. Member States shall keep records of the failure 
rates of motor vehicles undergoing the tests and shall 
publish the results at least annually and communicate 
them to the Commission.' 
7. The following Annex is added: 
'ANNEX III 
The test for the vehicles referred to in points 5 and 6 of Annex I shall cover at least the items listed 
below. 
1. Vehicle identification 
1.1. Registration number plate 
1.2. Chassis number 
2. Nuisance 
2.1. Noise 
2.2. Exhaust emissions 
2.3. Suppression of radio interference 
3. Braking systems 
3.1. Service brake 
3.1.1. Efficiency 
3.1.2. Balance 
3.1.3. Mechanical condition 
3.1.3.1. Brake linings or pads (wear) 
3.1.3.2. Brake discs (wear) 
3.1.3.3. Brake hoses (tightness, damage) 
3.1.3.4. Brake lines (tightness, corrosion) 
3.2. Parking brake 
3.2.1. Efficiency 
3.2.2. Mechanical condition 
3.2.2.1. Linkage and cables 5. The following points are added to Annex I: 
'5. Motor vehicles used 
for the carriage of 
passengers and with 
not more than eight 
seats excluding the 
drivers seat. 
6. Motor vehicles used 
for the carriage of 
goods and having a 
maximum permissible 
mass not exceeding 
3 500 kg. Three and five years 
after the date on 
which the vehicle was 
first used, and there­
after annually. 
Three and five years 
after the date on 
which the vehicle was 
first used, and there­
after annually.' 
6. In Annex II the introductory sentence is replaced by: 
'The test for the vehicles referred to in 1, 2, 3 and 4 
in Annex I shall cover at least the items listed below, 
provided that these are related to obligatory 
equipment of the vehicle being tested in the Member 
State concerned.' 
31. 5. 86 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 133/5 
4. Steering 
4.1. Mechanical condition 
4.2. Steering play 
4.3. Steering system attachment 
4.4. Wheel bearings 
5. Lighting equipment 
5.1. Main and dipped-beam head lamps 
5.1.1. Condition and operation 
5.1.2. Alignment 
5.1.3. Switches 
5.2. Condition and operation, lenses, colour and visual efficiency for 
5.2.1. 
5.2.2. 
5.2.3. 
5.2.4. 
5.2.5. 
5.2.6. 
5.2.7. 
5.2.8. 
5.2.9. 
Visibility Side and rear lights 
Stop lights 
Direction indicator lights 
Reversing lights 
Fog lights 
Registration plate light 
Reflex-reflectors 
Instrument panel lights 
Hazard warning lights 
6.1. Condition of glass 
6.2. Rear-view mirrors 
6.3. Windscream wipers 
6.4. Screeenwashers 
7. Seat belts 
7.1. Security of mountings 
7.2. Condition of Belts 
7.3. Operation 
8. Axles, Wheels, Tyres, Suspension 
8.1. Axles 
8.2. Wheels and Tyres 
8.2.1. Mechanical condition 
8.2.2. Dimensions, wear 
8.3. Suspension 
8.3.1. Springs, shock absorbers 
9. Chassis and chassis attachments 
9.1. Chassis or frame and attachments 
9.1.1. General condition 
9.1.2. Exhaust pipes and silencers 
9.1.3. Fuel tank and pipes 
9.1.4. Spare wheel carrier 
9.1.5. Coupling mechanism (if fitted) 
9.2. Bodywork 
9.2.1. General condition 
9.2.2. Doors and locks 
10. Other equipment 
10.1. Electrical wiring 
10.2. Electrical connections for coupling mechanism (if fitted) 
10.3. Audible warning device 
10.4. Speedometer 
10.5. Warning triangle' 
No C 133/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 31.5.86 
Article 2 
1. Member States shall, after consulting the 
Commission, adopt the laws, regulations and 
administrative provisions which are necessary to comply 
with this Directive by 1 July 1987. 
2. Member States shall inform the Commission of the 
measures which they have taken to implement this 
Directive. 
3. Notwithstanding paragraph 1, Member States may, 
after informing the Commission, (a) postpone the annual testing of vehicles which were 
used for the first time before: 
— 1 January 1981, until 1 January 1988, 
— 1 January 1983, until 1 January 1989, 
— 1 January 1985, until 1 January 1990, and 
(b) reduce the number of items to be tested until 
1 January 1990. 
Article 3 
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.