Directive 2000/30/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 June 2000 on the technical roadside inspection of the roadworthiness of commercial vehicles circulating in the Community
Date: 2000-06-06
Institutions: Council of the European Union, European Parliament
Subjects: commercial vehicle, intra-EU transport, road traffic, roadworthiness tests, technical specification, traffic control

10.8.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 203/1

I

(Acts whose publication is obligatory)

DIRECTIVE 2000/30/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

of 6 June 2000

on the technical roadside inspection of the roadworthiness of commercial vehicles circulating in
the Community

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE
EUROPEAN UNION,

(3)

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community, and in particular Article 71(1)(c) and (d) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),

Having regard to the opinion of
Committee (2),

the Economic and Social

After consulting the Committee of the Regions,

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article
251 of the Treaty (3),

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

The growth of traffic presents all Member States with
safety and environmental problems of a similar nature
and seriousness.

is

in the interest of

It
road safety, environmental
protection and equitable competition that commercial
vehicles should be used only if they are maintained to a
high degree of technical roadworthiness.

(1) OJ C 190, 18.6.1998, p. 10, and OJ C 116E, 26.4.2000, p. 7.
(2) OJ C 407, 28.12.1998, p. 112.
(3) Opinion of the European Parliament of 9 February 1999, (OJ C
150, 28.5.1999, p. 27), Council Common Position of 2 December
1999 and Decision of the European Parliament of 14 March 2000
(not yet published in the Official Journal). Council Decision of 13
April 2000.

In accordance with Directive 96/96/EC of 20 December
1996 on the approximation of the laws of the Member
States relating to roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles
and their trailers (4), commercial vehicles undergo an
inspection by an authorised body every year.

(4) Article 4 of Directive 94/12/EC (5) provides

for a
cost/effectiveness
approach to the
multi-directional
aspects of the measures intended to reduce the pollution
caused by road transport; whereas
the European
(cid:145)Auto-oil I(cid:146) programme incorporated that approach and
gave an objective assessment of all the most profitable
measures in the fields of vehicle technology, fuel quality,
monitoring and maintenance as well as non-technical
measures,
emissions by road
to reduce
transport.

in order

(5)

In view of that approach, the European Parliament and
the Council adopted Directive 98/70/EC (6), intended to
improve fuel quality and, with a view to laying down
stricter emission standards, Directive 98/69/EC (7),
for
private motor cars and light commercial vehicles and
Directive 1999/96/EC (8) for heavy goods vehicles.

(4) OJ L 46, 17.2.1997, p. 1. Directive as amended by Commission

Directive 1999/52/EC (OJ L 142, 5.6.1999, p. 26).

(5) Directive 94/12/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council
of 23 March 1994 relating to measures to be taken against air
pollution by emissions
from motor vehicles and amending
Directive 70/220/EEC (OJ L 100, 19.4.1994, p. 42).

(6) Directive 98/70/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council
of 13 October 1998 relating to the quality of petrol and diesel
fuels and amending Council Directive 93/12/EEC (OJ L 350,
28.12.1998, p. 58).

(7) Directive 98/69/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council
of 13 October 1998 relating to measures to be taken against air
pollution by emissions from motor vehicles and amending Council
Directive 70/220/EEC (OJ L 350, 28.12.1998, p. 1).

(8) Directive 1999/96/EC of

the European Parliament and of

the
Council of 13 December 1999 on the approximation of the laws
of the Member States relating to measures to be taken against the
emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants from compression
ignition engines for use in vehicles, and the emission of gaseous
pollutants from positive ignition engines fuelled with natural gas or
liquefied petroleum gas for use in vehicles and amending Council
Directive 88/77/EEC (OJ L 44, 16.2.2000, p. 1).

L 203/2

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

10.8.2000

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

(10)

(11)

(12)

(13)

This Directive forms part of the same approach, but it
would appear to be more effective from the point of
view of environmental protection not at this stage to
tighten the standards laid down for roadworthiness tests
in Directive 96/96/EC but
technical
roadside inspections in order to ensure application of
that Directive throughout the year.

to provide for

is in fact
The regulated annual roadworthiness test
considered not
to guarantee that
commercial vehicles tested are in roadworthy condition
throughout the year.

to be sufficient

enforcement
roadside

Effective
technical
cost-effective measure
maintenance of commercial vehicles on the road.

through
inspection

targeted
an
is

to control

additional
important
standard of

the

Roadside roadworthiness inspections should be carried
out without
the
nationality of the driver or of the country of registration
or entry into service of the commercial vehicle.

discrimination

grounds

on

of

The method of inspection selection should be based on
a targeted approach, giving greatest effort to identifying
vehicles that seem most likely to be poorly maintained
and thereby enhancing the authorities’ operational
effectiveness and minimising the costs and delays to
drivers and operators.

In the event of serious deficiencies in a vehicle inspected
it must be possible to ask the competent authorities of
the Member State in which the vehicle is registered or
in which the vehicle was brought into service to take
appropriate measures
requesting
and
Member State of any follow-up measures taken.

inform the

the Community; this Directive does not go beyond what
is necessary for that purpose,

HAVE ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:

Article 1

1.
In order to improve road safety and the environment, the
purpose of this Directive shall be to ensure that commercial
vehicles circulating within the territories of the Member States
of the Community comply more fully with certain technical
conditions imposed by Directive 96/96/EC.

This Directive establishes certain conditions for roadside
the roadworthiness of commercial vehicles

2.
inspections of
circulating within the territory of the Community.

regulations,

to Community

3. Without prejudice
this
Directive shall not, however, affect the Member States’ right to
carry out inspections not covered by this Directive or to check
other aspects of road transport, in particular those relating to
commercial vehicles. On the other hand, there is nothing to
inspections not
prevent a Member State,
covered by the scope of
from checking the
items listed in Annex I in places other than on the public
highway.

in the context of
this Directive,

Article 2

For the purposes of this Directive:

(a)

(cid:145)commercial vehicle(cid:146) shall mean those motor vehicles and
trailers defined in categories 1, 2 and 3 of Annex I to
Directive 96/96/EC;

The measures necessary for implementing this Directive
shall be adopted in accordance with Council Decision
1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the
procedures for the exercise of
implementing powers
conferred on the Commission (1).

(b)

(cid:145)technical roadside inspection(cid:146) shall mean an inspection of
a technical nature, not announced by the authorities and
therefore unexpected, of a commercial vehicle circulating
within the territory of a Member State carried out on the
their
public highway by
supervision;

authorities, or under

the

In accordance with the subsidiarity and proportionality
principles as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty,
the
objectives of the proposed action, namely to establish a
regime of roadside inspections of commercial vehicles
circulating in the Community, cannot be sufficiently
achieved by the Member States and can, therefore, by
reason of the scale of the action be better achieved by

(c)

shall mean a test of a vehicle’s
(cid:145)roadworthiness
technical roadworthiness as provided for in Annex II to
Directive 96/96/EC.

test(cid:146)

Article 3

(1) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.

Each Member State shall

1.
introduce technical roadside
inspections such as will achieve the objectives stated in Article

10.8.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 203/3

1 as regards commercial vehicles covered by this Directive,
bearing in mind the national arrangements applicable to such
vehicles under Directive 96/96/EC.

Article 5

Every technical roadside inspection shall be carried out
2.
without discrimination on grounds of the nationality of the
driver or of the country of registration or entry into service of
the commercial vehicle, bearing in mind the need to minimise
the costs and delays entailed for drivers and operators.

1.
The technical roadside inspection report relating to the
inspection referred to in Article 4(1)(c) shall be drawn up by
the authority or inspector having carried it out. A specimen
report is contained in Annex I, point 10 of which contains a
checklist. The authority or inspector must tick the relevant
boxes. The report must be given to the driver of
the
commercial vehicle.

Article 4

A technical roadside inspection shall comprise one, two

1.
or all of the following aspects:

(a) a visual assessment of the maintenance condition of the

commercial vehicle when stationary;

(b) a check on a recent roadside technical inspection report as
referred to in Article 5 or on the documentation attesting
to the vehicle’s technical roadworthiness and in particular,
in the case of a vehicle registered or put into service in a
the commercial vehicle has
Member State, proof
undergone a statutory technical roadworthiness test
in
accordance with Directive 96/96/EC;

that

(c) an inspection for irregularities covering one, more than
one or all of the items to be checked listed in Annex I,
point 10.

If

the

inspector

considers

authority or

2.
that
the
deficiencies in the maintenance of a commercial vehicle may
represent a safety risk such that, as regards the brakes in
particular,
the commercial
vehicle may be subjected to a more elaborate test at a testing
centre in the vicinity, designated by the Member State,
in
accordance with Article 2 of Directive 96/96/EC.

further examination is justified,

If it becomes clear that a commercial vehicle presents a serious
risk to its occupants or other road users either during the
roadside inspection referred to in Article 4(1) or during the
more elaborate test referred to in the first subparagraph of this
paragraph, use of that vehicle may be prohibited until the
dangerous deficiencies discovered have been rectified.

Article 6

Every two years, before 31 March, Member States
shall
communicate to the Commission the data collected relating to
the previous two years concerning the number of commercial
vehicles checked, classified by category in accordance with
Annex I, point 6 and by the country of registration, and the
items checked and defects noted, on the basis of Annex I,
point 10.

An inspection of

the braking systems and exhaust
2.
emissions shall be carried out in accordance with the rules laid
down in Annex II.

The first data submitted shall cover a period of two years
beginning on 1 January 2003.

3.
Before carrying out an inspection of the items listed in
Annex I, point 10, the inspector shall take into consideration
the last roadworthiness certificate and/or a recent technical
roadside inspection report which the driver may produce.

The Commission shall
European Parliament.

forward this

information to the

Article 7

The inspector may also take into consideration any other
safety certificate issued by an approved body, presented, where
appropriate, by the driver.

1. Member States shall assist one another in applying this
they shall provide each other with
Directive.
details of the office(s) responsible for carrying out the checks
and of the names of contact persons.

In particular,

Where these certificates and/or report prove that an inspection
of one of the items listed in Annex I, point 10, has been
carried out in the course of the preceding three months, that
item shall not be checked again, except where justified in
particular on the grounds of an obvious defect and/or
irregularity.

2.
Serious deficiencies in a commercial vehicle belonging to
a non-resident, in particular those resulting in a ban on using
the vehicle, shall be reported to the competent authorities of
the Member State in which the vehicle is registered or has
been put into service by means of the specimen report in

L 203/4

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

10.8.2000

Annex I, without prejudice to the prosecution in accordance
with the legislation in force in the Member States in which the
deficiency was recorded.

They shall take all necessary measures to ensure that these
penalties are enforced. The penalties thus provided for shall be
effective, proportionate and dissuasive.

Without prejudice to Article 5, the competent authorities of
the Member State in which a serious deficiency has been found
in a commercial vehicle belonging to a non-resident may ask
the competent authorities of the Member State in which the
vehicle is registered or has been put
into service to take
appropriate measures with regard to the offender, for example
submitting the vehicle to a further roadworthiness inspection.

The competent authorities to which such a request is made
shall notify the competent authorities of the Member State in
which the deficiencies of the commercial vehicle were found of
any measures taken with regard to the offender.

Article 11

Within a year of receiving the data referred to in Article 6
from the Member States, the Commission shall submit to the
Council a report on the application of this Directive together
with a summary of the results achieved.

The first report shall cover the period of two years beginning
on 1 January 2003.

Article 8

Article 12

Any amendments which are necessary to adapt Annex I or the
technical standards defined in Annex II to technical progress
shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down
in Article 9(2).

Such amendments must not, however, result in the scope of
this Directive being extended.

Article 9

1.
The Commission shall be assisted by the Committee on
the Adaptation to Technical Progress set up pursuant to Article
(cid:145)the
8 of Directive 96/96/EC, hereinafter
Committee(cid:146).

referred to as

1.
The Member States shall bring into force the laws,
regulations and administrative provisions necessary for them to
comply with this Directive no later than 6 June 2002. They
shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.

2. When the Member States adopt those measures they shall
include references to this Directive or shall add such references
on their official publication. The Member States shall lay down
the manner in which such references shall be made.

The Member

communicate
States
3.
Commission the texts of the provisions of national
they adopt in the field governed by this Directive.

shall

the
to
law that

Article 13

2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 5
in compliance
and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply,
with the provisions of Article 8 thereof.

This Directive shall enter
publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

into force on the day of

its

The period provided for
1999/468/EC shall be laid down as three months.

in Article 5(6) of Decision

Article 14

3.

The Committee shall adopt its rules of procedure.

This Directive is addressed to the Member States.

Article 10

Done at Luxembourg, 6 June 2000.

Member States shall draw up arrangements for the penalties
applicable where a driver or operator fails to abide by the
technical requirements verified on the basis of this Directive.

For the European Parliament

The President

N. FONTAINE

For the Council

The President

E. FERRO RODRIGUES

10.8.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 203/5

ANNEX I

SPECIMEN TECHNICAL ROADSIDE INSPECTION REPORT INCORPORATING A CHECKLIST

(Directive 2000/30/EC)

1. Place of check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2. Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3. Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4. Vehicle nationality mark and registration number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5. Trailer/semi-trailer nationality mark and registration number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

6. Class of vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(a) n Light goods vehicle (3,5 to 12 t) (1)

(e) n Lorry (more than 12 t) (5)

(b) n Trailer (2)

(f) n Semi-trailer (6)

(c) n Road train (3)

(g) n Articulated vehicle (7)

(d) n Bus or coach (4)

7. Undertaking carrying out transport/address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

8. Nationality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

9. Driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(1) Motor vehicles with at least four wheels and used for the carriage of goods and having a maximum mass exceeding 3,5 t but not

exceeding 12 t (category N2).

(2) Any vehicle intended to be coupled to a motor vehicle, with the exception of semi-trailers, which because of its design and
equipment is used for the carriage of goods; trailers of a maximum mass exceeding 3,5 t but not exceeding 10 t (category O3);
trailers of a maximum mass exceeding 10 t (category O4).

(3) Motor vehicle intended for the carriage of goods, with a maximum mass exceeding 3,5 t (categories N2 and N3) coupled to a trailer

(categories O3 and O4).

(4) Motor vehicle with at least four wheels used for the carriage of passengers, comprising more than eight seats in addition to the

driver(cid:146)s seat (categories M2 and M3).

(5) Motor vehicles with at least four wheels used for the carriage of goods and having a maximum mass exceeding 12 t (category N3).
(6) Any vehicle intended to be coupled to a motor vehicle in such a way that part of the semi-trailer rests on the motor vehicle and a
substantial part of its weight or of the weight of its load is supported by that vehicle and which, because of its design and
equipment, is used for the carriage of goods (categories O3 and O4).

(7) Towing vehicle coupled to a semi-trailer.

L 203/6

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

10.8.2000

10. Checklist:

checked

not
checked

failed

n

n

n

n

n

n

n

n

n

n

n

n

n

n

n

n

n

n

n

n

n

n

n

n

n

n

n

n

n

n

n

n

n

n

n

n

(a) braking system and components (1)

(b) exhaust system (1)

(c) smoke opacity (diesel) (1)

(d) gaseous emissions (petrol, natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) (1)

(e) steering linkages

(f)

lamps, lighting and signalling devices

(g) wheels/tyres

(h) suspension (visible defects)

(i) chassis (visible defects)

(j)

tachograph (installation)

(k) speed limiting device (installation)

(l) evidence of fuel and/or oil spillage

11. Result of inspection:

Ban on using the vehicle, which has serious defects

n

12. Miscellaneous/remarks

13. Authority/officer or inspector having carried out the inspection

Signature of testing authority/agent or inspector

(1) These items shall be subject to specific tests and/or checks as laid down in Annex II to Directive 2000/30/EC.

10.8.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 203/7

RULES FOR TESTING AND/OR CHECKING BRAKING SYSTEMS AND EXHAUST EMISSIONS

ANNEX II

1.

Specific conditions concerning brakes

It is required that every part of the braking system and its means of operation be maintained in good and
efficient working order and be properly adjusted.

The vehicle’s brakes must fulfil the following braking functions:

(a)

for motor vehicles and their trailers and semi-trailers, a service brake capable of slowing down the vehicle
and of stopping it safely, rapidly and efficiently, whatever its conditions of loading and whatever the upward
or downward gradient of the road on which it is moving;

(b)

for motor vehicles and their trailers and semi-trailers a parking brake capable of holding the vehicle
stationary, whatever its condition of loading, and whatever the upward or downward gradient of the road;

2.

Specific conditions concerning exhaust emissions

2.1. Motor vehicles equipped with positive-ignition (petrol) engines

(a) Where the exhaust emissions are not controlled by an advanced emission control system such as a three-way

catalytic converter which is lambda-probe controlled:

1.

visual inspection of the exhaust system in order to check that there is no leakage;

2.

3.

if appropriate, visual
equipment has been fitted;

inspection of the emission control system in order to check that the required

after a reasonable period of engine conditioning (taking account of
the vehicle manufacturer’s
recommendations) the carbon monoxide (CO) content of the exhaust gases is measured when the engine
is idling (no load).

The maximum permissible CO content in the exhaust gases must not exceed the following:

(cid:151) for vehicles registered or put into service for the first time between the date from which member
States required the vehicles to comply with Directive 70/220/EEC (1) and 1 October 1986: CO must
not exceed 4,5 % vol.,

(cid:151) for vehicles registered or put into service for the first time after 1 October 1986: CO must not

exceed 3,5 % vol.

(b) Where the exhaust emissions are controlled by an advanced emission control system such as a three-way

catalytic converter which is lambda-probe controlled:

1.

2.

3.

visual inspection of the exhaust system in order to check that there are no leakages and that all parts are
complete;

visual inspection of the emission control system in order to check that the required equipment has been
fitted;

determination of the efficiency of the vehicle’s emission control system by measurement of the lambda
value and of the CO content of the exhaust gases in accordance with section 4.

(1) Council Directive 70/220/EEC of 20 March 1970 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to measures to be
taken against air pollution by emissions from motor vehicles (OJ L 76, 6.4.1970, p. 1). Directive as last amended by Commission
Directive 1999/102/EC (OJ 334, 28.12.1999, p. 43).

L 203/8

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

10.8.2000

4.

exhaust pipe emissions (cid:151) limit values

(cid:151) measurement at engine idling speed:

The maximum permissible CO content in the exhaust gases must not exceed 0,5 % vol.,

(cid:151) measurement at high idling speed (no load), engine speed to be at least 2 000 minﬂ1:

CO content: maximum 0,3 % vol.,

Lambda: 1 – 0,03 or in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications.

2.2. Motor vehicles equipped with compression ignition (diesel) engines

Measurement of exhaust gas opacity with free acceleration (no load from idling up to cut-off speed). The level of
concentration must not exceed (1) the following limit values of the coefficient of absorption:

(cid:151) naturally aspirated diesel engines = 2,5 mﬂ1,

(cid:151) turbo(cid:150)charged diesel engines = 3,0 mﬂ1,

or equivalent values where use in made of equipment of a type different from that complying with these
requirements.

Vehicles registered or put into service for the first time before 1 January 1980 are exempted from these
requirements.

2.3. Test equipment

Vehicle emissions are tested using equipment designated to establish accurately whether the limit values
prescribed or indicated by the manufacturer have been complied with.

(1) Council Directive 72/306/EEC of 2 August 1972 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the measures to
be taken against the emission of pollutants from diesel engines for use in vehicles (OJ L 190, 20.8.1972, p. 1). Directive as last
amended by Commission Directive 97/20/EC (OJ L 125, 16.5.1997, p. 2).