CHAPTER IIIMINIMUM REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING ROADWORTHINESS TESTS
Article 5Date and frequency of testing
1
Vehicles shall be subject to a roadworthiness test at least within the following intervals, without prejudice to the period of flexibility applied in Member States under paragraph 3:
a
vehicles of category M1 and N1: four years after the date on which the vehicle was first registered, and thereafter every two years;
b
vehicles of category M1 used as taxis or ambulances, vehicles of categories M2, M3, N2, N3, O3 and O4: one year after the date on which the vehicle was first registered, and thereafter annually;
c
vehicles of category T5 the use of which mainly takes place on public roads for commercial road haulage purposes: four years after the date on which the vehicle was first registered, and thereafter every two years.
2
Member States shall establish appropriate intervals within which vehicles of categories L3e, L4e, L5e and L7e, with an engine displacement of more than 125 cm3, are to be subject to a roadworthiness test.
3
Member States or competent authorities may establish a reasonable period during which the roadworthiness test is to be carried out, not exceeding the intervals laid down in paragraph 1.
4
Notwithstanding the date of a vehicle’s last roadworthiness test, the Member State or competent authority concerned may require it to undergo a roadworthiness test before the dates referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 in the following cases:
after an accident affecting the main safety-related components of the vehicle, such as wheels, suspension, deformation zones, airbag systems, steering or brakes;
when the safety and environmental systems and components of the vehicle have been altered or modified;
where the holder of the registration certificate of a vehicle has changed;
when the vehicle has reached a mileage of 160 000 km;
in cases where road safety is seriously affected.