TÜV prices 2026 compared
| Vehicle type | TÜV Rheinland / Saarland | BY / HE / SN / TH | FSP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Car up to 3.5 t (incl. AU) | €166.90 | €163.00 | €166.90 |
| Car with AU certificate | n/a | €103.00 | €108.90 |
| Motorcycle | €75.10 | €93.00 | €95.00 |
| Vehicle 3.5 – 7.5 t | €197.10 | €192.00 | €199.00 |
| Lorry 7.5 – 12 t | €218.70 | €217.00 | €229.00 |
| Taxi / private hire car | €179.50 | €180.00 | €179.40 |
| Trailer with brakes up to 3.5 t | €63.30 | €69.00 | €68.00 |
| Trailer without brakes | €32.90 | €46.00 | €46.60 |
Gross prices including VAT from the fee schedules valid from 1 January 2026. BY = Bavaria, HE = Hesse, SN = Saxony, TH = Thuringia. TÜV Rheinland does not list a separate price for cars without the emissions test. The taxi price for BY/HE/SN/TH is the car fee plus a €17.00 surcharge.
TÜV NORD: car prices by federal state
| Federal state | HU incl. AU | HU with AU certificate | Motorcycle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bremen | €167.90 | €110.90 | €97.00 |
| Hamburg | €166.90 | €107.90 | €97.00 |
| Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania | €167.00 | €108.90 | €97.00 |
| Lower Saxony | €167.90 | €110.90 | €99.00 |
| North Rhine-Westphalia | €169.90 | €110.90 | €99.00 |
| Schleswig-Holstein | €166.90 | €107.90 | €97.00 |
| Saxony-Anhalt | €168.00 | €108.90 | €97.00 |
TÜV NORD Überwachungsorganisation fee schedule, valid from 1 January 2026. For Baden-Württemberg, Berlin and Brandenburg we have no official fee schedules – according to our research, prices there are in the same range.
Fine for an overdue main inspection
| Overrun | Cars & motorcycles | Vehicles requiring a safety inspection (SP) |
|---|---|---|
| up to 2 months | no fine | €15 |
| 2 to 4 months | €15 | €25 |
| 4 to 8 months | €25 | €60 + 1 point |
| more than 8 months | €60 + 1 point | €75 + 1 point |
Source: Germany's standard offence catalogue (Bußgeldkatalog-Verordnung). A safety inspection (Sicherheitsprüfung, SP) is required for, among others, lorries over 7.5 t, buses and trailers over 10 t.
TÜV costs 2026: what you really pay
The main inspection (Hauptuntersuchung, HU) for a car up to 3.5 t costs between €163 and €170 in 2026, depending on the inspection organisation and region. The emissions test (Abgasuntersuchung, AU) is already included in that price – it has been a mandatory part of the HU since 2010. In everyday speech the whole thing is simply called “TÜV”, even when the inspection is carried out by DEKRA, GTÜ, KÜS or FSP.
Why prices differ by federal state
The fees for the main inspection are not set uniformly across Germany. Each inspection organisation publishes its own fee schedules, and these also vary by region. With TÜV NORD you pay €166.90 for the same car in Hamburg, but €169.90 in North Rhine-Westphalia. In Bavaria, Hesse, Saxony and Thuringia the rate is lowest at €163.00 – there, too, the 19% VAT rate applies, but to a lower net fee.
Save money with an emissions test certificate from a garage
The biggest lever: have the emissions test done beforehand at a garage and present the certificate at the HU. Instead of €163 you then pay only €103 (BY/HE/SN/TH) or €108.90 (FSP) for the main inspection alone. Whether this pays off depends on your garage's AU price – many garages charge €40 to €60 for the AU. For electric cars the AU does not apply at all, so the lower rate applies automatically.
The expensive trap: a 20% surcharge for an overdue inspection
If you miss the HU deadline by more than two months, you get what is known as an extended main inspection. The vehicle's history is documented as well – and the inspection fee rises by 20% (Annex VIIIa No. 2.2 StVZO, the German road vehicle licensing regulations). TÜV Rheinland calculates this surcharge on the amount for an HU without the emissions test. On top comes the fixed penalty: €15 from two months, €25 from four months and €60 plus one point in Flensburg (the German traffic offences register) from eight months.
What happens if defects are found?
With minor defects you still get the sticker, but you must have the defect fixed. With serious defects no sticker is issued: you have one month for the repair and the re-inspection. At TÜV Rheinland that costs €31.00 for vehicles up to 3.5 t and €25.00 for motorcycles. If a visual check is enough, it is only €17.50. If you let the one-month deadline lapse, a complete new HU at the full price is due.
Do not forget the gas system in your motorhome
Motorhomes and caravans with an LPG system need a gas system re-inspection (Gaswiederholungsprüfung) under DVGW G 607 every two years. Combined with the HU it costs an extra €29.20 at TÜV Rheinland and €38.00 at FSP. Booked separately it is €69.00 (TÜV Rheinland) or €46.90 (FSP) – so a joint appointment clearly saves money.
Frequently asked questions about TÜV costs
For a car up to 3.5 t, the main inspection including emissions test costs €163.00 to €169.90. It is cheapest in Bavaria, Hesse, Saxony and Thuringia (€163.00) and most expensive at TÜV NORD in North Rhine-Westphalia (€169.90).
Yes. The AU has been a mandatory part of the main inspection since 2010 and is included in the prices given. If you have the AU done beforehand at a garage and present the certificate, you only pay the lower fee for the HU alone – for example €108.90 instead of €166.90 at FSP.
Electric cars have no combustion engine and therefore need no emissions test. The lower rate for the main inspection alone applies automatically: €103.00 in Bavaria, Hesse, Saxony and Thuringia, or €107.90 to €110.90 at TÜV NORD.
Up to two months late costs nothing for a car. From the third month it gets doubly expensive: the inspection fee rises by 20% (extended HU) and a fixed penalty is added – €15 for 2 to 4 months, €25 for 4 to 8 months and €60 plus one point in Flensburg for more than 8 months.
At TÜV Rheinland the defect re-inspection costs €31.00 for vehicles up to 3.5 t and €25.00 for motorcycles. If a visual check is enough, it is €17.50 (€12.50 for trailers without brakes). Important: the re-inspection must take place within one month, otherwise a complete new HU is due.
New cars first need the main inspection after 36 months, then every 24 months. Taxis, private hire cars and ambulances need an HU every year, as do lorries over 7.5 t and trailers with a permissible gross weight over 10 t.
For the H-plate (the registration plate for historic vehicles) you need a classic-car report. At TÜV Rheinland it costs from €116.50 for a car (minimum fee), €155.00 at FSP and €150.00 at TÜV NORD in Lower Saxony for vehicles up to 3.5 t. The regular main inspection is not included and is charged separately.
