Starting on April 15th, 2024, mandatory technical inspections are being implemented for motorcycles, scooters, cars, golf carts, and quads. Vehicles in category L that were registered before January 1st, 2017, will need to undergo their first inspection by December 31st, 2024. Nearly 2.5 million people are expected to undergo their first mandatory inspection in 2024, according to Mobilians, the organization representing industry professionals. The inspection covers 78 points, including brakes, handlebars, lights, leaks, and tires, and is valid for three years. Additional checks on noise and vehicle restriction, often circumvented by scooters, will only be enforced in the summer of 2025.
The introduction of these new technical inspections for category L vehicles has sparked protests among many motorcyclists who gathered across France over the weekend to voice their discontent. According to the Ministry of the Interior, there were over 38,450 protesters in total, with 7,000 in Paris on Saturday. The motorcyclists claim that the inspections are a form of “extortion” and argue that accidents are typically not caused by vehicle conditions – as they usually maintain their vehicles well – but rather by the state of the roads. The cost of these inspections has also raised concerns, as it is expected to exceed €50 despite previous assurances.
The directive for mandatory technical inspections for category L vehicles stems from a European directive from April 2014, which obligated member states to introduce these measures. In France, the implementation was delayed due to various legal challenges, despite other European countries rolling out the program before the 2022 deadline. Initially postponed by Emmanuel Macron in 2021, citing the desire not to burden the French population, the government had to succumb to pressure and reinstate the inspections in 2023 after a decision by the Council of State. Some members of the ruling coalition have called for a temporary suspension of these inspections, suggesting alternative solutions, but have yet to receive a response.
Since the confirmation of technical inspections in October 2023, inspection centers have been working to obtain the necessary accreditation. While not all of France is covered, approximately half of the centers are prepared, with 3,000 inspectors ready to conduct inspections. In Spain, where technical inspections for two-wheelers have been a requirement since 2006, the mortality rate has decreased significantly for moped riders but not for motorcyclists. Reports indicate that 17% of two-wheelers inspected in 2022 required a reinspection, with half of them having major issues related to lighting, emissions, or noise. These findings highlight potential safety benefits but also the importance of thorough inspections.
