How it works
Before the test we look the car over. If we find anything that would make it fail, we only repair what you approve. Typical issues are a faulty bulb, worn joints or worn tyres; the legal minimum is 1.6 millimetres of tread.
Minor defects are noted in the inspection report, and you still get the sticker. You must have them put right without delay, though, within one month at the latest. With significant defects you do not get the sticker, and you have one month for the repair and the re-inspection; after that, a new HU is due. We take care of that too.
What we check before the HU
- Lights and headlight alignment
- Tyres: tread, damage, size as stated in the documents
- Brakes, brake lines and brake fluid
- Steering, axles and suspension
- Windows, wipers, seat belts
- Exhaust and rust on load-bearing parts
HU and AU
What many people in Germany call ‘going to the TÜV’ is the HU. The AU, the emissions test, has been part of it since 2010, which is why there is only one sticker. For the AU, emissions are measured at the exhaust and, on newer cars, the fault memory is read. If the engine management light is on, that is usually already a defect.
US vehicles and LPG
The same rules apply to US vehicles as to any other car. The interval depends on the vehicle class: if a pickup is registered as a goods vehicle (Lkw), it has to have its first HU after only two years, and every year if its maximum authorised mass is over 3.5 tonnes. The documents are what counts: larger wheels, a suspension lift or a different exhaust will be noticed at the test if the paperwork for them is missing. We go through this with you beforehand.
If an LPG system is fitted, its inspection is part of the HU. Because we install and maintain LPG systems ourselves, we check the system and the tank during the preparation as well. If the engine runs roughly in gas mode or gas consumption rises, tell us when you book.
Appointments
Write to us at info@autohausfritz.com or call +49 34604 348-0, Monday to Friday from 7:30 to 17:00; the workshop is closed on Saturdays. Let us know when your sticker expires and whether an LPG system is fitted. If a service is also due, we combine the two.
What customers often ask
Where can I see when my next HU is due?
On the sticker on the rear number plate: the year is in the middle, and the number at the very top shows the month. The date is also given in the last inspection report.
What happens if I have missed the HU date?
If the deadline has been exceeded by more than two months, an extended inspection is due, which costs more. If you are stopped by the police, you may also be fined.
What should I bring to the HU?
Registration certificate part I (Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I). If anything on the car has been modified, bring the approvals for it as well, such as an ABE (general operating permit for the part) or a parts certificate (Teilegutachten).