5 myths about HU

5 myths about HU

There are myths not only in children's books, but also in the automotive industry. This everyday wisdom is not only persistent, but is also often wrong. Especially with the main inspection And how best to get the coveted badge is that some falsehoods are up to mischief.

In this blog article, clear up these myths about the main investigation and equip yourself with the right information — so that you indeed successfully passes the main inspection.

• What is the main inspection?
• Myth 1: A successful general inspection ensures you two years of carefree travel.
• Myth 2: All you have to do is bring your vehicle to the appointment.
• Myth 3: The deadline can easily be exceeded.
• myth 4: The date for verification can easily be extended.
• Myth 5: Car insurance always pays.
• conclusion: HU myths

What is the main inspection?

Anyone who drives a car knows the main inspection. There are now a variety of state-recognized testing organizations that offer HU. These include DEKRA, GTÜ and KÜS.

At HU, the vehicle is put through its paces to ensure that it meets state-defined environmental and safety standards.

Depending on the vehicle class, there are different deadlines and test cycles.

Myth 1: A successful general inspection ensures you two years of worry-free travel.

Imagine HoldeineBadge Call you and give you the good news that your car has successfully passed the general inspection. Thanks to the practical pick-up and delivery service, your car will be returned to you by the HoldeineBadge team within the next hour.

What a great feeling. The fresh sticker now certifies that you can accelerate carefree again for the next 2 years. Or not?

Unfortunately, it is not quite as simple as that. Despite passing the test, the general inspection is “only” a snapshot of the current condition of your car. It makes no statements about the lifetime of some wear parts, such as brakes.

Since your car is an everyday object, one or the other part can of course break down from time to time.

So if something rattles and rattles, please don't ignore it, but also have regular security checks carried out on your vehicle despite the sticker.

If you have your vehicle regularly checked for road safety, you can be much more relaxed for the next main inspection appointment. Because you already know that your car is well maintained and safe.

Myth 2: All you have to do is bring your vehicle to the appointment.

Of course, at HU, your vehicle is in the spotlight. However, it is a myth that you don't have to have anything else in your luggage besides your car.

So that your inspection center can carry out the HU on your vehicle without any problems, the following documents should not be missing:

• The registration certificate part 1 (formerly also known as vehicle registration document)
• If the vehicle is not registered: the registration certificate part 2
• Subsequent changes (e.g. tuning) made to the vehicle must have been documented. Be sure to bring the necessary evidence for this.

Myth 3: The deadline can easily be exceeded.

Unfortunately, it is too common for many car drivers to regard the deadline for their next general inspection as a guideline or recommendation. The fact that the deadline, which you can also read on the sticker, must not be exceeded can be read in § 29 StVZO.

Of course, it can happen that you forget an appointment. However, you may be subject to delays, fines and, under certain circumstances, 1 point in Flensburg after the 3rd month.

In addition to the possible fine, the general inspection will also be more expensive from the third month of delay. The missed deadline obliges testing organizations to carry out a so-called “extended HU”. The additional costs incurred for the extended HU result in (currently) 20% additional costs.

You can find the answer to the question of how expensive an excessive HU period can be in our guide”Cover HU”.

Myth 4: The date for verification can easily be extended.

It happened — your car did not pass the road safety test requirements. Your testing center will inform you that the deficiencies found must be corrected and that you must come for verification. The deficiencies must be corrected immediately, but at the latest within one month (on a daily basis).

Strictly speaking, according to law, you are not allowed to operate the vehicle with identified defects as part of your owner's responsibility. Exempted from this are trips to repair the defects and the return of your vehicle to the inspection center.

Unfortunately, this date falls exactly at a time when your schedule is already overflowing. Is it easy to extend the review deadline?

No

However, if you exceed this deadline, then the main inspection will have to be carried out completely from scratch. In other words, you will pay the costs of HU once again.

The verification itself is only associated with very low fees (17€ for us).

If you are traveling with an unsafe vehicle and get into a police checkpoint, you may also face fines.

So — it's best to always meet the deadline for verification. This saves you a lot of money and protects yourself and other road users.

Myth 5: Car insurance always pays.

What is it actually like when you are responsible for a traffic accident and were on the road with an expired sticker at the same time? Does your car insurance pay the claims of the other party involved in the accident?

Basically, your car insurance covers you against the worst things in road traffic. This also applies against claims from other road users.

However, should you cause an accident due to technical deficiencies, such as poor tread depth on the tires, which would have been discovered when the HU was carried out on time, the situation no longer looks so rosy for you.

The insurance company then has the option of refusing to cover the costs or to make only part of the payments. Because your conduct could be considered negligent from a legal point of view.

Conclusion: HU myths

As you can see, it's worth taking a closer look at some general investigation myths and finding out more. In the worst case scenario, you can avoid fines, points in Flensburg and lost insurance coverage.

You also notice that it is always recommended to check your vehicle on time. Exceeded deadlines should be made up as soon as possible.

If you're looking for more advice on how to get through the main inspection without any problems, then be sure to check out our blog um.

And if you have any questions about other HU myths that we haven't discussed in the article above, then contact us by phone or email. Or it's best to arrange one right away Appointment, and let us answer your questions directly in the workshop.

We are always happy to help you so that you can get the coveted badge quickly and easily.

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