Imported Vehicles Guideline
The imported vehicles guideline
This guideline was published in December 1998 in the traffic paper and is to be applied since then all across Germany. It specifies, along with other regulations, the procedure for experts when inspecting your imported vehicles! However, for many important points, other regulations were valid before.
When the TÜV SÜD expert inspects an imported vehicle in compliance with § 21 (full inspection), he or she does not only determine any technical defects, but also checks whether the vehicle meets the registration directives in Germany.
What are these directives, in which cases can a vehicle component or a technical case be “rubber-stamped“ by getting an approximate effect or an exceptional permission?
The Imported Vehicles Guidelinie specifies this in detail. In the following summary, though somewhat shortened and simplified, you can inform yourself about the criteria your car will be tested by and which modifications and tests are really necessary. Some federal states may have slight deviances, which will vanish as time goes by, though.
Vehicle component | Modification / Approximate effect / Exceptional permission | Hints / Notes |
Screens | Approximate effect possible | "DOT"-label is sufficient |
Trailer coupling | US-version not allowed | Wrong ball diameter |
Headlights (full beam, dimmed headlights), fog lights | With European control stamp only | Lighting certificate possible for single headlights, but expensive |
Running lights / Parking lights | Approximate effect possible | Colour must be white! |
Backup lights | Approximate effect possible | Required from 1st Jan. 1987 as initial registration date on |
Rear lights | Approximate effect possible | Separate fuses |
Brake lights | Approximate effect possible | Not to be combined with red indicators |
Rear reflector | Modify or add approval mark to additional RR | Only red colour possible |
Rear fog lights | Approximate effect possible or retrofit | Required from 1st Jan. 1991as initial registration date on |
Indicator | Approximate effect possible | Colour must be yellow! |
With initial registration before 1970, red indicators at the back are possible, if bulbs are original | ||
Bulbs | Approximate effect possible, if provided with US-control stamp | Requirement: Have 2 spare bulbs with you |
Number plate illumination | Approximate effect possible | |
Safety belts | Approximate effect possible | US-standards met |
Spare wheel outside | Provide double safeguarding | |
Brake system | Exceptional permission required as of 1st January 1991 | From initial registration date 1st January 1991 on, an additional brake inspection in compliance with the VdTÜV datasheet must be carried out |
Towing hook | Retrofit at the front, at the back only with given trailer load | From initial registration date 1st January 1974 on |
Exhaust emission characteristics in compliance with StVZO (Road Traffic Licensing Regulations) or EU, respectively | To be provided | Exceptional permissions only possible when moving |
Automatic headlamp levelling | Exceptional permissions possible, from initial registration date 1st January 1990 on | No retrofit required |
Emergency lights | Must be equipped | |
Speed indicator | Scaling in km/h up to VMAX required | Retrofit or permanent markings, e.g. 30/50/80/100/130... |
Distance counter | Exceptional permission required, if indicated in miles | No retrofit required |
Manufacturer plate/ Type plate | required | To be attached at the frame front right |
Vehicle identification number | To be embossed at the frame front right, if not provided ex works | After consulting TÜV-expert |
Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) | To be provided for vehicles with initial registration date as of 1st January 2002 | To technical services |