In brief
A UVV inspection is the recurring vehicle check required by the accident prevention rules in DGUV Regulation 70. It must be performed and documented by a competent person at least once a year.
What Is Checked During a UVV Inspection?
The inspection covers the vehicle's safety for work: brakes, lights, tires, steering, glazing, bodywork, seat belts, and required equipment such as the warning triangle, high-visibility vest, and first aid kit. For vehicles with special bodies, load securing and attachments are also checked.
The inspection does not replace the periodic technical and emissions inspections, and those inspections do not replace the UVV inspection. They serve different purposes and have separate deadlines.
Who May Carry Out the Inspection?
A competent person under the regulation, with the necessary knowledge from training and experience. This could be a qualified automotive technician within the company. Usually a workshop or inspection service handles it, often together with another workshop appointment.
How Does It Differ From the Periodic Technical Inspection?
Both inspections concern the same vehicle but serve different purposes and run independently.
| Feature | UVV inspection | Periodic technical inspection |
|---|---|---|
| Area of law | Occupational safety | Road traffic law |
| Purpose | Safe working condition for employees | Roadworthiness on public roads |
| Vehicles covered | Vehicles used for business | All vehicles that require registration |
| Interval | At least annually | Passenger cars: first after three years, then every two years |
| Inspector | Competent person | Officially recognized inspection organization |
| Evidence | Inspection record held by the company | Inspection report and sticker on the license plate |
What Matters for the Evidence?
Each vehicle needs an inspection record showing the date, result, defects found, and name of the inspector. A workshop invoice is not sufficient evidence. Scheduling takes effort because deadlines differ by vehicle and overlap with lease end dates, periodic technical inspections, and tire changes. Without central scheduling, vehicles may be inspected twice or missed altogether. When defects are found, follow-up is also crucial: a record showing an outstanding defect with no documented repair can weigh more heavily in a claim than no inspection at all.
Further reading
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