Automotive safety and inspection guidelines

Vehicle owners must adhere to regular safety inspections, known as the Hauptuntersuchung (HU), to ensure cars, motorcycles, and campers remain roadworthy. According to TÜV Nord, the inspection sticker on a vehicle's license plate indicates the due date. The central number represents the year, while the curved bars around the edge indicate the month. For example, a sticker with the number 26 and bars spanning from 1 to 11 signifies a December 2026 deadline.

In terms of vehicle safety ratings, Euro NCAP testing provides benchmarks for passenger protection, child safety, and driver assistance systems. Recent 2025 tests show that several Skoda models, including the Elroq, Enyaq, and Octavia, achieved the highest five-star rating. The all-electric Elroq specifically demonstrated high performance in adult occupant protection, scoring 90 percent of available points in that category.