New French vehicle tests target modified scooters and mopeds

Obligatory motorcycle and scooter inspections in France have been expanded to include a new speed check for the smallest class of two-wheelers, in a move aimed at tackling illegally modified vehicles.

Since March 1, technical inspection centres must verify that 50cc scooters and mopeds cannot exceed the legal maximum speed of 45km/h.

The checks are required every three years after the fifth year of the vehicle’s first registration.

The rule applies to category L1e vehicles and forms part of the wider contrôle technique regime for powered two-wheelers that was introduced in 2024.

The aim is to prevent so-called débridage - modifications that remove factory speed limiters and allow small scooters to travel significantly faster than permitted.

Under the new test, inspection centres will measure the maximum speed a vehicle can reach using specialised equipment. 

If the machine exceeds 45km/h, the inspection is marked as a failure and the owner must restore the vehicle to its original specification before a follow-up inspection.

Riders who continue to use a modified 50cc scooter on the road risk a fixed fine of €135 if stopped by police.

Road safety authorities have long argued that de-restricted mopeds are widespread and increase accident risks, particularly among younger riders who make up a large share of users of these vehicles.

Some industry observers estimate that more than half of such machines may have been altered in some way, often through engine adjustments or modified exhaust systems that increase both speed and noise.

However, professionals in the sector have told French media of their scepticism over how much impact the new checks will have in practice, as riders of illegally modified scooters are less likely to voluntarily present them for inspections every three years. 

There are also concerns among inspection centres about the cost of the equipment needed to measure maximum speed accurately. 

Devices such as a céléromètre can cost around €5,000, adding to the financial pressure on a sector that already questioned the economic viability of motorcycle inspections when they were introduced two years ago.

Industry representatives previously warned that the number of motorcycles and scooters undergoing inspections may remain relatively low compared with cars, while the equipment required for the tests is specialised and expensive.

Owners whose scooters fail the speed test must return the vehicle to standard condition before passing a repeat inspection. Until then, the vehicle cannot legally be used on the road.