What should you expect to pay for a car roadworthy check in France?
Official website allows drivers to check prices near them and shows a wide variation
Contrôle technique tests are mandatory for vehicles that are at least four years old, and are biennial after the first check
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Drivers needing to take their vehicle in for a contrôle technique can use a free government comparison site to find the cheapest approved centres near them.
First launched in 2024, the site has been updated to work better on smartphones and tablets as well as computers, with several improvements.
Main features include:
An interactive map showing you the prices at 5,791 approved test centres in France
Manually searching for centres near you via your commune name (showing centres up to 100 km away from your location)
Comparison options to check price differences based on criteria including the department the centre is located in, vehicle type, and fuel type
Searching for a specific test centre using its SIRET business number
Prices vary considerably
Using the website can help save on the mandatory roadworthiness inspection, as costs can vary significantly.
The average cost of a contrôle technique in 2025 was €78 according to the Simplauto website.
However, prices range from anywhere between €45 to more than €100 depending on the centre that the vehicle is taken to.
Prices also vary between departments, ranging from €67.24 on average in the Loiret to €99.42 in Haute-Savoie.
There is no major difference in prices based on whether a department is more rural or urban, nor a region where costs are generally cheaper, meaning a check before booking an appointment is always a good idea.
Costs are generally higher for larger vehicles (SUVs and 4x4, campervans, etc) than smaller cars.
If your vehicle faces a major or critical fault, remember that you will need to get this repaired and then take the vehicle back for another inspection.
Known as a contre-visite, this is quicker and checks that the faults in question have been repaired. It does not have to be taken at the same centre as the original test, although most people opt for this as it is easier.
Costs for this appointment also vary, but usually fall between €20 and €40 unless a return is included in advance in the original pricing.
As a reminder, vehicles need a contrôle technique once they are four years old, with the inspections being biennial after that.
This applies to all roadworthy vehicles including motorcycles.
Failure to have a valid contrôle technique can see drivers fined up to €135. The vehicle can also have its registration temporarily confiscated and not returned until the test is completed.
It may also cause issues with insurers.
