French vehicle-inspection approval — centres, inspectors and networks

Operators of vehicle-inspection centres (light vehicles, heavy vehicles, category L) and the inspectors they employ, plus the networks federating those centres. Indirectly, the providers that train future inspectors.

What this scheme covers

• C.1Three distinct, complementary approvals: one for the facility (the centre), one for each inspector working there, and one for the network the centre may belong to.
• C.2A scope per vehicle category: vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes (order of 18 June 1991), heavy vehicles (order of 27 July 2004), two- and three-wheel motor vehicles and quadricycles, known as category L (order of 23 October 2023).
• C.3An independence requirement: the approved centre undertakes not to carry out any vehicle repair or sales activity, and not to use inspection results for purposes other than those set by the regulations.
• C.4Tightly framed inspector qualifications: an automotive diploma or equivalent title, initial training matching the referential approved by the transport ministry, a clean criminal-record extract (bulletin no. 2) and periodic requalification.
• C.5Ongoing oversight: UTAC-OTC, the central technical body, issues the technical instructions approved by the minister and contributes to monitoring centres, which the prefect can sanction by suspending or withdrawing approval.

The link with Qualiopi

The approval authorises a regulated inspection activity and has nothing to do with Qualiopi. The bridge lies on the training side, and it is twofold. Providers preparing future inspectors must meet the requirements of annex IV to the order of 18 June 1991; and those seeking public or pooled funding for these programmes — CPF, OPCO, France Travail, Regions — need Qualiopi certification, in particular when preparing candidates for the professional title of light-vehicle inspector.

The process, summarised

1. 1.Choose the scope: light vehicles, heavy vehicles or category L, each covered by its own ministerial order and its own approval.
2. 2.Decide on affiliation: a centre attached to an approved network, which gives an opinion on the application, or an independent centre, on which the central technical body opines instead.
3. 3.Build the facility: premises, inspection lane, measuring and testing equipment compliant with the technical prescriptions, and a written undertaking to carry out no vehicle repair or sales.
4. 4.File the facility approval application with the prefecture of the département where it is located, with the documents listed in annex VII to the order of 18 June 1991 for light vehicles.
5. 5.Have each inspector approved: an individual file with proof of qualification, the initial-training certificate and the criminal-record extract (bulletin no. 2), the person being employed by an approved operator.
6. 6.Keep the approval alive: apply the technical instructions issued by UTAC-OTC, keep inspectors' and operators' qualifications current, and cooperate with monitoring visits.