When is a car roadworthiness test due?

For an ordinary car, the first roadworthiness test is due within four years of its first registration, with subsequent tests every two years. Check the actual due date on the vehicle documents and the Portale: special vehicles, taxis, chauffeur-driven hire vehicles and other categories may follow different schedules.

Work out when the first test is due

Article 80 of the Italian Highway Code requires cars to have their first roadworthiness test within four years of first registration and every two years after that. The specific due date follows the applicable rules and the information on the vehicle documents; do not confuse the model year or the date you bought a used car with its registration date.

If you have bought a used car, ask the seller when it last passed the test and check the record on the Portale dell’Automobilista. The service shows tests carried out since 1 June 2018; for earlier tests or inconsistencies, check the vehicle registration certificate, the Documento Unico or contact the UMC. Set a reminder well in advance.

Check whether your vehicle follows a different rule

Not every car follows the standard schedule. Article 80 requires annual testing for some categories, including taxis, ambulances, chauffeur-driven hire vehicles and certain vehicles used to carry passengers or goods. The vehicle’s weight, use and number of seats can affect the schedule.

If the vehicle is registered to a business or used for a professional service, do not use the schedule for an ordinary private car. Check its category and use on the vehicle documents, then consult the current text of Article 80 or ask the UMC. An individual test may also be ordered after an accident, bringing the test forward from its regular due date.

Book the test and keep the result

You can use a Civil Motorisation Office or an authorised testing centre; check the appointment, documents and payment requirements first. Bring the vehicle registration certificate or Documento Unico and follow the centre’s instructions. The result is entered in the system and must be recorded in line with the applicable procedure.

After the test, keep the receipt and check the result, particularly if the vehicle fails or needs a retest. Passing the test does not replace servicing or regular maintenance checks. If the due date has already passed, find out what to do before using the vehicle, and do not confuse a booking with a completed test.

Quiz Patente Ufficiale offers practice tests, chapter-by-chapter study and a review of your mistakes to help you learn the rules of the road.