Transport
Horse Trailer and TÜV: Technical Inspection Deadline, Sticker, and Inspected Components
When does your horse trailer need its technical inspection in Germany? Here you'll find out where to check the date, how to read the inspection sticker, which components are checked, and how to pre-check your trailer for defects.
Equidara editorial team · 17 October 2026 · 4 min read
According to TÜV Rheinland, horse trailers with their own official license plates in Germany generally require a technical inspection, or HU, every two years. Depending on the trailer's weight, a shorter interval may apply. The reliable date can be found in your registration certificate Part I or on the inspection sticker on the rear license plate. Components checked include the frame, lighting system, tires, suspension, and brakes.
What Inspection Interval Applies to Your Horse Trailer?
TÜV Rheinland specifies a two-year interval for trailers with their own official license plates in Germany. So, first check if this condition applies to you. The precise deadlines are set by the German Road Traffic Licensing Regulations. These regulations differentiate based on vehicle type and weight, meaning shorter intervals may apply to heavier trailers. This could affect some larger horse trailers.
Therefore, for planning your appointment, the recorded next technical inspection date is more important than the general interval. Instead of calculating the date yourself based on the two-year interval, you should read it directly from the trailer or its vehicle documents. TÜV Rheinland refers to the registration certificate Part I and the HU inspection sticker for this.
Where to Find Your Next Technical Inspection Date?
According to TÜV Rheinland, you'll find the next date in your vehicle registration document or registration certificate Part I. This refers to your trailer's vehicle document, not that of the towing vehicle. So, if you want to check the HU date, first grab this document.
The other option is the inspection sticker on the rear license plate. It also provides information on when the next technical inspection is due. When reading it, it's important to distinguish between the year and month.
How to Read the Inspection Sticker
TÜV Rheinland describes the two pieces of information as follows:
- The number in the center indicates the year of the next technical inspection.
- The topmost number in the outer circle indicates the month of the next technical inspection.
Therefore, first read the number in the center, and then the number at the very top of the outer circle. Together, they indicate the month and year of your next HU. For the month, the top position is crucial, not just any number in the circle.
What is Checked During the Technical Inspection?
The technical inspection covers various components of the trailer. TÜV Rheinland mentions these inspection areas, among others:
- Frame
- Lighting system
- Tires
- Suspension
- Brakes
So, the inspection is not limited to a single area. When preparing for your HU, you can use these components as an initial guide.
The word 'among others' is important: the mentioned components are not a complete list of all inspection points. They show you which areas TÜV Rheinland explicitly names for a trailer's technical inspection. Therefore, do not interpret this list as a definitive inspection plan.
For a preparatory check, TÜV Rheinland refers to its own checklist on its above-linked page regarding trailer technical inspections. This allows you to check your trailer for defects even before the HU appointment. The five components in this article do not replace that checklist.
How to Prepare Your Trailer for the Technical Inspection?
With the TÜV Rheinland checklist, you can look for defects before the appointment. The preparatory check and the technical inspection are two different steps: you first inspect the trailer yourself, and then the inspection body checks the designated components during the HU.
If you find defects during your preparation, you can rectify them before the technical inspection. According to TÜV Rheinland, this can help avoid an additional re-inspection. This statement is tied to rectifying the identified defects, not merely to you taking a look at the trailer beforehand.
For your preparation, you can proceed as follows:
- Read the next HU date in the registration certificate Part I or on the inspection sticker.
- Check the trailer for defects before this date using the TÜV Rheinland checklist.
- Address any defects found before the technical inspection.
This way, you combine the date information with the preparatory check. The vehicle documents or the sticker remain authoritative for the date, and you use the checklist to search for defects.
Common questions
How often does a horse trailer need a technical inspection in Germany?
According to TÜV Rheinland, trailers with their own official license plates in Germany generally require a technical inspection every two years. Shorter intervals may apply to heavier trailers. The reliable date is found in the registration certificate Part I or on the inspection sticker.
Where can I find the next technical inspection date?
In the vehicle registration document or registration certificate Part I of the trailer and on the inspection sticker on the rear license plate. On the sticker, the year is in the center, and the month is at the very top of the outer circle.
Which components are checked during the technical inspection?
TÜV Rheinland mentions, among others, the frame, lighting system, tires, suspension, and brakes. This is not a complete list of all inspection points.
How can I check the trailer before the technical inspection date?
TÜV Rheinland refers to a checklist on its page regarding trailer technical inspections, which you can use to check the trailer for defects. According to TÜV Rheinland, if identified defects are rectified before the HU, an additional re-inspection can be avoided.
Sources
Written by Equidara editorial team. Last checked: 17 October 2026.
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