"UVV" is short for the accident prevention regulations of the German statutory accident insurers. For company vehicles, forklifts and cranes they require an inspection by a competent person at least once a year, in addition to the vehicle roadworthiness test (HU). Here is which rule applies to what, and how to keep the dates.
Last updated · ExpiryEdge editorial team
A UVV inspection is the recurring safety check that German accident prevention regulations require for work equipment. Company cars, vans and trucks must be inspected by a competent person when needed and at least once a year (DGUV Regulation 70 section 57), forklifts at most a year apart (DGUV 68 section 37) and truck-mounted loader cranes at least yearly (DGUV 52 section 26). Results must be recorded.
The minimum intervals from the accident prevention regulations. The employer's risk assessment can set shorter intervals, for example for heavily used equipment.
| Equipment | Interval | Basis | Inspected by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Company cars, vans and trucks | When needed, at least once a year | DGUV Regulation 70 § 57 | Competent person (Sachkundiger) |
| Daily check before each shift | Before every shift | DGUV Regulation 70 § 36 | Driver |
| Forklift trucks incl. attachments | At most 1 year apart | DGUV Regulation 68 § 37 | Competent person |
| Forklifts and pallet trucks - pre-use check | Before each use, for obvious defects | BetrSichV § 4 (5) | Operator |
| Truck-mounted loader cranes | At least once a year | DGUV Regulation 52 § 26 | Competent person |
| Tail lifts | At least once a year (as part of the vehicle or per risk assessment) | DGUV Regulation 70 § 57 / BetrSichV | Competent person |
| Employees' private cars used for business | No UVV inspection duty for the employer | BGN ASI 7.20 | - |
Yes, when the vehicle is used by the business as work equipment, including pool cars and company cars driven by employees. The obligation is on the company. Employees' private cars used for business trips are not covered by the employer's UVV duty, but the employer should still make sure they are roadworthy and that the driver holds a valid licence.
A competent person (Sachkundiger): someone who, through training and experience, has enough knowledge of the equipment and the regulations to judge its safe condition. In practice that is often a qualified workshop, a testing organisation or a trained in-house technician. The accident insurer recommends that workshop invoices state the UVV inspection explicitly.
There is no grace period in the regulation. Using uninspected equipment breaches accident prevention rules, and after an accident the accident insurer and liability insurer will look at the inspection records. Book the inspection immediately and decide, based on the daily checks, whether the equipment can stay in use until then.
Record the date, the inspector, the result and any defects, for example in an inspection book, an inspection card or a report, and keep it at least until the next inspection. A test label on the vehicle or forklift shows the next due date at a glance.
Company cars, vans, trucks, forklifts, pallet trucks, loader cranes and tail lifts, each with its location and the person responsible.
At least yearly for vehicles, forklifts and loader cranes; shorter where your risk assessment says so. Decide which workshop or testing organisation inspects what.
Drivers and forklift operators check before each shift. A short checklist with photo and time stamp turns that habit into evidence.
Workshops and testing organisations plan weeks ahead. Book at the 60-day mark so the vehicle is not taken out of service.
File the report, update the next due date and track open defects until they are fixed.
Each vehicle, forklift and crane gets its UVV record with interval, responsible person, workshop and last report, next to its roadworthiness test, tachograph check and lease end. Reminders reach the fleet or warehouse manager 90, 60, 30 and 7 days before, by email, SMS, WhatsApp, Slack or Teams, and escalate if the date passes.
Recurring dates roll forward
HU, UVV and other dates per vehicle
Escalation when an inspection is overdue
Turn the daily check into a checklist: each step can require a photo, a signature and a time stamp. Missed checks are flagged, and defects found on a check can start a follow-up task.
Photo, signature, time stamp and location
Assigned per vehicle or driver
Missed checks flagged
Yes for employers in Germany. Vehicles used as work equipment must be inspected by a competent person when needed and at least once a year (DGUV Regulation 70 section 57); forklifts at most a year apart (DGUV 68 section 37); truck-mounted loader cranes at least yearly (DGUV 52 section 26).
At least once a year for company vehicles, forklifts and loader cranes. The risk assessment may require shorter intervals, and drivers check obvious defects before every shift.
A competent person (Sachkundiger) with the knowledge and experience to judge the safe condition of the equipment, typically a qualified workshop, a testing organisation or a trained in-house technician.
The regulation has no grace period. Using uninspected equipment breaches accident prevention rules, and after an accident the inspection records will be checked. Book the inspection immediately and record the steps taken.
No. According to the accident insurer BGN, the employer has no UVV inspection duty for private cars that employees use for business trips. The employer should still check the driving licence and the car's roadworthiness.
No. The HU is required by road traffic law; the UVV inspection is required by accident prevention law. Both are needed and have their own due dates.
At most one year apart, by a competent person and including attachments (DGUV Regulation 68 section 37). Before each use, the operator checks the forklift for obvious defects.
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