It is a European obligation dating from 2014, which France had never applied. The government must now submit motorized two-wheelers to a technical inspection, after the decision of the Council of State in June. The Ministry of Transport plans to make it compulsory from “early 2024” and “gradually according to the age of the vehicles”, that is to say that the oldest will have to be checked first.
The staggering of the entry into force, “until January 1, 2027”, “will avoid a bottleneck” in the control centers, according to the ministry.
“The cheapest and simplest possible”
The subject has fueled the anger of bikers who have demonstrated several times against such an obligation in recent months in several cities in France, including Paris. Transport Minister Clément Beaune, quoted in the press release, says he wants the device to be “the cheapest and simplest possible for two-wheeler drivers”. A discussion is “initiated with technical control professionals to encourage them to practice low prices”, specifies the ministry.
The government wants to include in the device two-wheelers whose size is less than 125 cm3, “because they present a high accident rate and can also be the source of significant air or noise pollution in the city”. On the other hand, it excludes motorcycles for sports use, not supposed to circulate on public roads.
Premium for the conversion of two-wheelers
A draft decree and a draft decree will be submitted for public consultation from Monday until July 22, according to a press release. The control will have to relate “to all the control fields (security, atmospheric and noise pollution)” but will be “strongly simplified” compared to cars, with a number of control points divided by four.
The Ministry of Transport estimates the number of two-wheelers affected at four million. Clément Beaune also underlines that a “very significant two-wheeler conversion bonus will be put in place, up to 6,000 euros for aid in the purchase of an electric or very low-polluting vehicle”.