German · TÜV / HU
Your car failed its inspection: what to say in German
Your car has failed the vehicle inspection.
💡
How it's done. If the car fails the inspection (HU) because of serious defects you have about a month for the repair and a re-check (Nachprüfung); ask the inspection body about the exact conditions.Prepared by the Movko team, November 2026. This is language help, not legal or medical advice: check the rules with the office itself.
Cheat sheet for your visit
The first phrase is open: tap ▶ to listen, or “Show” to show it to the other person. The rest of the dialogue is in the course in the app.
1
THEY SPEAK FIRST
THEY SAY
Das Auto hat die Hauptuntersuchung leider nicht bestanden.Dahs OW-toh khaht dee KHOWP-toon-tehr-zoo-khoong LIGH-duh neekht besh-TAHN-dayn.
I'm afraid the car has not passed the inspection.
They might also say:
Ihr Auto hat den TÜV nicht bestanden.
Eer OW-toh khaht dayn tyoof neekht besh-TAHN-dayn.
Your car did not pass the TÜV.
YOU REPLY
Was ist kaputt?
Vahs eest kuh-POOT?
What is broken?
Or say:Warum nicht? Was ist das Problem?
Vuh-ROOM neekht? Vahs eest dahs proh-BLEM?
THEY SAY
Die Bremsen sind zu schwach, und ein Reifen hat zu wenig Profil.Dee BREM-zayn zeent tsoo shvahkh, oont ighn RIGH-fayn khaht tsoo VEH-neekh proh-FEEL.
The brakes are too weak and one tyre has too little tread.
They might also say:
Es gibt Mängel an den Bremsen und an einem Reifen.
Es geept MAYN-gel ahn dayn BREM-zayn oont ahn IGH-nem RIGH-fayn.
There are defects in the brakes and in one tyre.
2
YOU REPLY
Muss ich das reparieren lassen? Wie lange habe ich Zeit?
Moos eekh dahs reh-puh-REE-rayn LAH-sayn? Vee LAHN-geh KHAH-beh eekh tsight?
Do I have to have it repaired? How much time do I have?
THEY SAY
Ja, Sie haben einen Monat Zeit. Dann kommen Sie zur Nachprüfung.Yah, zee KHAH-bayn IGH-nayn MOH-nuht tsight. Dahn KOH-mayn zee tsoor NAHKH-pryoo-foong.
Yes, you have a month. Then you come for the re-check.
3
YOU REPLY
Muss ich dann alles noch einmal bezahlen?
Moos eekh dahn AH-les nokh IGHN-muhl beh-TSAH-layn?
Do I have to pay for everything again then?
THEY SAY
Die Nachprüfung ist meistens günstiger als die erste Prüfung.Dee NAHKH-pryoo-foong eest MIGHS-tayns GYOONS-tee-guh ahls dee EHRS-teh PRYOO-foong.
The re-check is usually cheaper than the first inspection.
4
YOU FINISH
Verstehe. Vielen Dank für die Erklärung!
Fehrsh-TEH-eh. FEE-layn dahnk fyoor dee ehr-KLEH-roong!
I see. Thank you very much for the explanation!
The course is in the app
This dialogue is part of the course “German for life in Germany”: 416 situations with audio, a pronunciation guide and spaced review.
On the website the first dialogue, the 112 category, the rescue phrases and the “Basics” are fully open.
Words worth knowing
Auto
OW-toh
noun
car
hat
khaht
verb
has
Hauptuntersuchung
KHOWP-toon-tehr-zoo-khoong
noun
main vehicle inspection
leider
LIGH-duh
adverb
unfortunately
nicht
neekht
adverb
not
bestanden
besh-TAHN-dayn
verb
passed
45 more words, with explanations, base forms and tap-a-word help, are in the app.
If you did not understand
Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?
KYOH-nayn zee dahs BEE-teh vee-dehr-KHOH-layn?
Can you repeat that, please?
Können Sie bitte langsamer sprechen?
KYOH-nayn zee BEE-teh LAHNG-zuh-muh SHPREH-khayn?
Can you speak more slowly, please?
Was bedeutet das?
Vahs beh-DOY-tet dahs?
What does this mean?
Similar situations
You ask when the next inspection is and they explain the sticker on the number plateTÜV / HU · A2 in the app
→You arrive for your car's inspectionTÜV / HU · A2 in the app
→You see a "Parkscheibe" sign and do not know what it isParken / Strafzettel · A1 in the app
→You apply for a residents' parking permitParken / Strafzettel · A2 in the app
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