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Map: where in France is highest fail rate for cars in road safety tests?

A majority of vehicles on French roads are over 10 years old

A view of a mechanic fixing a car
There are significant regional variations in results across France
Published Modified

Close to 27 million roadworthiness tests (contrôle téchnique) were carried out in France last year, with nearly one in five vehicles failing. 

The overall failure rate is 19.44% but this varies greatly between departments and regions. This overall failure rate is essentially unchanged from 2023 (19.45%).

Departments around Paris see a generally lower failure rate, whereas those in the west of France have a higher rate.

The highest failure rate was recorded in the overseas department of French Guiana (Guyane) where over 27% of vehicles fail the test. 

The departments with the highest failure rates in mainland France were both in Brittany, Ille-et-Vilaine (26.9%) and Loire-Atlantique (26.6%).

Full information can be found on the map below.

Vehicles getting older

The average age of a vehicle passing a CT was 13 years, increasing slightly on 2023 figures (12.6 years).

 Some 60% of vehicles on the road are now at least 10 years old according to the Organisme Technique Central which collects and analyses the results of inspections on behalf of the minister responsible for transport.

New plans by the EU to introduce annual roadworthiness tests for vehicles over 10 years old could have serious ramifications in France therefore, with an estimated 13 millions tests needing to be carried out per year.

French ministers are against the plans – yet to be voted on by the European Parliament – and have publicly stated their opposition to it. 

Drivers of older vehicles are also more likely to be affected by stricter low-emission rules in France, with these vehicles being progressively banned from major population areas.

However, these restrictions may soon be reversed as MPs debate scrapping the zones or lightening regulations.