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Contrôle technique centres across France have been working at full capacity in recent weeks, as car owners seek to get their vehicles through the biannual roadworthiness test before stricter rules are brought in next month.

The new CT tests - a requirement for all vehicles over four years old - come into force on May 20. Each test will last twice as long, with testers checking for 132 points compared to the current 123.

There will also be 127 ‘critical failures’ which means owners will not be able to drive their vehicles ex­cept to a garage to get repair work done within 24 hours, and 340 ‘major failures’ needing repairs within two months.

In each case, vehicles will face a retest.

Nearly 25 million cars undergo a CT each year but as there is no automatic reminder system one in three drivers forget, risking a €135 fine. Driving with a major or critical failure will from May 20 also be liable to a €135 fine.