Changing your exhaust: what inspections and approvals cost in 9 countries

Fees collected on 31/10/2026 from the official texts and from the websites of each country's authorities and testing bodies; every amount links to its source.

Your vehicle.

Choose your model: we show you its exhaust, its options and the lead time.

Make Choose a make Model Choose a model See my exhaust

Or simply enter your VIN

We check compatibility with your VIN before manufacturing.

Contents 7

1. The short answer.
2. The comparison in one table.
3. Country by country.
4. The simplest route, with a Rog exhaust.
5. Method.
6. Frequently asked questions.
7. Sources.

The short answer.

After fitting a rear exhaust section, most owners have just one appointment: the next periodic inspection, at the same price as with the standard exhaust. Where a country has a procedure for checking a modification, the official fee runs to a few tens of euros; the examiner's time may be added on top.

• Periodic inspection: €43.52 for the ITV in Andalusia, €46.10 for the keuring in Flanders, around €79 for the revisione in Italy, €166.90 for the HU at TÜV Rheinland, CHF 65 in the canton of Vaud, 149 zł in Poland. In France, the Netherlands and Austria, prices are set freely.
• Checking a modification: €32.70 to €55.30 excluding VAT for the § 21 inspection in Germany, around €150 for an Einzelgenehmigung in Austria, CHF 50 for the stationary noise measurement in the canton of Vaud, €36.50 for the RDW examination in the Netherlands, 125 zł in Poland, €94 to €118 for a validation certificate in Belgium.
• In France, no text provides for any procedure or fee for a replacement rear silencer: the check is done at the contrôle technique.
• No procedure guarantees acceptance: the examiner or the authority decides, based on the car presented.

The comparison in one table.

Passenger car already registered, valved rear section, original catalytic converter kept. Amounts include VAT unless stated; CHF and zł left in their own currency.

Country by country.

Germany: HU and Einzelabnahme.

• Periodic inspection: the Hauptuntersuchung (HU), 36 months after first registration, then every 24 months. The fee is governed by the GebOSt and each testing body publishes its own: €166.90 including VAT at TÜV Rheinland since 01/01/2026 (TÜV Rheinland price list).
• After a modification that affects noise: § 21 StVZO inspection, known as Einzelabnahme, by an officially recognised examiner (TÜV, DEKRA, GTÜ, KÜS). GebOSt fee 413.4.1: €32.70 to €55.30 excluding VAT, plus €22.70 to €30.20 per quarter of an hour if documents are missing (GebOSt, annex). The press reports a total cost of €150 to €500 including the noise measurement (unofficial source).
• Entry at the Zulassungsstelle: €10.20 (GebOSt 225), €0.90 more if a new document is printed.
• Penalties: €90 for a car whose operating permit has lapsed, €80 for unnecessary noise, €20 for a defective silencer (BKatV).

Austria: Pickerl and Landesprüfstelle.

• Periodic inspection: the § 57a-Begutachtung (Pickerl), at 3 years, then 2 years, then every year; from 19/05/2027, at 4 years, then every 2 years. Free pricing: €60.30 to €156.40 according to the Vienna Chamber of Labour survey in 2026 (oesterreich.gv.at).
• After a modification: notification without delay to the Landesprüfstelle of the Land (§ 33 KFG); if the modification is substantial, Einzelgenehmigung, "rund 150 Euro" according to the federal portal (oesterreich.gv.at).
• If the authority calls the car in (§ 56 KFG): €60, payable only if a serious defect or an unapproved modification is found (State of Upper Austria).
• Penalty: up to €10,000, set case by case (§ 134 KFG).

Switzerland: inspection at the vehicle office.

• Periodic inspection: at 5 years, then 3 years, then every 2 years; CHF 65 for a passenger car in the canton of Vaud (Vaud fee regulations).
• After a modification that affects noise: notification and inspection at the cantonal vehicle office, entry in the vehicle licence. Vaud: CHF 65 for the inspection, CHF 40 per quarter of an hour of time spent, CHF 50 for the stationary noise measurement, CHF 25 to amend the licence. Zurich: CHF 30 per inspection unit, CHF 180 per hour of time spent (zh.ch).
• Penalty: up to CHF 10,000 for avoidable noise since 01/01/2025 (FEDRO).

France: the contrôle technique, nothing more.

• Contrôle technique: within the 6 months before the 4th anniversary, then every 2 years, with a re-test within 2 months; prices set freely by each centre (service-public.fr), around €78 on average according to a private survey.
• After fitting a rear silencer: no procedure or fee provided for by the texts; the noise is judged by ear at the contrôle technique.
• Réception à titre isolé: only if the authority considers there is a "transformation notable"; €86.90 or €173.79 according to the fee scale published by DREAL Brittany (undated document).
• Penalty: disturbing noise, €135 fixed penalty, up to €750 (art. R318-3 of the Code de la route).

Belgium: contrôle technique and validation certificate.

• Periodic inspection: in Flanders, €40.90 + €5.20 for a petrol car, i.e. €46.10, every 2 years since 01/09/2026 (vlaanderen.be); in Wallonia, €59.60 + €5.20, i.e. €64.80 (Autosécurité 2026 fee scale).
• After a modification: in Flanders, a tuning report at the test station, €10.40 per validation; an exhaust outlet without an "e" mark requires a validation certificate, €118 (vlaanderen.be). In Wallonia, €94 (SPW Mobilité, 2026 fees); in Brussels, €97 (be.brussels).
• Re-test after a failure: €16.40 in Flanders, €16.50 in Wallonia.
• Penalty: €10 to €10,000 before surcharges (law of 21/06/1985).

Netherlands: APK and RDW.

• Periodic inspection: the APK, at 4 years for a petrol car, then every 2 years, then every year from 8 years; free pricing, €19 to €70 according to the ANWB. At the APK, the noise limit is the value in the register + 2 dB(A).
• If the type approval no longer covers the car: individual inspection by the RDW, €36.50 for fewer than 5 items examined; tests €58 in charges + €145 per hour, noise measuring equipment €78; registration update €64.95 (RDW fees 2026, Staatscourant).
• Penalty: unnecessary noise (art. 57 RVV), €320 according to the ANWB (the official prosecution amount is not published online).

Poland: przegląd techniczny.

• Periodic inspection: 149 zł for a passenger car (Dz.U. 2025 poz. 1223). The stationary noise limit is the type-approval value + 5 dB(A).
• After a modification that changes the registration certificate data: additional inspection, 125 zł + 149 zł, i.e. 274 zł.
• Inspection ordered by the police: 30 zł per item checked.
• Penalty: up to 300 zł for excessive noise in built-up areas (Dz.U. 2021 poz. 2484).

Italy: revisione and Motorizzazione.

• Periodic inspection: the revisione, at 4 years, then every 2 years; "circa 79 euro (iva inclusa)" at an authorised centre, €45 at the Motorizzazione (Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport). The noise limit is the value in the carta di circolazione, + 2 dB in an approved test hall.
• After a modification: visita e prova at the Motorizzazione (art. 78); no fee is published for an exhaust, the only official example being an LPG collaudo at €25 + €16 stamp duty (Portale dell'Automobilista).
• Penalties: €430 to €1,731 for a modification without visita e prova, €42 to €173 for a tampered silencer (ACI, art. 78).

Spain: ITV and reforma.

• Periodic inspection: the ITV, at 4 years, then every 2 years, then every year after 10 years. Fees set by each autonomous community: €43.52 for a petrol car in Andalusia (VEIASA); free pricing in Madrid.
• After a modification: reforma (code 2.6 of the Manual de Reformas), with a conformity report, a workshop certificate and an ITV de reforma within 15 days (BOE). In Andalusia, inspection and entry on the ITV card: around €47 (Rog calculation from the official fee scale); report and certificate at free prices.
• Penalties: €200 for a serious offence, €500 for a very serious one (road safety law).

The simplest route, with a Rog exhaust.

• With the valves closed, the car sounds close to standard: that is how it should be presented for inspection.
• With the rear section alone, the original catalytic converter stays in place; with a 200-cell sports catalytic converter, the emissions control system is retained. The decat version is for track use only.
• Each exhaust is built to your VIN and checked before production: it fits your car perfectly.
• For your paperwork, after your order we can provide the technical documentation for your exhaust on request. The decision rests with the examiner or the authority in your country.

The rules in your country: United Kingdom (MOT) · Ireland (NCT) · United States · Canada · Australia.

Further reading: U.1 stationary noise level on the registration certificate · Noise cameras and car noise enforcement in Europe.

Method.

For each country, on 31/10/2026 we reread the text that sets the fee, or the page of the authority or testing body that publishes it. Where no official fee exists, we say so; an order of magnitude published by the press or a private body is flagged as such. Regional fees (Belgium, Spain, Switzerland) are given for the regions that publish them. This page is not legal advice.

Frequently asked questions.

Do I need to declare a sports exhaust after fitting it?
It depends on the country. In Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Belgium, a modification that affects noise has to be inspected and can be entered in the vehicle documents. In France, no procedure is required for a rear silencer: the check is done at the contrôle technique.

How much does an Einzelabnahme cost in Germany?
The official fee for the § 21 inspection is €32.70 to €55.30 excluding VAT, plus time spent if documents are missing, and €10.20 for the entry at the Zulassungsstelle. The press reports a total of €150 to €500 including the noise measurement.

Does a periodic inspection cost more with a sports exhaust?
No, the periodic inspection fee is the same. The only extra is a re-test after a failure: €16.40 in Flanders, €16.50 in Wallonia, free pricing in France.

Does Rog provide documents for these procedures?
Yes. After your order, we can provide the technical documentation for your exhaust on request. The decision rests with the examiner or the authority in your country.

Sources.

All read on 31/10/2026; each country's links are given in its section.

1. Germany: GebOSt, BKatV, TÜV Rheinland
2. Austria: oesterreich.gv.at, RIS, § 33 KFG
3. Switzerland: canton of Vaud fees, canton of Zurich
4. France: service-public.fr, Légifrance
5. Belgium: vlaanderen.be, SPW Mobilité, be.brussels
6. Netherlands: Staatscourant 2025, 40185, RDW APK manual
7. Poland: Dz.U. 2025 poz. 1223
8. Italy: mit.gov.it, CSRPAD
9. Spain: VEIASA, BOE, Manual de Reformas