This article covers the periodic vehicle inspection in Switzerland. It matters to you if your motorcycle is registered in Switzerland, if you are buying a used bike there, moving there or commuting across the border with Swiss plates. Every registered motorcycle in Switzerland has to go through the periodic vehicle inspection at regular intervals, usually called the MFK (Motorfahrzeugkontrolle). It is run by the road traffic office (Strassenverkehrsamt) of your canton. The office sends you a notice, you present the bike and an inspector checks it. Here is how the notice works, what you need to bring, what inspectors look at on a motorcycle, what it costs and what happens if defects are found. All information as of November 2026.
In short
- Interval: first MFK five, at the latest six years after the bike was first put into service, then after three years, then every two years.
- Notice: sent in writing by the cantonal road traffic office. You can usually move the appointment online, but not cancel it.
- Bring: the vehicle registration document (Fahrzeugausweis) and related papers, and for older bikes possibly the exhaust maintenance document.
- Cost: about 60 Swiss francs according to the federal portal, varying by canton.
- Defects: usually to be fixed within 30 days, depending on the canton via a repair confirmation or by presenting the bike again.
When the motorcycle is due for the MFK
For inspection intervals, motorcycles are in the same group as cars. The canton of Solothurn states the interval explicitly for motorcycles: first five, at the latest six years after first being put into service, then after three years and every two years after that. The legal basis is Article 33 of the Swiss ordinance on technical requirements for road vehicles (VTS), which the cantonal offices refer to. The canton of Schwyz points out that the actual date can vary depending on the office's workload.
You can also have your bike inspected outside the normal interval. That is mainly useful before a sale: the federal portal advises buyers of a used vehicle to make sure it was inspected shortly before.
The notice and the appointment
When the MFK is due, the road traffic office sends you a written notice with an appointment. If the date does not suit you, many cantons let you move it online, for example Zurich and Schwyz. You cannot cancel it, as the canton of Schwyz makes clear. How many weeks in advance the notice arrives differs by canton; we did not find a uniform period.
You do not have to go yourself. You can present the bike yourself, send someone else or ask a garage to do it. In the canton of Zurich, the test can also be booked with the Zurich section of the Swiss touring club TCS. If you have the test done in another canton or at the TCS, the canton of Solothurn, for example, charges a handling fee of 20 francs.
Preparation and documents
According to the federal portal, the vehicle must be technically sound and clean, and any necessary repairs must be done beforehand. The canton of Zurich also asks you to present the vehicle at operating temperature and to be at the entrance check at least five minutes before your appointment. You need to bring:
- the vehicle registration document and related papers, for example the EC certificate of conformity or an expert report,
- for vehicles first put into service from 1976 to around 2006 without a recognised OBD system, the exhaust maintenance document.
If you are not sure your bike will pass, pre-tests are available. The TCS Zurich section offers an MFK pre-test for motorcycles; according to the TCS it takes 44 minutes and costs 110 francs for members and 150 francs for non-members.
What inspectors look at on a motorcycle
The inspection covers road safety, compliance with the regulations and environmental performance. Which parts are checked in detail is shown by the checklist of the TCS pre-test, which prepares you for the official inspection:
- Frame and body: rust, frame, seat, screen.
- Suspension and steering: fork, shocks, wheel bearings, steering head bearings.
- Engine and drivetrain: oil leaks, cooling system, exhaust with catalytic converter, chain.
- Equipment: mirrors and number plate.
- Brakes: performance, pads, lines, ABS.
- Lights and electrics: dipped and main beam, headlight aim, indicators, brake and rear lights, number plate light, reflectors, horn.
Typical defects
We did not find official statistics on which defects are most common on motorcycles. The inspection points do show where you should check yourself first: oil leaks from the engine, worn brake pads, a worn or badly adjusted chain, broken bulbs and a misaligned headlight.
Modifications are a separate issue. According to the canton of Schwyz, changes to a vehicle must always be presented; for motorcycles, guideline 2b of the Swiss association of road traffic offices (asa) applies. That covers, for example, an aftermarket exhaust or different indicators. Check with the road traffic office beforehand whether a part has to be entered in the registration. The rules for number plates are in our article on plate size and holders.
Tip: Go through the list above two weeks before your appointment. Our guides to checking motorcycle brakes and the spring check show how to do most of it yourself.
What the MFK costs
According to the federal portal, expect about 60 francs for a motorcycle. Each canton sets its own fee; current amounts are in the fee schedule of your road traffic office. Add any costs for repairs, a pre-test or having a garage present the bike.
If the motorcycle has defects
If defects are found, you receive an inspection decision. According to the federal portal, you normally have 30 days to fix them. What happens next depends on the canton. In the canton of Zurich there are two routes:
- Repair confirmation procedure (RBV): an authorised workshop fixes the defects or confirms a repair already done and reports it directly to the road traffic office. You do not have to present the bike again. The canton charges a flat 20 francs; the workshop bills its work separately.
- Failed: you have the defects fixed and present the bike again. The inspection time is charged by the hour.
Other cantons also allow a garage to report the repair of minor defects. Temporary repairs, however, are not accepted, as the canton of Schwyz stresses.
Other Swiss rules worth knowing
The MFK is only one part of the Swiss rules. Noise rules, the vignette and fines are covered in our article on motorcycle rules in Switzerland. How the test works in neighbouring countries is explained in our articles on the German TÜV inspection and the Austrian Pickerl. If you are buying used, our viewing checklist will help.
Frequently asked questions
How often does a motorcycle have to go to the MFK in Switzerland?
First five, at the latest six years after first being put into service, then after three years and every two years after that.
Can I move my MFK appointment?
Yes, online in many cantons. You cannot cancel the appointment, though.
How much does the MFK cost for a motorcycle?
About 60 francs according to the federal portal. The exact fee depends on the canton.
How long do I have to fix defects?
Normally 30 days. Depending on the canton, a workshop confirms the repair or you present the bike again.
Do I have to present modified parts at the MFK?
Yes. Changes to a vehicle must always be presented. For motorcycles, asa guideline 2b applies.
Sources
- Periodische Fahrzeugprüfung (Motor vehicle inspection, canton of Solothurn, in German)
- Fahrzeugprüfung (ch.ch, portal of the Confederation and cantons, in German)
- Fahrzeugprüfungen (Road traffic office, canton of Zurich, in German)
- Mängel beheben lassen (Road traffic office, canton of Zurich, in German)
- Fahrzeugprüfung (Traffic office, canton of Schwyz, in German)
- MFK-Vortest Motorrad (TCS Zurich section, in German)
Last checked: November 2026. Fees and procedures may change and vary by canton.
