About the FSD – Central Agency

Appointed as Central Agency

Innovation with a sovereign mandate

Since its foundation in 2004, FSD Fahrzeugsystemdaten GmbH has been working on the development, provision and validation of test specifications for periodic technical inspections. In 2012, the FSD was appointed as a central agency under the German Road Traffic Act (StVG). This appointment serves to relieve the federal and state governments by drawing on the specialist expertise of the FSD and its employees. Specifically, the appointment commissions the FSD to perform public tasks and grants it the necessary powers to do so. Financed and owned by the German inspection institutions, we provide PTI inspectors with the test specifications for vehicles of almost all relevant models, manufacturers and vehicle types – including passenger cars, heavy goods vehicles, buses, trailers and motorcycles. The specification information system (VIS) we have developed – consisting of the VIS.App operating application and the PTI-Adapter test system (VIS.HUA), plus a supplementary truck trailer interface (VIS.TTI) for trailer vehicles – helps them detect defects, wear, removal and manipulation in the safety-related and environmentally relevant components and systems installed in the vehicle during inspections.

Our sector & partners

Progress powered by strong partnerships

Our ongoing collaboration with the public sector, research and science, inspection institutions, the automotive industry, the skilled trades and equipment manufacturers ensures that our specifications and testing technologies for periodic vehicle inspections keep up with the rapid development of vehicle technology.

Inspection organisations Learn more Federal states Learn more Cooperations Learn more Vehicle keepers Learn more Authorised workshops Learn more Vehicle manufacturers Learn more Government Learn more EU Learn more Inspection organisations FSD Fahrzeugsystemdaten GmbH was founded in 2004 as a joint venture of the ten German inspection organisations. Our modern test specifications and tools are used by the inspection organisations’ inspectors in more than 30 million vehicle inspections every year. Back to overview Government and federal states In 2012, FSD Fahrzeugsystemdaten GmbH assumed sovereign tasks as an appointed central agency within the meaning of Section 6(1)(7) of the German Road Traffic Act (StVG) in conjunction with Annex VIIIe of the German Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (StVZO). Since then, the federal and state governments have drawn on our employees’ specialist expertise and experience to develop and provide test specifications for electronically controlled vehicle systems. The state authorities are responsible for the legal supervision of the FSD – Central Agency. Back to overview Cooperations We are in regular contact with national and European associations (such as ASA, CITA and DVR) and collaborate on projects with representatives from research and development (such as Dresden University of Technology) to further refine PTIs. Back to overview Vehicle keepers Back to overview Vehicle owners must present their vehicle for periodic vehicle inspections – every two years in the case of passenger cars. They benefit from a modern vehicle inspection that ensures a high level of vehicle safety and compliance with environmental regulations. Authorised workshops Back to overview In authorised workshops, PTI inspectors apply our test specifications to vehicles in over 4 million periodic technical inspections. Vehicle manufacturers Back to overview Vehicle manufacturers who want to sell their vehicles in Germany and Europe are required under Clause 2.1 of Annex VIIIe to the German Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (StVZO) and European type-approval regulations to provide us with all the technical information so that we can develop and evaluate test specifications for the regular inspection of the vehicles. We are in regular contact with vehicle manufacturers regarding the application and further development of the specifications, including in forums such as the FSD’s Technical Advisory Board.
Dabei stehen wir in regelmäßigem Austausch mit den Fahrzeugherstellern zur Anwendung und Weiterentwicklung der Vorgaben, u.a. im Rahmen des Technischen Beirates der FSD.
 EU As European integration intensifies, we are in regular contact with European regulators to create a modern and innovation-friendly legal framework in which further technical developments and innovations in the automotive industry can be promoted while achieving our shared goals for road safety (Vision Zero) and environmental protection (Green Deal). Back to overview

Safe mobility

Our mission

Since 2004, we have been contributing to greater road safety. Mobility has evolved rapidly since then and will continue to change in the future. As an independent authority, we accompany this transformation with our expertise and innovative testing technologies. For safer mobility today and tomorrow.

As an independent authority

… we work to strengthen trust and acceptance in increasingly automated and connected mobility.

With our expertise

… we make a substantial contribution to improving road safety.

With our innovative testing technologies

… we ensure modern, high-quality, and efficient vehicle inspections.

Key Figures

FSD in Numbers

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years
of expertise in
periodic vehicle inspection

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committed employees contributing to our success

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officially accredited experts and PTI inspectors using our products

0 million

of general vehicle inspections performed annually using our testing specifications

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vehicle models stored in our databases

> 0 million

vehicles subject to inspection examined according to our specifications