Overview

• Starting 1 January 2026, any vehicle presenting at the contrôle technique with a defective Takata airbag would be assigned an automatic contre-visite with an immobilisation notice until the airbag is replaced.
• The transport ministry says the measure is set out in a draft decree that completed public consultation in July and is currently under review by the Conseil d'État, with entry into force targeted for 1 January 2026.
• Officials emphasize that this Takata-specific step is the only tightening of the technical inspection under consideration, addressing recent rumors of broader changes.
• Roughly 1.7 million vehicles in France are already subject to urgent “stop drive” recalls that instruct owners not to use the car until a free replacement is carried out.
• Authorities and reporting indicate the new procedure would effectively block resale of affected cars on the used market, though gaps in the SIV registration system complicate identifying vehicles and owners.