Short version

Here you will find a summary of all questions from the motor vehicle inspection station in Basel. (

Only in german)

Questions and answers about vehicle knowledge

1. What information is included in the vehicle registration document?

Information about the owner, insurance, cantonal information, license plate, specific use, type of vehicle, brand and type, chassis number, body, color, places, master number, type approval, engine capacity, power, teaching weight, 1st entry into service, utility -/ Fifth wheel load, total weight, train weight, trailer load, roof load, emission code, tests.

2. What information is noted in the vehicle registration document about customs regulations and address changes?

Address/and other changes must be reported to the motor vehicle inspection within 14 days. Customs regulations if you have carried out repairs or similar abroad.

3. Which IDs and documents must be carried during the journey?

Driver's license, vehicle license. (Exhaust maintenance document if your car does not have a code B04/B03) This is not necessary for your driving school vehicle, so only your driver's license and vehicle ID card.

4. What should you do if you lose your driver's license/vehicle license?

Report this immediately in writing to the motor vehicle inspection.

5. What is the permissible roof load for the test vehicle?

​75kg.

6. Where can the mandatory emissions maintenance document be obtained for an older vehicle?

​In almost every garage.

7. Where are the operating instructions located in the test vehicle?

​Glove compartment.

8. What information can you find in the vehicle's operating instructions?

​Technical information and operating information for your vehicle

9. Why does it make sense to always carry the operating instructions with you in the vehicle?

​Consult if you have problems with the vehicle.

10. How should the parking disc be used?

​Place on the line following the arrival time. Pay attention to the back.

11. How can the engine oil level be checked on the test vehicle?

​Oil dipstick in the engine compartment

12. Where is the engine oil filler opening on the test vehicle?

​Left of engine with yellow oil can symbol  

13. What fluid levels can you check in the engine compartment yourself?

​Windshield wiper fluid, coolant, engine oil, brake fluid

14. Why shouldn't tap water be used for the windshield washer system?

​Can freeze in winter, contains lime and can damage pipes.

15. What dangers can be expected if smoking is carried out in the engine compartment during inspections?

​Risk of fire and explosion

16. Why is opening a hot cooling system dangerous?

​Risk of burns.

17. What should you do if the water temperature rises to the red display area?

​Stop immediatly. Visual inspection of coolant. If necessary, notify the breakdown service.

18. What should you do if the engine oil warning light comes on while driving?

​Stop immediately and switch off the engine. Let cool down. Check engine oil level. If necessary, notify the breakdown service.

19. What fuel is specified by the manufacturer for the test vehicle?

Lead free 95 (unleaded petrol)

20. Where can you find information about the fuel to be used in the test vehicle?

​Instruction manual, inside the tank cap.

21. How do you check the charging status/range of your electric vehicle?

​The driving school vehicle is a mild hybrid, so there is no charge level. The range and fuel level are displayed in the instrument cluster.

22. Where is the charging port on your electric vehicle?

​Your driving school vehicle is a mild hybrid. So no charging port. The tank opening is on the left rear.

23. How can an older vehicle with a discharged battery be started?

​Bridge with starter cable. In vehicles with gear shifting by pushing.

24. What should you pay attention to when connecting starter cables?

​Connect the positive to the positive pole and the negative to the negative pole.

25. What is the correct order for connecting the starter cables?

​Positive pole giving vehicle, positive pole receiving vehicle, negative pole giving vehicle, negative pole receiving vehicle. Start giving vehicle, start receiving vehicle.

26. Can starter cables cause a short circuit?

​Yes. If you connect the starter cable to a plus and minus pole.

27. Where can the tow rope be attached to the test vehicle?

​Screw the towing eye (located in the trunk under the cover) into the opening in the bumper. (remove cover flap)

28. Why are you not allowed to tow a vehicle with a defective engine using a rope?

​If the engine is not running, the steering and braking assistance will not work.

29. Why is it not allowed to drive with the engine switched off?

​If the engine is not running, the steering and braking assistance will not work.

30. What options do you have to put out a vehicle fire?

​Fire extinguisher or fire blanket.

31. Why should the windshield wiper blades be checked regularly?

​They must be clean and whole. Otherwise they will not work properly and will obstruct your view.

32. How can damage to the windshield wiper be avoided?

​Do not use on dry or icy windows.

33. How are the windshield washer nozzles adjusted correctly?

​The liquid must be sprayed evenly onto the windshield.

34. What condition must the license plates be in?

​Clean and easy to read at 20 meters.

35. How can you tell if a vehicle is equipped with an anti-lock braking system (ABS)?

​The yellow control lamp is briefly displayed in the instrument cluster when the engine is started. (Your driving school vehicle has ABS)

36. How can the effectiveness of the parking brake be checked?

​When going uphill or downhill, apply the parking brake (handbrake) and set the gear selector lever to "N". Take your foot off the brake. The parking brake must now hold the vehicle securely in place.

37. Where are the electrical fuses on the test vehicle?

​Engine compartment, black box on the right.

38. What do you check if the indicator light flashes noticeably quickly?

​Check whether the indicators are still working properly.

39. How can the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and defroster be switched on/regulated on the test vehicle?

​Touch-sensitive monitor (touchscreen) in the center console.

40. How can the entry of outside air into the vehicle, e.g. in a tunnel, be prevented?

​Switching to recirculated air via the touch-sensitive monitor (touchscreen) in the center console.

41. How can the interior rearview mirror be adjusted to avoid glare?

​It turns on and off automatically. (light sensor)

42. How must the driver's seat be adjusted for the correct sitting position?

​Good and safe operation and accessibility of the pedals and steering wheel. Eye level between the bottom edge of the interior mirror and the center of the windshield.

43. Who is responsible for adjusting the rearview mirrors?

The drivers

44. What do you pay attention to when adjusting the rear-view mirrors?

​Horizontally backwards. The door handles must be visible.

45. What impact can items attached to the interior rearview mirror have on safety?

​They obscure or obstruct the driver's view.

46. How can the dashboard lighting on the vehicle be regulated?

​Press the plus or minus button to the right of the light selector wheel. This is located to the left of the steering wheel.

47. Should the vehicle windows be kept open or closed when the air conditioning is on?

​Closed. If the windows are open, the air conditioning is of no use.

48. How can you prevent the windows from fogging up while driving?

​Turn on the air conditioning. Switch on the front and/or rear window heating. When driving in a tunnel, you can fog up from the outside and then turn on the windshield wipers.

49. What do you pay attention to when adjusting the steering wheel?

​Not while driving. Good accessibility.

50. Where is the warning device on the test vehicle (horn) activated?

​Press against the center of the steering wheel. Fully on the Ford emblem.

51. How should the sun visors be used in the vehicle?

​Fold down and forward.

52. What options do you have to keep lights, windows and rearview mirrors clean?

​Clean by hand. Windshield with the windshield wiper system.

53. What can lead to incorrect operation of the pedals?

​Incorrect/unsuitable footwear.

54. How can the hood, trunk lid and fuel tank cap be opened?

Bonnet: by pulling the lever in the footwell of the driver's seat twice.
Trunk: by pressing the touch-sensitive surface under the letter “C” (inscription Focus) and then pulling it up.
Tank cap: Unlock the vehicle and then press it lightly against the tank cap.

55. What should you pay attention to when closing the hood?

​Avoid unnecessary noise. Let the bonnet fall gently from a height of approx. 40 cm. Check whether it is really closed.

56. How can the vehicle be secured against theft?

​Lock the vehicle with the remote control key or by touching the grooved surface on the door handle. Additionally, close all windows and doors. Engage the steering wheel lock by turning it slightly on the steering wheel.

57. How can the anti-theft device (steering wheel lock) be switched off?

​Disconnects automatically when the engine is started.

58. What should you pay attention to when wearing a seat belt in terms of clothing?

​It should fit tightly. Don't be twisted. Undamaged and locks correctly into the lock. Do not lie over the neck.

59. What condition must the seat belts be in?

​Undamaged and fully functional.

60. Can neck supports be removed from the vehicle?

​No.

61. At what height should neck supports be adjusted?

​Top end of the headrest in line with the crown.

62. How should small children be secured in the vehicle?

​Children under 12 years of age must be secured with a suitable child restraint device (child seat or similar).

63. How can children prevent unwanted door opening?

​Activate parental controls. On the rear doors, use a key or something similar to turn the white switch to the side. Must be done individually on both vehicle sides and doors.

64. Which vehicle doors are equipped with "child locks"?

​The two back ones.

65. How can the doors, windows and sunroof be closed or opened?

​Windows and sunroof automatically by pressing the corresponding buttons.

66. How are the doors secured from the inside?

​Activate central locking. Press the corresponding button on the inside of the driver's door.

67. Why is placing objects on the dashboard dangerous?

​They can slip or fly around, injuring or distracting the driver and passengers.

68. What do you do to safely place items in the vehicle?

​Place in the trunk. Secure with a strap or luggage net.

69. Why can unsecured objects in the vehicle become dangerous?

​They can slip or fly around, injuring or distracting the driver and passengers.

70. Do items also have to be secured in the trunk?

​Yes, against slipping

71. How must cargo be secured on the roof?

​Secured against slipping or losing. Use appropriate roof boxes, roof racks and/or tension straps.

72. Where is the airbag for the driver located?

​In the steering wheel under the Ford emblem.

73. How can additionally installed devices (e.g. smartphone holder) affect the function of the airbags?

​You can prevent it from opening/developing correctly and so it can lose its effectiveness. The airbag can knock away additional equipment and thus injure the driver and/or passengers.

74. What are the dangers of people not wearing seatbelts in the back seats?

​They can, for example, In the event of an accident (the force of the impact), they can be catapulted through the interior and thus endanger or injure themselves and the other passengers.

75. Why are you not allowed to remove the ignition key while driving?

​Vehicle can no longer be steered. This is not possible with a driving school vehicle because a radio key is used.

76. How can the parking lights on the vehicle be switched on separately on the left or right?

​With the engine off, turn the turn signal to the left or right.

77. How can you tell if the high beams are on from the driver's seat?

​Blue control lamp in the instrument cluster lights up.

78. Which indicator light shows you that the high beams are on?

​Blue control lamp in the instrument cluster lights up.

79. Where is the hazard warning light indicator located?

​Both direction indicators in the instrument cluster light up at the same time.

80. Where is the hazard warning light switch located?

​In the center console directly under the touch-sensitive monitor. (Touchscreen) button with red triangle symbol.

81. Where is the switch for the rear fog lights?

​Button to the left of the steering wheel near the light dial.

82. Where is the indicator light for the rear fog lights?

​In the instrument cluster. Orange light with horizontal longitudinal lines.

83. In which situations can the rear fog lights be used?

​The rear fog lights may only be used when visibility is significantly restricted due to fog, blowing snow or heavy rain.

84. What color are the rear fog lights?

​Strong red.

85. Where can the lights, direction indicators and windshield wipers be switched on on the test vehicle?

Lights: On the light dial to the left of the steering wheel.
Direction indicators: lever on the left of the steering wheel.
Windshield wiper: lever on the right side of the steering wheel.

86. What indicator lights are on the dashboard?

(not memorizing them all, only being able to recite two ore three)

​Adaptive cruise control (cruise control), automatic high beam, automatic start-stop system on or not available, blind spot monitoring system indicator light, cruise control (on/off), turn signals, door open, rear fog light, hazard warning light, high beam (headlight), lighting indicator light, lane departure warning, switching recommendation,Airbag warning light, warning light - ABS (anti-lock braking system), battery warning light, electric parking brake (handbrake) warning light, coolant temperature warning light, engine warning light, powertrain warning light, seat belt warning light, open hood warning light, lane departure warning light, tailgate open warning light, low beam warning light, fuel reserve warning light, tire pressure warning light, stability control warning light and Traction control off, water in fuel warning light.

87. How do you turn on the backup lights?

​Engage reverse gear.

88. What lights are on the front and rear of the vehicle?

Front: two parking lights, two daytime running lights, two low beams, two cornering lights, two high beams, two indicators.
Rear: three brake lights, two tail lights, two indicators, one reversing light, one fog light, two license plate lights

89. Do the stop lights come on when you apply the handbrake?

​No.

90. Do the parking lights light up when the low beam or high beam headlights are on?

​Yes.

91. What effects can be expected if the lights on a parked vehicle are left on for a long period of time?

​The battery is draining.

92. What requirements apply to license plate lighting?

​It must illuminate the license plate in the dark so that it can be read from 20 meters. License plate lighting is only available at the rear of the vehicle.

93. Which wheels on the test vehicle should be equipped with snow chains?

​The drive wheels, i.e. the front two.

94. Where is the breakdown triangle located in the vehicle?

​In the trunk under the cover.

95. Where should the breakdown signal be placed in the respective situation?

​Clearly visible on the right side of the road. 50 meters behind the vehicle on roads up to 50km/h (in urban areas). 100 meters on roads faster than 50km/h. (out of town)

96. How much minimum tread depth must tires have?

​1.6 millimeters.

97. Why should the tire pressure be increased before a long motorway journey?

The tire temperature doesn't increase that much.

98. What are the effects of insufficient tire pressure?

​Poorer grip, higher tire wear, higher fuel consumption, higher environmental impact.

99. Where can the information about tire pressure be found?

​On the black sticker on the inside of the driver's door frame. Operation manual.

100. In which direction of rotation should the wheel bolts be loosened?

​Counterclockwise. Remember which direction you open a PET bottle.