The vehicle inspection thing is a European requirement? Or Germany specific? Private vehicles or business vehicles? I'm curious, as there isn't such a thing in Michigan. In some US states I know there is a vehicle emissions check.
I dont' know if it is a European requirement, but it is certainly a requirement in Germany for all vehicles except motorcycles. The vehicle safety inspection list includes a valid first aid kit, warning triangle for roadside emergencies, and safety vests for all occupants of the vehicle (although two vests seems to be the accepted limit).
When taking a vehicle in for the biennial inspection, the first aid kit, warning triangle, and vests must be placed on the passenger seat so the inspector can see them and verify the date on the first aid kit.
Germany is also brutal on the emissions inspections. Large cities, such as Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Wiesbaden, Munich, and Berlin, created a restricted area around the city, called the "Umweltzone" (environmental zone), that prohibits all vehicles that do not meet at least the Euro 4 standard. Vehicles that meet this standard have a green decal in the lower right corner of the windshield, and the owner of any vehicle driving or parking in the Umweltzone that doesn't have the Euro 4 decal will receive a fine of at least €105 (about $120). Unfortunately for the vehicle owner, these fines are cumulative and passing through multiple inspection points in a single trip result in multiple fines.