Are 7-seater vehicles exempt from inspection for 6 years?
2 Answers
According to the "Regulations for the Implementation of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China"; non-operational 7-seater motor vehicles are exempt from inspection for six years. From six to ten years, they need to be inspected every two years. Vehicles over ten years old require an annual inspection, and those over 15 years old need to be inspected every six months. For operational 7-seater motor vehicles, within five years, an annual inspection is required; for those over five years old, an inspection every six months is necessary. The documents required for vehicle annual inspection include the vehicle's driving license, valid compulsory insurance policy, the owner's ID card, and all traffic violation records must be cleared in advance. Additional notes: For cargo vehicles and large or medium-sized non-operational passenger vehicles, an annual inspection is required within ten years, and every six months for those over ten years old; motorcycles require an inspection every two years within four years, and annually for those over four years old. According to the "Regulations for the Implementation of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China", the main items included in vehicle annual inspection are: Appearance inspection: The main contents are vehicle lights, body appearance, suspension, sunroof, tires, whether the vehicle lights are functioning normally, if there are any non-functioning lights, if the body color has been changed, and if the vehicle suspension has been modified; Emission test: Whether the exhaust emissions from the vehicle's tailpipe meet national standards during high-speed operation; Online inspection: Mainly focuses on the vehicle's braking system, headlights, horn, and chassis; Violation check: Before the annual inspection, all traffic violation records of the vehicle must be cleared to pass the inspection. Vehicle annual inspection can be conducted up to 90 days in advance but must not be overdue. According to the "Regulations for the Implementation of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China", the consequences of overdue inspection are as follows: Vehicles that have not undergone annual inspection on time are not allowed on the road; Driving a vehicle without timely annual inspection results in a 3-point penalty and a fine of 200 yuan; If an accident occurs involving a vehicle that has not undergone annual inspection, the party involved must bear full or primary responsibility, and the insurance company will not compensate; Driving without timely annual inspection is considered illegal driving and may result in vehicle impoundment.
As someone who frequently drives a 7-seater for family trips, I remember thinking all family vehicles enjoyed the 6-year exemption from inspection when I was choosing a car, only to find out that wasn't the case at all. After purchasing the car, I learned that due to their additional seating and higher passenger capacity, 7-seaters are required by policy to undergo an on-site inspection every two years from the registration date, unlike 5-seaters which only need to collect inspection labels within six years. Once, when I received an inspection notice, I was in the midst of planning a family trip and nearly missed the appointment slot, forcing me to adjust our travel plans last minute. Although this policy adds some inconvenience—like spending half a day queuing at the inspection station for checks on brakes, lights, and emissions—I’ve come to understand it’s for the safety of the extra passengers. I’d advise other owners to keep track of their inspection cycles, book appointments online in advance to save time, and regularly maintain tires and wiring to avoid hiccups during inspections.
