Are Vehicle Inspection Units Open on Saturdays?
3 Answers
Vehicle inspection units are generally open on Saturdays, but specific hours may vary by location. Below is relevant information about vehicle inspections: Purpose of Vehicle Annual Inspection: The inspection conducted for motor vehicles to obtain license plates is called the initial annual inspection. The purpose of the initial annual inspection is to verify whether the vehicle meets the conditions for obtaining license plates. Vehicle annual inspections help promptly eliminate potential safety hazards, encourage proper vehicle maintenance, and reduce the occurrence of traffic accidents. The inspection includes checking for the vehicle's user manual, certificate of compliance (or import vehicle commodity inspection certificate), and verifying the presence of factory markings on the vehicle body. Measurements are taken of the vehicle's external and internal dimensions, including wheelbase and axle track. Specific measurements include vehicle length, width, height, cargo compartment height and area, wheelbase, and axle track. Each item is inspected according to technical standards. Upon passing, an "Initial Vehicle Inspection Alteration Registration Form" is completed, along with recording the vehicle's curb weight, load capacity, passenger capacity, and driver's compartment seating as per factory specifications. Annual Inspection Schedule: For passenger cars and light blue license plate vans, new vehicles require biennial inspections for the first six years after registration, followed by annual inspections thereafter. After fifteen years, inspections are conducted twice a year. For trucks, annual inspections are required after registration, increasing to twice a year after ten years. Documents required for vehicle annual inspections include: the vehicle's registration certificate, valid compulsory traffic insurance policy, and vehicle and vessel tax receipt.
As a long-time 996 office worker, I know best how important Saturday vehicle inspections are. Last week I took my old Lavida to the Chengdong Inspection Station, which opens at 8:30 AM on Saturdays. Remember to bring your vehicle license and original insurance policy - it's best to make an appointment and pay via the official account in advance, otherwise you'll face long queues during peak periods at the beginning of the month. By the way, if there are valet services near the inspection station, don't use them - I learned this the hard way when they charged me 200 yuan for so-called 'expedited service' that actually didn't save much time. I recommend arriving before 9 AM for maximum efficiency - last time I got it done in just half an hour.
From my experience with vehicle inspections over the past few years, most inspection stations in cities operate normally on Saturdays. For example, Shanghai has regulations that all 19 inspection sites are open on weekends, while in Beijing, you need to check the specific duty schedule of each station in advance on the 'Traffic Management 12123' APP. It's recommended to call the inspection station three days in advance to confirm. Once, I made a wasted trip of forty kilometers because the station was undergoing temporary equipment maintenance. Nowadays, many inspection stations don’t close at noon but stop accepting queues by 4 PM, so don’t go at the last minute. Remember to bring a fire extinguisher and a triangular warning sign, as lacking these two items will result in an immediate failure.
