Can a Car Pass the Annual Inspection with Scratches on Its Exterior?
2 Answers
It depends on the severity of the scratches. Only minor scratches are acceptable. According to regulations, the vehicle must not have significant damage, all lights must be functional, the engine number and chassis number must match those on the vehicle registration certificate, and the fire extinguisher must be within its validity period. Documents required for annual inspection: Original and duplicate of the motor vehicle driving license, duplicate or electronic copy of the compulsory traffic insurance policy, and for company vehicles, an application form for motor vehicle license plates with official seal is required. Pre-inspection precautions: All traffic violations must be settled, all vehicle accidents must be resolved, prepare all necessary materials for the annual inspection, ensure all essential items in the car are ready, and the vehicle must not have any modifications.
When I took my car for the annual inspection last year, there were quite a few minor scratches on the body, but it passed without any issues. The focus of the annual inspection is usually on safety aspects, such as whether the brakes, tires, and lights are functioning properly. As long as there are no issues like body structure deformation or headlights being too scratched to see the road clearly, inspectors generally won’t bother with minor scrapes. Of course, if the scratches are deep enough to expose bare metal, you might be reminded to repair them to prevent rust. I recommend being careful when parking to avoid collisions. For minor scratches, you can buy scratch wax to handle them yourself—it’s cost-effective and hassle-free. Overall, the annual inspection isn’t about achieving a perfect appearance, so don’t worry too much. Safe driving is the key.
