Can a car pass the annual inspection with traffic violations?
4 Answers
A car cannot pass the annual inspection if there are unresolved traffic violation records. It is necessary to check the traffic violation records before the annual inspection and handle any existing violations to obtain the inspection exemption mark. According to current regulations in China, new cars have a six-year inspection exemption period. During this period, motor vehicles do not need to undergo on-site testing but only need to apply for the inspection exemption mark. However, traffic violations must still be resolved before the annual inspection. As per relevant regulations, the owner of a motor vehicle can apply for the inspection compliance mark at the local vehicle management office up to three months before the expiration of the current inspection period. During the application process, the owner must fill out an application form and submit the vehicle license, compulsory traffic accident liability insurance certificate, vehicle and vessel tax payment or exemption proof, and motor vehicle safety technical inspection compliance certificate. Traffic violations are divided into on-site penalties and non-on-site penalties. On-site penalties generally refer to the process where traffic police officers impose penalties immediately for detected violations. During the penalty process, the officer will inform the party involved about the violation handling time and location. Non-on-site penalties usually refer to penalties for traffic violations captured by surveillance equipment. For such violations, the traffic police will send the penalty notice to the vehicle owner via mail, which will specify the violation location, reason, behavior, and handling time.
I just went through this, and they're really strict in my hometown. Last month, I took my old car for the annual inspection, but the counter staff said I had three speeding tickets unresolved and refused to process it. The worker pointed to the new regulation posted on the wall, which clearly stated 'Violations must be settled before annual inspection.' However, I heard some provinces still allow inspection before handling violations, but I didn't want to take the risk. Now you can pay fines on the 12123 app, which is much faster than going to the traffic police station. I suggest you clear your violations first to avoid wasting a 30-kilometer trip like I did.
Last week, I accompanied my neighbor Uncle Wang to the inspection station and encountered this situation. His van had two unpaid parking violations, which directly caused the inspection to get stuck at the document review stage. The inspector said the system is now fully networked, and red alerts popped up as soon as the records were opened. To be honest, even if you manage to slip through the inspection, the unpaid fines will still incur late fees. Uncle Wang ended up squatting at the entrance to pay the fines via mobile banking, which took two minutes, but then he had to queue all over again. The whole ordeal wasn't finished until 4 p.m.
It depends on the region. In provinces like Zhejiang and Jiangsu, you must clear all traffic violations before the vehicle inspection. But my uncle who does business in Yunnan passed the inspection last year with two speeding tickets on record. However, even if the inspection station lets it slide, I strongly advise you to handle the fines first. The 12123 APP makes paying fines super convenient, and it even accepts WeChat Pay. Don’t be like my colleague Lao Li, who thought he could slip through—only to end up with doubled late fees after the inspection, turning 500 yuan into over 1,000. He was so upset he could’ve punched himself.
