Can a Modified Vehicle That Was Caught Still Enjoy Exemption from Inspection?
2 Answers
Modified vehicles that are caught cannot enjoy exemption from inspection. According to China's current regulations, new vehicles have a six-year exemption period during which they do not need to undergo on-site inspections but only need to apply for an exemption mark. However, traffic violations must be resolved before the annual inspection. Cases where the inspection cannot be passed: Vehicles with unresolved traffic violation records cannot pass the annual inspection. Owners must check for any traffic violations and resolve them before the inspection to obtain the exemption mark. Registered motor vehicles undergoing safety technical inspections will not pass if the registered content on the vehicle's license does not match the actual condition of the vehicle, or if the mandatory third-party liability insurance certificate is not provided as required. According to relevant regulations, vehicle owners can apply for an inspection mark at the vehicle management office of the registration location up to three months before the expiration of the 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 certificate, and the motor vehicle safety technical inspection certificate.
If an exempted vehicle gets caught with modifications, it can basically forget about keeping its inspection exemption. From a regulatory perspective, the prerequisite for vehicle inspection exemption is maintaining the factory condition. Any modifications, whether it's changing the rims, exhaust pipes, or lights, are considered alterations to the appearance or performance, which violates regulations if caught. Nowadays, traffic police are extremely strict about modifications - even exceeding 30% window tinting might get flagged. Once penalized, not only does the inspection exemption status get revoked, but you'll also have to restore the vehicle to its original condition and pass a full inspection before reapplying for exemption. What's worse, the exemption policy itself has time limits, and getting caught for modifications wastes precious eligibility time. My sincere advice: don't mess around during the exemption period. Annual inspections are more troublesome than you'd imagine, and you might end up paying extra for re-inspection fees.
