Can a motorcycle still be inspected if it hasn't been inspected for six years?
3 Answers
If a motorcycle hasn't undergone annual inspection for 6 years, it can no longer be inspected and will be mandatorily scrapped. According to the "Mandatory Scrapping Standards for Motor Vehicles": Article 4 Registered motor vehicles that meet any of the following conditions shall be mandatorily scrapped. The owner shall sell the vehicle to a scrapped motor vehicle recycling and dismantling enterprise, which will carry out registration, dismantling, destruction, and other procedures according to regulations, and submit the scrapped motor vehicle registration certificate, license plate, and driving license to the traffic management department of the public security authority for cancellation: Article 4 If the vehicle fails to obtain the motor vehicle inspection qualification mark within three consecutive inspection cycles after the expiration of the inspection validity period.
My old motorcycle had also missed inspections for six years before, and that time when I went to make up for it, it went quite smoothly. First, I went to the local DMV to inquire about the situation. They checked the records and found that there were late fees to be paid, amounting to a few hundred yuan. Then, I drove the bike to the inspection station for a full check-up, including lights, brakes, emissions, and more. Fortunately, the bike was well-maintained, and after replacing some minor parts, it passed the inspection. I recommend handling the overdue inspections promptly, as there are significant safety risks otherwise, and insurance may refuse to pay in case of an accident. With regular maintenance, you won’t miss the annual inspections.
From a practical standpoint, motorcycles that haven't undergone inspection for years can still be retroactively inspected, though the process is more complicated. First, contact the traffic department to check the records and confirm the vehicle hasn't been forcibly scrapped. Late fees may apply, and it's advisable to conduct a preliminary self-inspection before the official test—checking brakes and tire wear, for example. I've seen many friends successfully complete retroactive inspections, though the cost is higher than regular annual checks, often exceeding a thousand yuan including penalties. In short, don't delay too long; handle it early to avoid complications.
