Can a vehicle pass the annual inspection without installing ETC?
2 Answers
It is possible to undergo the annual inspection without ETC. ETC is not mandatory; it is merely a method for quick toll collection at highway exits, aimed at alleviating the pressure of manual toll collection. According to the State Council's regulations, vehicles without ETC or not using ETC in 2020 cannot enjoy toll discounts. In the future, only one manual lane will be retained at highway toll stations, requiring vehicles to pay tolls through manual channels. Therefore, ETC has no direct relationship with vehicle annual inspections. Vehicle Annual Inspection Items: Exterior Inspection: Bring the exterior inspection form to the inspection station. First, verify relevant documents and check whether the third-party insurance (compulsory insurance) is valid. After document verification, the exterior inspection begins. This inspection mainly checks for damaged lights, whether the vehicle's exterior matches the original condition, any changes to the suspension, as well as the sunroof, tires, etc. Emission Testing: Queue up and wait for the test. Before the test, staff will conduct a preliminary check, mainly verifying whether the engine number matches the one on the vehicle license and briefly inspecting the exterior and condition of the vehicle. Then, fill out the emission test form. During the test, an inspector will drive the vehicle onto the testing line. New vehicles usually pass easily, and upon receiving a qualified emission test form, you can proceed to the window to pay and collect the emission compliance label. If the vehicle fails, it must be adjusted at an auto repair shop and retested, requiring another payment for the test. On-Line Inspection: If the exterior inspection passes, queue up for the on-line inspection. The inspection line checks the brakes, headlights (high beam), chassis, etc., taking about 5-10 minutes. After the vehicle exits the line, you will receive a computer-printed form listing items such as brakes, lights, and horn. Qualified items are marked "0," while unqualified ones are marked "X." Typically, issues arise with lights and brakes. Don't worry; inspection stations have facilities to adjust lights and brakes. After brake adjustments, the vehicle must be retested, but lights only need adjustment and a stamp. Violation Check: At the query window, obtain and fill out the "Motor Vehicle Periodic Inspection Registration Form," which can be collected using the vehicle license. After completing the form, submit it to the staff to check for any violation records. If there are no issues, the form will be stamped with "Verified, eligible for inspection." If violations are found, handle them promptly using the violation notice. ETC Toll Deduction Principle: Highways have one or more ETC lanes. Through dedicated short-range microwave communication between the onboard electronic tag installed on the vehicle's windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane at the toll station, and using computer networking technology for backend settlement with banks, vehicles can pay tolls without stopping at the toll station. This is based on the principle of passing first and deducting fees later. Benefits of Installing ETC: Time-saving: Eliminates the hassle of waiting in line; Green and eco-friendly: Reduces noise and emissions by allowing vehicles to pass toll stations without stopping, thereby minimizing pollution; Reduced wear and tear: Saves costs by decreasing the frequency of vehicle starts and stops, lowering wear and fuel consumption; Improved efficiency: ETC lanes can theoretically increase vehicle throughput by 2-3 times, making traditional ETC faster, more advanced, and more high-tech. Compared to license plate payment, ETC technology is more mature and advantageous. More policy support: The State Council explicitly stated in the "13th Five-Year Plan for the Development of a Modern Comprehensive Transportation System" that "by 2020, intercity transportation cards will be widely interoperable in key city clusters, and the proportion of vehicles using ETC will significantly increase." It also set a target in the "13th Five-Year Plan" for comprehensive transportation development: "By 2020, the ETC usage rate for passenger vehicles on roads should reach 50%." More future possibilities: In addition to continuously improving the convenience of ETC installation and usage rates for passenger vehicles, future efforts will promote ETC use for trucks and explore deeper integration of ETC systems with smart transportation developments such as vehicle-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-to-infrastructure coordination. This will provide comprehensive travel services for vehicle owners, meaning more application scenarios will support ETC.
As an ordinary car owner who has been driving for over a decade, I think ETC is purely a gadget for convenient highway toll collection, and whether you install it or not doesn't affect the annual inspection at all. Last year, my car didn't have any ETC installed, and it still passed the inspection in one go. The annual inspection mainly checks safety performance, such as whether the brakes work well, the steering is stable, the headlights are bright, and the emissions meet the standards. ETC isn't even on the inspection checklist, so don't worry about it unnecessarily. Just maintain your car well and make sure it doesn't have any issues. If you're really concerned, go to a reputable repair shop for a pre-inspection to ensure the core components meet the standards. The inspection station only looks at the mandatory requirements; other toll devices are just bonuses, not necessities. Go for the inspection with peace of mind.
