Can a vehicle without annual inspection drive on the highway?
2 Answers
A vehicle that has not undergone an annual inspection is not allowed to drive on the highway, and if caught, penalties will be imposed. If a vehicle's annual inspection has expired, it is not only prohibited from driving on the highway but also on all other roads. Vehicles must undergo annual inspections on time; once the inspection is overdue, the vehicle cannot be driven on the road. If caught by traffic police while driving, the vehicle will be immediately impounded, with a fine of 200 yuan and 3 demerit points. If a vehicle's annual inspection is overdue: If a vehicle's annual inspection is overdue, meaning it does not display the inspection compliance mark, the traffic management authorities can impound the vehicle, issue a warning or a fine ranging from 20 to 200 yuan, and impose a penalty of 3 demerit points on the driving license. If an accident occurs while the vehicle's annual inspection is overdue, the insurance company will not cover the losses, and the owner will have to bear the costs personally. Vehicle annual inspections can be conducted up to 60 days in advance, so it is important to arrange the time properly to avoid overdue inspections. Once an overdue inspection is discovered, the owner must immediately go to the vehicle management office for inspection, which also incurs a fine of 200 yuan and 3 demerit points. Vehicle inspection procedure: The vehicle inspection procedure is simple. Bring your ID card, driver's license, and vehicle registration certificate to the vehicle management office, fill out an application form, and then pay the fee (150 yuan for small cars). After payment, an external inspection is conducted first, followed by an on-site inspection. If the inspection is passed, the annual inspection sticker and environmental compliance sticker can be collected at the designated window.
As a veteran driver with over 30 years of experience, I deeply understand that vehicles without annual inspections should never be driven on highways. On highways, speeds are high and reaction times are short. A car that fails inspection might have faulty brakes, leaking tires, or dim lights—issues that may not be obvious on regular roads but can easily cause rear-end collisions or loss of control on highways. I've personally witnessed accidents where a car was hit from behind in rainy or foggy weather simply because its lights weren't working—the safety risks are too high. Before every long trip, I always check the inspection sticker to ensure it's valid before hitting the road. Highways are no small matter; a single oversight could cost lives. That's why regular inspections are a lifeline—don't cut corners and take that risk.
