Can China III vehicles still pass the annual inspection?
2 Answers
"China III" vehicles could pass the annual inspection in 2019 without any issues, and there was no mandatory scrapping policy for them. According to the "Mandatory Vehicle Scrapping Standards Regulation," domestically used China III gasoline vehicles could pass the annual inspection as long as their mileage did not exceed 600,000 kilometers. In 2020, China III vehicles could still undergo inspection. However, with the implementation of the China VI standard, China III vehicles, which have relatively higher emissions, faced challenges. Some provinces were expected to phase out all China III vehicles by 2020, and many first-tier cities began implementing policies to stop annual inspections for China III vehicles. Nevertheless, if a China III vehicle could pass the inspection, it could still be driven on the road. After the full implementation of the China VI standard in some first and second-tier cities in 2020, restrictions were imposed on China III vehicles within urban areas, further limiting their mobility. China III refers to the third stage of the national emission standards, equivalent to the Euro III emission standard, with similar levels of tailpipe pollutants. The main difference is that new vehicles must be equipped with an OBD (On-Board Diagnostics) system. The annual inspection, also known as the annual safety check, involves a comprehensive examination of the vehicle's safety features, including the horn, brakes, axle weight, chassis, ignition system, lighting system, exhaust system, and license plate installation. Before the annual inspection, it is essential to check if the vehicle has any outstanding traffic violations, which must be resolved before proceeding with the inspection.
The car I drive meets the China III emission standards. It passed the annual inspections without any issues in previous years, but things have changed significantly recently. I live in the suburbs, and when I took it for the annual inspection last year, the staff mentioned that the emission testing standards had been raised. My car barely passed. They emphasized that policies vary by location—in first-tier cities like Beijing and Shanghai, China III vehicles are mostly banned or restricted, making it impossible to pass the annual inspection. However, in smaller cities or rural areas, there might still be a chance. Places with severe emission issues have stricter environmental regulations. I recommend checking the local DMV website or app as soon as possible. Before scheduling an inspection, bring all necessary documents and inquire in person. If it doesn’t pass, you may need to consider switching to a new energy vehicle or upgrading the emission system to avoid disrupting daily commutes and inconveniencing your life. Regular maintenance can also extend its lifespan, but policies keep changing, so it’s best to plan ahead.
