Can motor vehicles be inspected annually?
3 Answers
Motor vehicles can undergo annual inspections, but the prerequisite is to obtain a vehicle inspection authorization letter from the vehicle management office at the vehicle's registration location. According to the motor vehicle registration regulations: For all motor vehicles except large passenger vehicles and school buses, if they cannot be inspected at the registration location due to certain reasons, the vehicle owner can apply to the vehicle management office at the registration location for authorization to issue an inspection compliance mark. Before applying, the vehicle owner must first resolve all traffic violations and accidents related to the motor vehicle. When applying, the vehicle's registration certificate or license must be submitted. Notes on motor vehicle inspection: Whether it is motor vehicles that require on-site inspection or those that do not, all traffic violations and unresolved accidents must be cleared before the vehicle can proceed with the annual inspection procedures.
I've been driving compact cars for over a decade and have to personally handle the annual inspection every year. Of course small passenger vehicles can undergo annual inspection, as traffic regulations mandate regular testing for private cars with 9 seats or fewer. Just last week I took my hatchback to the inspection station - staff first checked the insurance policy and vehicle license, then tested the lights, brakes, and emissions one by one. New vehicles are exempt from on-site inspection for the first six years, but starting from the sixth year you'll need to report annually. For vehicles over ten years old, the inspection items become more stringent. I recommend making an appointment in advance via the traffic management 12123 platform to save queuing time. It's best to bring complete documents including the vehicle registration certificate and ID card copies. Insufficient light brightness or overly thin brake pads are the most common reasons for failing - be sure to check these yourself beforehand.
That day, I accompanied my neighbor's young guy who just bought a used car to the inspection station. The technician got busy with the testing equipment right away. Nowadays, vehicle inspections are fully automated, with roller tests for braking, OBD scans for fault codes, and exhaust gas sampling probes. I watched the whole process—as long as the car hasn’t been privately modified with things like headlights or a turbo, and emissions are up to standard, it’ll pass. Honestly, inspections are just to keep unsafe cars off the road—I’ve seen cases where cars with retrofitted xenon lights failed and were sent back. By the way, the 2022 regulations simplified the process, extending the six-year exemption to only requiring two inspections within ten years. Just remember to clear any traffic violations beforehand—unpaid tickets will block the inspection, and even dash cam mounts on the rearview mirror need to be removed.
