Can Strobe Brake Lights Pass the Annual Vehicle Inspection?
2 Answers
Strobe brake lights cannot pass the annual vehicle inspection. Modifying car tail lights to strobe is illegal: Strobe lights are restricted lights, only authorized for police vehicles or special-purpose vehicles, and are not permitted for civilian use. According to Article 16, Paragraph 1 of the 'Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China': No unit or individual may assemble a motor vehicle or alter its registered structure, construction, or characteristics without authorization. Regulations on vehicle modifications: To modify a motor vehicle, changes must be made within the scope permitted by traffic authorities. This includes modifications to body color, engine, fuel type, or chassis number. After submitting an application, the driver must obtain approval from the traffic authorities before proceeding with any modifications. No unit or individual may assemble a motor vehicle or alter its registered structure, construction, or characteristics without authorization.
From a legal perspective, flashing brake lights are considered illegal modifications and will definitely fail the annual inspection. The Ministry of Public Security's "Motor Vehicle Safety Technical Inspection Items and Methods" clearly requires brake lights to be a steady red light source, and the national standard GB7258 also stipulates that brake signal lights must not flash. I've seen many car owners fail their annual inspections due to flashing brake lights, and they end up having to remove and reinstall them. Some car owners mistakenly believe that flashing high-mounted brake lights can improve safety, but regulations only allow special flashing for emergency brake lights (such as rapid flashing during hard braking), and it's absolutely not permitted for regular brake lights. Nowadays, inspection stations use full HD cameras to detect light frequencies, leaving no room for exceptions.
