Can the Annual Vehicle Inspection Be Done Anywhere?
2 Answers
Vehicle annual inspections can be conducted nationwide in China. Documents required for the annual inspection: Original vehicle registration certificate, original and photocopy of the vehicle owner's ID card. For company vehicles, a company certificate is required, along with a copy of the compulsory traffic insurance policy. Inspection items include: Checking whether the safety devices are complete and consistent with the registration photo on the vehicle registration certificate; payment and entry of annual inspection information, on-site inspection. If the vehicle fails the inspection, it must be repaired and then resubmitted for inspection. Conditions for the annual inspection: All traffic violations must be settled before the vehicle is eligible for the annual inspection. The inspection cannot be delayed even by a single day. Vehicles can undergo the annual inspection up to 60 days in advance, so it's important to schedule the inspection appropriately and avoid delays.
Annual vehicle inspections can't be done just anywhere. I've seen many people try to save money by going to roadside shops, only to end up with invalid certificates and wasted time. In China, vehicle inspections must be conducted at state-approved testing stations, or the traffic authorities won't recognize them. These official facilities have government-issued signage and proper equipment, like exhaust gas analyzers and brake test benches, which small workshops simply don't have. Once, when helping a friend with this, I checked the official list of approved stations on the transportation department's website and found fixed inspection points in the city—booking in advance can even save you queuing time. If you go to random places, you might encounter shady shops that take your money but provide worthless inspections, which could also affect insurance claims. For safety's sake, it's best to choose testing stations recommended by the DMV or large chain facilities—they're hassle-free and reliable.
