Does a 7-year-old car require an annual inspection?
3 Answers
7-year-old cars require an annual inspection. The vehicle inspection schedule is as follows: 1. Non-commercial passenger vehicles: New vehicles within 6 years are exempt from on-site inspection, requiring only biennial inspection mark applications. Privately-owned vehicles registered after September 2012 that meet the criteria qualify for exemption; vehicles aged 6 to 15 years require annual on-site inspection, while those over 15 years need semi-annual on-site inspection. 2. Commercial passenger vehicles: Annual inspection for the first 5 years, followed by semi-annual inspections thereafter. 3. Trucks and large/medium non-commercial passenger vehicles: Annual inspection for the first 10 years, then semi-annual inspections thereafter.
My 7-year-old sedan no longer requires annual inspections! Since the policy adjustment two years ago, non-commercial private vehicles only need on-site inspections in the 6th, 8th, and 10th years during the first decade. In your case, if you just completed the 6th-year inspection last year, this 7th year requires neither an on-site check nor a sticker. But do pay attention to the inspection reminder in the Traffic Management 12123 app to avoid missing the 8th-year inspection. Remember to clear any traffic violations beforehand and bring your vehicle license plus valid compulsory traffic insurance policy - the whole process takes just half an hour. By the way, modifications like aftermarket headlights or dark window tints may cause inspection failures now.
I just handled this matter: For privately-owned vehicles that are 7 years old, the current inspection policy requires checks at the 6th, 8th, and 10th years. Simply put, there's a two-year gap after the 6th year. However, make sure your vehicle is a non-commercial one with fewer than 9 seats and hasn't exceeded 200,000 kilometers in mileage. I recommend doing three things in advance: check the thickness of the brake pads, the brightness of all lights, and the tread depth of the tires (don’t let it go below 1.6mm). These minor issues are the most common reasons for failing the re-inspection. Inspection fees vary by location—in my second-tier city, it costs 380 yuan, with an additional 120 yuan for re-inspection.
