Does a car in its sixth year require an on-site inspection?
3 Answers
A car that has been in use for six years requires an on-site inspection for its annual check. Below are the specific regulations for vehicle annual inspections: Passenger transport vehicles: Within 5 years, inspect once every year; after 5 years, inspect once every 6 months. Trucks and large or medium-sized non-passenger transport vehicles: Within 10 years, inspect once every year; after 10 years, inspect once every 6 months. Small and micro non-passenger transport vehicles: Within 6 years, inspect once every 2 years; after 6 years, inspect once every year; after 15 years, inspect once every 6 months. Exemption policy: Family vehicles with 6 seats or fewer enjoy a 6-year exemption from inspections. The prerequisite for the 6-year exemption is that no major traffic accidents occurred during this period. If an accident occurs, an on-site inspection is mandatory. Vehicles with 7 seats or more do not qualify for the 6-year exemption policy and must still undergo an inspection every 2 years for the first 6 years.
My own car also reached its sixth year last year, and I specifically checked the policy at that time. It indeed required an on-site inspection. According to the new regulations, for the first six years of a new car, you only need to obtain an electronic label through the Traffic Management 12123 app in the second and fourth years. However, starting from the sixth year, you must drive it to the inspection station for a proper check. I remember it very clearly—I even took half a day off that day, brought my vehicle license and ID card, and queued up at the inspection station. The staff first checked basic items like lights and brakes, and also tested the exhaust emissions. Fortunately, my car passed in one go since I had maintained it well. I recommend handling any traffic violations before going; otherwise, it would be a wasted trip. The on-site inspection is actually quite important. After five or six years, some parts start to age, and without a check-up, it really doesn’t feel safe.
My friend just went for his car's 6th-year inspection last week. He said it's not like before where you had to go every year, but the 6th year is mandatory at the testing station. He booked the time in advance on the 12123 APP, which was quite convenient without waiting in line too long. According to him, they mainly check the braking system, light brightness, chassis suspension, etc., with emissions testing still being a crucial part. His domestic SUV cost over 200 yuan for the inspection and took about two hours to complete. He suggested checking if any light bulbs are burnt out before the inspection, and replacing severely worn tires in advance, as fixing these minor issues on-site would require queuing again. Also, remember to bring a copy of the compulsory traffic insurance policy and don't forget any materials.
