Does a car purchased in August 2016 need an annual inspection in 2021?

[OJune]

A new car purchased in 2016 will need to undergo an on-site annual inspection in 2022. Annual inspection at the designated time and location: The vehicle owner or the unit to which the vehicle belongs must fill out the "Motor Vehicle Annual Inspection Form" and send the vehicle to the designated location for inspection on the date specified by the local vehicle management office. After the vehicle passes the inspection, the vehicle management authority will affix a seal on the vehicle's license and the "Motor Vehicle Annual Inspection Form". Unable to undergo annual inspection on time when away: For vehicles that are unable to undergo inspection on time due to long-term assignments away from their home location, the owner must submit an application and report to the home vehicle management office, which will then delegate the inspection to the local vehicle management office at the assignment location. After the inspection, the results will be reported back to the home vehicle management office. Special circumstances preventing participation in the annual inspection: For vehicles that cannot undergo the annual inspection on time due to special circumstances, the owner must apply for an extension in advance with the local vehicle management office.

[LaStephanie]

I bought a car a few years ago and understand the annual inspection rules. The car purchased in August 2016 would not have been due for an on-site inspection by 2021. According to Chinese policy, new cars are exempt from on-site inspections for the first 6 years, only requiring the application for an exemption label in the 2nd and 4th years. For example, your car should have applied for the label in 2018 and 2020. 2021 is exactly the fifth year, not yet reaching the sixth-year mark, so there's no need to worry about driving to the inspection station for checks like brakes and lights. Just make sure the last exemption label you obtained is still valid until around August 2022 when a formal on-site inspection will be required. Don't forget to regularly check for minor issues like car lights—safety first!

[SanLuna]

Speaking of vehicle annual inspections, I'd like to share some experience. For a car purchased in August 2016 like yours, there's really no need for an on-site inspection in 2021 as it's still within the 6-year exemption period. The key milestones are at the 2nd, 4th and 6th years: 2021 being the 5th year falls right in between, so you just need to keep the existing exemption sticker valid. If you forget the application deadline, I suggest checking the DMV app by entering your vehicle information to see prompts. Regular maintenance of tires and brakes is important - don't wait until the inspection to discover issues, this saves both money and hassle. Developing a habit of DIY vehicle condition checks is really helpful.

[Stuart]

To put it simply: Your car from August 2016 doesn't need an on-site inspection in 2021. The policy exempts vehicles from on-site inspections for the first 6 years, only requiring you to collect the inspection decal in designated years. 2021 isn't one of those years. Remember, the next inspection will start in 2022 and will be required annually. Just make sure to maintain good tire and brake conditions during this period. Problem solved easily.