
Annual inspection is required. Below is relevant information about motor vehicle annual inspection: 1. Periodic inspection: The fourth year falls under periodic inspection (motor vehicle inspections are categorized into initial inspection and periodic inspection); 2. Required documents for personal vehicle inspection: original vehicle license, copy of compulsory traffic insurance, ID card copy, and the vehicle itself; 3. Required documents for company vehicle inspection: original vehicle license; copy of compulsory traffic insurance; organization code certificate of the People's Republic of China (with fresh seal); power of attorney (with fresh seal); agent's ID card copy; 4. Notes for vehicle inspection: No exterior modifications allowed; window tint film color cannot be too dark (must be able to see interior items from one meter away - mainly applies to vans and trucks, not relevant for 5-seat or smaller vehicles); number of leaf springs cannot be increased or decreased; number of seats in vans cannot be altered, must have fire extinguisher; no modifications allowed for box truck compartments (no side doors, no roof openings, no tailgate additions); no changes allowed to tire size, tread patterns must match on same axle; vehicles with outstanding traffic violations or court impoundments cannot undergo inspection.

I just dealt with my car's annual inspection issue. Indeed, cars that are exactly four years old don't need to go through the on-site inspection, but you have to collect the inspection sticker every two years. I remember last year I applied online and got it done in just a few minutes on the Traffic Management 12123 app. However, a friend who drives a minivan doesn't get this privilege—no matter how old the vehicle is, it must be inspected on time. Vehicles that have been involved in major accidents also can't be exempt from inspection. For regular maintenance, I pay special attention to lights and brakes, as safety comes first. If the inspection sticker expires, don't risk driving with it—getting caught will result in points deducted and fines.

As a family car owner, vehicles under four years old indeed enjoy the exemption from inspection policy. Last month, I just renewed my inspection sticker, and the process was extremely simple: just bring the vehicle license and compulsory traffic insurance policy, fill out a form at the DMV window. However, you need to pay attention to vehicle modifications. For example, my neighbor had to remove the added body kit before passing. Exemption from inspection doesn't mean neglecting the car. You still need to regularly check tire wear and brake pad thickness, especially if you often drive long distances. The sticker's validity period is displayed on the top left corner of the windshield—don't forget the deadline.

For the four-year motor vehicle inspection, just follow the policy. Currently, new vehicles are exempt from inspection for the first six years, but you need to collect the inspection sticker every two years without going to the inspection line. For my car last year, in its fourth year, I simply used a mobile app to handle it, and the sticker was delivered by express the next day. However, this doesn't apply to commercial vehicles or cargo vans, which must be inspected as originally scheduled. If you repaint your vehicle with over 30% color change, you need to register the modification first; otherwise, you might encounter issues when replacing the sticker. Maintaining good vehicle condition is the most hassle-free approach.

Having handled vehicle annual inspections for over a decade, I can confirm that 4-year-old vehicles fall under the exemption category. However, you still need to apply for the inspection decal on schedule. Just bring your ID card and vehicle license to the traffic management office - the process takes about ten minutes. Note that any traffic violations must be cleared before applying. I've seen cases where owners got rejected for installing xenon headlights, or forgot to renew compulsory traffic insurance before inspection. My advice: start preparing one month in advance to avoid end-of-month rushes. Also, regularly check that your headlights aren't too dim and brakes don't make abnormal noises, as these are common inspection failure points.


