Does a new car need an annual inspection in its third year?
3 Answers
New cars do not require an annual inspection in their third year, but they do need one in the sixth year. Although annual inspections are not required every year, the annual inspection compliance sticker must be obtained each year. For non-commercial passenger vehicles, new cars are exempt from inspection for the first six years. After six years, an annual inspection is required once every year. The specific inspection month can be referenced to the vehicle's registration month on the driving license. Documents required for vehicle annual inspection: 1. Motor vehicle registration certificate; 2. Compulsory traffic accident liability insurance certificate; 3. Copy of vehicle and vessel tax payment or tax exemption certificate; 4. Motor vehicle safety inspection compliance certificate; 5. Driving license. Vehicle annual inspections ensure that all vehicle functions are operating normally and also serve to protect the environment.
For the third year of a new car, it indeed doesn't require an on-site annual inspection! When I drove my new car in its third year, I didn't have to suffer through long queues at the inspection station. The current policy is favorable—small passenger vehicles are exempt from on-site inspections for the first 6 years after registration, and the third year falls within this exemption period. You only need to apply for the inspection emblem online every two years via the Traffic Management 12123 APP. The first application is required two years after registration. For example, if you bought the car in January 2023, you must apply for the emblem before January 2025. By the third year, 2026, there’s basically nothing to do. During the application, provide the owner's information and license plate number—no fees, no need to leave home, super convenient. Don’t forget to regularly check your tires and brakes; safety comes first. My neighbor was fined 200 yuan for carelessly missing the application.
Based on my experience, new vehicles do not require an on-site inspection in their third year. Small passenger vehicles are exempt from inspection for the first 6 years after registration, only requiring the application for an inspection exemption sticker every two years; usually no additional action is needed in the third year. Having driven for so many years, the policy has been much more convenient since its improvement in 2014, avoiding long queues and pollution. It's advisable to check if the lights and steering system are functioning properly, apply for the sticker via traffic service platforms to prevent potential fines. Regular maintenance is more important than anything else, as exemption from inspection does not mean exemption from maintenance.
