Does Changing Shock Absorbers Affect Annual Vehicle Inspection?

[LaBrantley]

Changing shock absorbers does affect the annual vehicle inspection. The inspection includes: 1. Checking whether the engine, chassis, body, and their auxiliary equipment are clean, complete, and functional, whether the paint surface is uniform and aesthetically pleasing, and whether the main assemblies have been replaced in accordance with the initial inspection records; 2. Testing whether the vehicle's braking performance, steering control, lights, exhaust, and other safety performance meet the technical requirements for safe operation of motor vehicles; 3. Verifying whether the vehicle has been modified, remodeled, or altered, and whether the driving license, license plate, and all vehicle registration records match the actual condition of the vehicle, as well as whether the necessary approval and modification procedures have been completed. For the annual vehicle inspection, the owner needs to bring their ID card and a copy, the compulsory insurance policy, the driving license, and the vehicle.

[StJeremiah]

I remember checking the annual inspection regulations before replacing the shock absorbers last time. If the replacement shock absorbers are exactly the same model as the original factory ones, it generally doesn’t affect the inspection. However, if you modify with lowering springs or coilovers that reduce the ride height, it becomes a big problem. When the vehicle inspection station measures the ground clearance and finds it significantly lower than the factory data, they will directly fail the inspection. A friend of mine opted for cheap, unbranded products and ended up unable to even drive onto the lighting inspection line during the annual check. My advice is to keep the original shock absorbers if you plan to modify, and swap them back before the inspection—it only takes about two hours to reinstall. Also, driving with lowered suspension daily makes it easier to scrape the chassis over speed bumps and leads to much faster tire wear.

[CoreyFitz]

Actually, I've researched shock absorber replacement. Annual inspections mainly focus on three points: whether the vehicle height exceeds standards, if the suspension structure has been modified, and if the spring parameters are abnormal. The new inspection regulations clearly state that modifications causing overall vehicle height changes exceeding ±5cm will fail. Last time at the repair shop, I saw two cases: one with KYB shocks of OEM specifications passed easily, while a modified air suspension Volkswagen CC got rejected outright. If you're replacing shocks, remember to keep the original parts and get a formal work order from the repair shop to prove it's an OEM-level replacement. Never skip wheel alignment after modification - vehicles with alignment issues can't pass the brake test during inspection.

[HaydenLee]

I just had my shocks replaced last year. As long as the springs and ride height remain unchanged, standard shock absorber replacement won't affect the annual inspection. During the DMV inspection, they mainly check brakes, lights, and emissions - they don't even look at OEM-replacement shocks. However, those who lower their cars should be careful; I've seen inspectors measure the distance from the hub center to the wheel arch with a tape measure. Remember to get an alignment after changing shocks, otherwise you'll get severe tire wear and risk failing the tread depth check during inspection. I recommend buying genuine shocks with warranty - cheap knockoffs may leak and cause suspension noises during the inspection, requiring rework.