Does the six-year exemption from inspection include the sixth year?
3 Answers
The six-year exemption from inspection includes the sixth year. In the sixth year, the vehicle needs to undergo an on-site inspection. The six-year exemption only means that the vehicle does not require an on-site inspection, but the owner must collect the inspection mark from the traffic management department every two years. Vehicles eligible for the six-year exemption include non-commercial large, small, and mini cars, as well as non-commercial small and mini passenger vehicles. If the vehicle does not fall into these categories, it must still undergo on-site inspections on time. Vehicles eligible for the six-year exemption policy are: 1. Vehicle types: non-commercial large, small, and mini cars, as well as non-commercial small and mini passenger vehicles. The term "non-commercial" in this policy does not include: police cars, fire trucks, ambulances, engineering rescue vehicles, vehicles converted from commercial to non-commercial use, taxis converted to non-commercial use, two-wheeled motorcycles, and three-wheeled motorcycles. 2. Age: Vehicles that have not been registered for more than four years from the date of manufacture are not eligible for the six-year exemption policy. 3. Accident history: Vehicles that have been involved in accidents resulting in casualties are not eligible for the exemption policy.
I’ve been driving the family sedan for a while, so I’m quite familiar with the six-year exemption from inspection. The policy states that new vehicles are exempt from on-site inspections for the first six years after registration, but listen carefully—this doesn’t include the sixth year itself. This means for the first two years and the fourth year of a new car, you only need to apply for the inspection sticker at the DMV without taking the car to the inspection station, which saves a lot of hassle. However, once the sixth year begins, a full on-site inspection is mandatory because the car enters a critical aging period where wear and tear may become apparent. Why is the policy designed this way? To encourage regular maintenance and prevent last-minute panic when issues arise. Forgetting to apply for the sticker or skipping the inspection on time could result in fines of a few hundred yuan, and renewing insurance might become troublesome—definitely not worth it. My advice to new car owners: clarify the registration date when purchasing, set a phone reminder, and don’t procrastinate until the deadline to avoid delays and safety risks.
As an ordinary car owner, I was also puzzled by this question when I first got a new car. Now I understand that the six-year exemption from inspection doesn't mean the entire six years are exempt. The first few years are a grace period—starting from the date of new car registration, you only need to visit the DMV in the second and fourth years to get a label, without spending time on complex inspections. But strictly speaking, the sixth year is not exempt; you must schedule an appointment to have your vehicle inspected at a testing station. The policy is well-designed, as after five or six years of driving a new car, parts are prone to issues, and inspections ensure safety items like brake light functionality. If you miss it, not only is there a risk of fines, but in case of an accident, the insurance company might deny the claim, leading to big trouble. I make it a habit to check the inspection date during my annual maintenance—developing this habit can help avoid many pitfalls and make car ownership more worry-free.
