Does the vehicle need to undergo an inspection in the sixth year?
4 Answers
Vehicles do need to undergo an inspection in the sixth year. The exemption from inspection within six years refers to non-operational passenger cars and other small and mini passenger vehicles being exempt from on-site inspections within six years, but owners are still required to regularly apply for the annual inspection sticker. In the second and fourth years after purchasing a new car, owners need to bring the vehicle registration certificate and a valid compulsory traffic insurance policy to the vehicle management office to apply for the inspection sticker. Alternatively, they can apply for the annual inspection sticker online and choose to have it delivered by courier. Before the sixth-year inspection is due, the owner must take the vehicle to an inspection station for an on-site inspection. Upon passing the inspection, the annual inspection sticker can be obtained. If the vehicle fails to obtain the inspection sticker within three consecutive inspection cycles after the expiration of the inspection validity period, it will be subject to mandatory scrapping.
I remember last year when my car reached its sixth year, it had to undergo an inspection at the testing station. The policy is as follows: for the first two years after purchasing a new car, you only need to collect the inspection sticker every two years without an on-site inspection; the same applies for the third and fourth years. However, starting from the fifth year, by the sixth year, you must undergo a formal on-site inspection. This is because after five or six years of driving, car parts begin to age, and if the brakes fail or the lights don’t work, it could endanger both yourself and others on the road. The testing station will check the brightness of the lights, brake performance, emission standards, and tire wear, among other things. The cost is approximately 50 to 100 yuan, depending on the region. I booked an early appointment and spent 60 yuan, completing it in an hour. If the car fails the inspection, you’ll need to repair it and try again. Don’t delay—if you miss the inspection deadline, you’ll be fined 200 yuan and deducted 3 points, and you’re more likely to be pulled over for a check on the road.
When my first used car reached its sixth year, I personally took it to the inspection station for the mandatory annual test. The process was quite straightforward: drive to the designated bay, where technicians check if the headlights and turn signals are functioning properly, whether the brake response is quick enough, and if the exhaust smoke opacity meets the standards. It took about 40 minutes, cost 50 yuan, and upon passing, I received a new inspection sticker. If there were issues like tire wear or minor part damage, they could be fixed on the spot or addressed during a follow-up visit. Regulations require six-year-old vehicles to undergo this inspection. I recommend going on a weekday morning when it's less crowded, bringing the vehicle license and insurance documents. The inspection can promptly uncover hidden dangers—for example, my old car was found to have a cloudy headlight cover, which I fixed before feeling confident about long-distance drives.
The mandatory vehicle inspection in the sixth year primarily checks the brightness and stability of the lighting system, braking performance including parking and deceleration, whether exhaust emissions exceed standards, and the condition of the chassis suspension. These components wear out over time: brake pads thin out or filaments age, increasing the risk factor. Inspection stations use instruments to measure specific values, and failure to meet standards results in rejection. Timely inspections can prevent accidents and are cost-effective.
