Has the biennial inspection for 15-year-old vehicles been canceled?
3 Answers
Fifteen-year-old vehicles have not had their biennial inspections canceled. As of August 2019, 15-year-old vehicles still require inspections twice a year. According to China's vehicle inspection regulations, non-commercial vehicles with fewer than 6 seats are exempt from annual inspections for the first 6 years, require annual inspections after 6 years, and biennial inspections after 15 years. Below are the specific details regarding vehicle inspections: Commercial passenger vehicles: Annual inspection within the first 5 years; inspections every 6 months after exceeding 5 years. Trucks and large/medium non-commercial passenger vehicles: Annual inspection within the first 10 years; inspections every 6 months after exceeding 10 years. Small and micro non-commercial passenger vehicles: Biennial inspection within the first 6 years; annual inspection after exceeding 6 years; inspections every 6 months after exceeding 15 years. Motorcycles: Biennial inspection within the first 4 years; annual inspection after exceeding 4 years. Other motor vehicles: Annual inspection.
Having driven for most of my life, I remember how particularly troublesome the biannual inspections used to be, especially for cars over fifteen years old that had to visit the inspection station too many times. Now, the policy has really abolished that requirement. I heard it changed starting from 2020—even my old Ford, which is twenty years old, only needs an annual inspection. It saves a lot of time and effort. However, it's worth reminding that older cars are more prone to problems. I make it a habit to check the brakes and battery every quarter—safety first, don’t just rely on the annual inspection to slack off. The simplified policy is a good thing, but doing a bit more maintenance yourself is never wrong, lest you regret it too late if something happens on the road. Also, remember that emission tests have become stricter, and exhaust pipes age quickly—fixing them early brings peace of mind.
I've got a car that's been running for almost sixteen years at home. A friend told me the policy has changed, eliminating the requirement for biannual inspections—now just an annual check is enough, which is quite convenient. I tried it myself and it's indeed much easier, no more frequent leave-taking for inspections. But then again, older cars tend to have more issues. During my last annual inspection, the battery died on me, almost leaving me stranded. My advice is to pay attention to regular maintenance, check the tires and engine, and don't think skipping one inspection means you're worry-free. Also, emission standards are stricter now, and failing the tailpipe test in the city is a real hassle. I check the catalytic converter every six months—a small expense to avoid big troubles. Overall, the policy has improved, but car owners need to be more self-disciplined.
