How early can a motor vehicle undergo its annual inspection?
2 Answers
Motor vehicles can undergo their annual inspection up to 3 months in advance. For example, if a vehicle's inspection validity expires in September of this year, then the annual inspection period would be from July 1st to September 30th of this year. There are several ways to check the annual inspection time. The most straightforward method is to check the vehicle registration certificate and the electronic policy for compulsory traffic insurance, which contain the motor vehicle's registration date. The registration month is the month when the motor vehicle's annual inspection is due. Additionally, you can directly observe the annual inspection sticker, which displays the validity period of the inspection. Points to note about annual inspections: Vehicles that fail the annual inspection must be repaired within a specified time limit. If they still fail after the deadline, the vehicle management office will confiscate their license plates and prohibit them from continuing to operate. Vehicles that do not undergo the annual inspection without reason or fail the inspection are not allowed to drive on the road or transfer ownership. Vehicles that meet the scrapping conditions or have exceeded the prescribed service life will not be inspected, and their license plates will be revoked, their files canceled, and they will be scrapped.
I recently learned a lot while handling my car's annual inspection. You can do it up to three months in advance, anytime within three months before the expiration date. I chose to go one month early—there weren't many people, no queues at the inspection station, and the whole process took just half an hour. Why go early? If you wait until the last day and hit peak hours, you might waste half a day in line. Worse, if you drive with an expired inspection, you could face a 200-yuan fine, 3 penalty points, and issues with insurance claims. The annual inspection isn’t just a formality—it checks critical parts like brakes and lights to ensure road safety. I recommend setting a phone reminder and going within the three-month window before the due date—it’s hassle-free and gives peace of mind.
