How early can a private car's annual inspection be conducted?
2 Answers
According to regulations, the annual inspection should be applied for within 90 days (approximately 3 months) before the due date. Additionally, all traffic violations of the vehicle must be resolved before the annual inspection. Any inspection conducted after the expiration date is considered overdue. The following items are required for the vehicle's annual inspection: 1. Compulsory traffic insurance (CTPL): Before the annual inspection, check the validity period of the CTPL, which includes the vehicle and vessel tax. If it has expired or will expire within three months after the inspection date, it is recommended to renew it in advance. 2. ID card of the owner or the agent: The vehicle owner can attend the inspection in person or authorize someone else to do so, but the agent must carry their ID card; otherwise, the inspection cannot proceed. 3. Vehicle license: In addition to the agent's ID card, the vehicle's license is also required for the annual inspection; otherwise, the inspection cannot proceed.
I did my last annual vehicle inspection three months in advance, mainly because I didn't want to rush around before the expiration date. Generally, private car annual inspections can be applied for within 90 days before the expiry date. For example, if your inspection is due on December 31st, you can start the process from October 1st. The advantage of doing this is avoiding long queues during peak periods—there are far fewer people at the service stations, and you can also check for vehicle issues like lights and brakes while you're there. That time, I brought my driver's license, vehicle registration, and compulsory insurance policy in advance, and it only took 20 minutes to complete, saving me a lot of hassle. Remember to prepare complete copies of your documents just in case you're asked to redo anything. An early inspection doesn't affect the validity period—the new certificate starts from the original expiry date, so no time is wasted. I recommend planning ahead and not waiting until the last minute to regret it.
