How early can the motor vehicle annual inspection sticker be obtained?
3 Answers
According to Article 40 of Order No. 102 of the Ministry of Public Security of the People's Republic of China, the owner of a motor vehicle may apply for the inspection compliance sticker at the vehicle management office of the registration location up to three months before the expiration of the motor vehicle's inspection validity period. Before applying: The owner of the motor vehicle must settle all road traffic violations and accidents related to the vehicle. Notes: When applying, the owner of the motor vehicle should fill out the application form and submit the vehicle license, the compulsory traffic accident liability insurance certificate, and the motor vehicle safety technical inspection compliance certificate. The vehicle management office should, within one day from the date of acceptance, confirm the motor vehicle, review the submitted certificates and documents, and issue the inspection compliance sticker.
As a veteran driver with over 20 years of experience, I should have planned the collection time for the annual inspection sticker well in advance. I remember two years ago, being busy with work, I dragged it until just one week before expiration to visit the inspection station. The result was wasting half a day in long queues and almost causing trouble. Now, the regulations allow vehicle owners to start processing and collecting the annual inspection sticker up to 90 days before its expiration, providing a three-month lead time. This timeframe is reasonable, giving car owners ample time to arrange for vehicle inspection, just bring the vehicle license and ID card to designated stations. Driving with an expired sticker will result in a 200 yuan fine and penalty points—safety first, after all. I recommend avoiding holiday rushes and handling it early to save both trouble and money.
As a busy office worker who hates running errands and waiting in line, I find the annual inspection and label process super convenient now. You can use the Traffic Management 12123 App to make an appointment up to 90 days in advance. Just open the app, upload photos of your vehicle license, and submit the appointment request. The electronic label is directly generated in the system, so no need to collect a physical sticker. The whole process takes just 10 minutes, avoiding the risk of expiration and the hassle of offline procedures. The cost is also affordable, just a few dozen yuan. The three-month buffer period provides enough flexibility to adjust in case of unexpected events. Download the app and give it a try—it’s incredibly efficient.
