How long can a vehicle's annual inspection be overdue without consequences?
4 Answers
Vehicle annual inspections must not exceed the stipulated time frame. The inspection can be conducted up to 3 months in advance or delayed by 1 month. If the inspection is overdue by 2 months, the driver will be fined 200 yuan and penalized with 3 demerit points. In the event of a traffic accident involving a vehicle with an expired inspection, the insurance company has the right to refuse compensation. Vehicle annual inspection refers to a mandatory test for all vehicles that have obtained official license plates and registration certificates. It helps promptly eliminate potential safety hazards, encourages better vehicle maintenance, and reduces the occurrence of traffic accidents. The procedure for an out-of-town entrusted inspection requires the vehicle owner to apply to the vehicle management office at the original registration location annually before proceeding with the inspection.
I just experienced this last month. Once your annual inspection expires, it's best not to drive on the road. Strictly speaking, even one day overdue is unacceptable. I had a friend who was stopped after driving just two days past expiration—got fined 200 yuan and had 3 points deducted. Nowadays, no one dares to claim there's a grace period where expired inspections are overlooked. In places like Beijing, you might get a day or two to rectify it, but elsewhere, it entirely depends on how strict the traffic police are. Honestly, the risk of delaying is too great. If an accident happens, the insurance company might refuse to pay a single cent, leaving you to cover tens of thousands in repair costs—that's real trouble. My advice: if you discover it's expired, park the car immediately and don't move it. Just call a tow truck to take it straight to the inspection station. Otherwise, you're only setting yourself up for loss.
This is really not something to be careless about. You must go and handle the annual inspection label on the very day it expires. A relative of mine back in my hometown thought it wouldn't be a problem to exceed the deadline by a few days, but on the third day, they were caught by a speed camera on the highway, and a ticket was directly mailed to their home with points deducted. Nowadays, the traffic police systems are all interconnected. Don't even think about exceeding by a few days; even an hour over will be recorded. Moreover, delaying the inspection isn't good for the car's condition either. What if there's an issue with the brakes or tires that you're unaware of? Going to the inspection station early can save you a lot of trouble. If you go late, you'll end up waiting in longer lines, and for a late inspection, you'll have to pay all the overdue fines first.
I suggest not taking any chances. Legally, the annual inspection can be done up to 90 days before the expiration date. Delaying it until the actual expiration date itself indicates a lack of attention. Last week, my colleague drove to work on the morning of the expiration date and got checked, resulting in a fine. The financial penalty is minor, but the main issue is the impact on the eligibility for car insurance claims. If you really must drive, try to avoid main urban roads and highways, but the risk is yours to bear.
