How long can a vehicle's annual inspection be overdue without consequences?
2 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.
