How long can the 2021 vehicle inspection be postponed?
2 Answers
The vehicle inspection can be postponed for up to three months. Article 49 of the Motor Vehicle Registration Regulations clearly stipulates that the owner of a motor vehicle can apply for an inspection compliance mark at the vehicle management office of the registration location within three months before the expiration of the motor vehicle inspection validity period. Before applying for the inspection, the owner must resolve all traffic violations and accidents related to the vehicle. Relevant information: If the vehicle fails to undergo the required safety technical inspection within the specified period, the public security traffic management department will issue a warning or impose a fine. Only after paying the fine can the annual inspection be conducted. The content of the annual inspection includes: verifying the presence of the vehicle user manual and certificate, checking the completeness of factory inspection marks on the vehicle body, measuring the internal and external dimensions, wheelbase, and axle track of the motor vehicle, and conducting inspections item by item according to technical standards.
As a car owner, I remember that in 2021, the vehicle inspection postponement was usually up to about a month, because most local DMVs allowed a one-month grace period. If you missed the original date, you could still make it up in time to avoid fines. However, due to the impact of the pandemic that year, the situation was special, and many provinces and cities allowed extensions of up to three months or even half a year—specific details depended on local announcements. At that time, I checked our city’s transportation bureau’s official website and found a policy stating that overdue inspections would be exempt from penalties until the end of the year. But don’t delay too long; if you’re more than two months late, you might face a 200-yuan fine and 3 demerit points when driving, and your car insurance could become invalid, which would be troublesome in case of an accident. I recommend checking the date on your vehicle license a month in advance and making an appointment through an app or calling the 12345 service hotline for inquiries. This saves time and hassle while ensuring safe driving.
