How Long Can You Overdue the Annual Inspection?
3 Answers
Annual inspection cannot be overdue, and even one day late will result in corresponding penalties. The annual inspection can be conducted up to three months in advance, but cannot be postponed. If a vehicle fails the inspection and is caught by traffic police, the driver will be penalized with a deduction of three points and a fine of up to 200 yuan. For any traffic accidents caused by vehicles that have not undergone the annual inspection on time, the responsible party will bear the primary liability, and the insurance company will not be held accountable. The items inspected during the annual inspection include: 1. Checking whether the engine, chassis, body, and their accessories are clean, complete, and effective, whether the paint surface is uniform and aesthetically pleasing, whether the main assemblies have been replaced, and whether they match the initial inspection records; 2. Verifying whether the vehicle's braking performance, lighting, exhaust, and other safety features comply with relevant regulations; 3. Checking whether the vehicle has been modified, altered, or reconstructed, and whether the driving license, license plate, and all registered vehicle records match the actual condition of the vehicle; 4. Inspecting whether the license plate, driving license, and the enlarged license plate characters printed on the vehicle are damaged, altered, or have unclear handwriting.
Annual vehicle inspection is not something to be taken lightly. After driving for so many years, I've never heard of anyone getting away with an overdue inspection. According to the rules, your vehicle is considered overdue on the very day the inspection expires, even if it's just one hour late, and it shouldn't be driven on the road. A friend of mine was three days overdue and got pulled over by traffic police immediately. He was fined 200 yuan with 3 penalty points deducted on the spot, and had to call a tow truck to take the car to the inspection station, wasting half a day. If the inspection is overdue for more than three months, the vehicle management office will forcibly cancel the vehicle's registration record, and there won't be any chance for a late inspection then. There's also the insurance issue—if an accident happens during this period, the insurance company will definitely refuse to pay, leading to even greater losses. So when you see your vehicle license is about to expire, make an appointment immediately and don't take any chances.
There is no grace period for annual vehicle inspections. I specifically asked a traffic police friend, and legally, you're not allowed to drive even one day past the due date. Last year, a colleague forgot to get the inspection done and was overdue by half a month. As a result, the car was caught by an electronic eye at a highway checkpoint—not only was there a fine and points deducted, but the vehicle was also impounded at the inspection station. Here’s a key point to note: every day past the due date accumulates risk. If you exceed three months without inspection, the vehicle’s records are directly voided, effectively turning it into an unregistered vehicle, making transfers or scrapping difficult. Moreover, annual inspections aren’t just about traffic regulations; they’re crucial for safety checks—issues like worn-out brakes or faulty lights can be serious hazards if not detected in time. It’s advisable to set a phone reminder and start preparing at least a month in advance to be on the safe side.
