How Long Does a Vehicle Inspection Take?
3 Answers
Generally, a vehicle inspection can be completed on the same day. The exact time in hours depends on the efficiency of the inspection process. The inspection includes checking the exterior, exhaust emissions, lights, brakes, and other items, which usually does not take very long. Inspecting a single vehicle takes approximately 8 minutes. However, when there are many vehicles in the queue, the waiting time can be at least two to three hours. The number of vehicles undergoing annual inspections tends to be lower in the first half of each month, and inspections can be conducted up to three months in advance. According to Article 16 of the "Regulations for the Implementation of the Road Traffic Safety Law," motor vehicles must undergo annual inspections on time. The specific requirements are as follows: For commercial passenger vehicles, inspections must be conducted once a year within the first 5 years, and once every 6 months thereafter. For trucks and large or medium-sized non-commercial passenger vehicles, inspections must be conducted once a year within the first 10 years, and once every 6 months thereafter. For small and mini non-commercial passenger vehicles, inspections must be conducted once every 2 years within the first 6 years, once a year thereafter, and once every 6 months after 15 years. For motorcycles, inspections must be conducted once every 2 years within the first 4 years, and once a year thereafter. Tractors and other motor vehicles must undergo inspections once a year. If a commercial motor vehicle passes the safety technical inspection within the specified period, it does not need to undergo the inspection again.
Just accompanied a friend to the vehicle inspection station two days ago, and the whole process took over two hours. Actually, the inspection itself only takes about half an hour, but the majority of time is spent waiting in line. I strongly advise against going at the end of the month or on weekends—I've seen people wait for four hours. The easiest way is to arrive right when they open at 8 AM. Make sure to bring your vehicle registration, original insurance policy, and reflective warning triangle (some places also require a fire extinguisher). If your car has aftermarket parts like oversized rims or spoilers, remove them beforehand; otherwise, you'll waste time removing them on-site. Also, remember to settle any traffic fines in advance—last year I had to make an extra trip because of this. Lastly, keep in mind that inspection stations close for lunch, so avoid the period from 11:30 AM to 1 PM.
I usually get my car inspected done within 90 minutes by using this trick: mobile appointment! Search for the local DMV's official WeChat account and book the earliest time slot. Preparation is crucial: top up the windshield washer fluid, adjust tire pressure to standard, and check if the brake pads are thick enough. Last week, my neighbor Lao Zhang failed the emissions test and had to pay extra for last-minute help from a fixer. Nowadays, inspection stations have self-service payment machines, but it's still wise to bring enough cash as some items are troublesome to pay by card. Based on my experience, avoid the post-Spring Festival return peak and summer vacation periods - Wednesdays and Thursdays are the least crowded.
