How Long Does the Annual Vehicle Inspection Take?
3 Answers
Annual vehicle inspection periods are as follows: for passenger transport vehicles, once a year within five years, twice a year after five years; for freight transport vehicles, once a year within ten years, twice a year after ten years; for small cars, once every two years within six years, once a year from six to fifteen years, twice a year after fifteen years; for large vehicles, once a year. Documents required for vehicle inspection: Vehicle license, compulsory motor vehicle traffic accident liability insurance policy (copy), inspector's ID card, warning triangle, and fire extinguisher. Penalties: No fine will be imposed for being one day overdue. Vehicles overdue for less than one year can undergo a supplementary inspection without penalty. However, if the inspection is overdue for more than one year, a penalty of 3 points deducted and a fine of 200 yuan may be imposed, and the vehicle may be temporarily impounded.
I just had my annual vehicle inspection, and the time mainly depends on the queue length. The actual inspection process is quite fast, taking about 20 minutes to complete all items, including emissions, brakes, lighting tests, etc. But if you go during peak hours, like weekends or month-end, queuing for an hour is normal. I remember last time when I went in the morning with fewer people, it only took 30 minutes to finish everything; in the afternoon when it was crowded, I waited almost an hour. Try to avoid peak times if possible, and making an appointment can save time. The vehicle condition also matters—new cars usually go smoothly, while older ones require more checks, taking slightly longer. In short, setting aside 1 to 1.5 hours is usually enough without causing delays.
I was really startled during my first annual vehicle inspection, thinking the process would drag on forever, but it turned out queuing took up most of the time. I went at 10 AM on a weekday, and the inspection station was quite crowded—I waited over 40 minutes before it was my turn. The actual inspection only took 15 minutes and was done quickly. Later, I learned that making an appointment could shorten the wait, and you could check real-time queue status on an app. Vehicle type also matters; our compact car was processed faster, while larger SUVs took slightly longer. Next time, I'll go earlier or choose an off-peak season to avoid wasting time. For first-timers, I recommend bringing some patience—generally, it takes about 45 minutes to an hour in total, which isn’t too bad and won’t interfere with cooking dinner at home.
