How Long is a Vehicle Inspection Valid After Expiration?
3 Answers
Vehicle annual inspections must be completed within 90 days before the inspection validity period indicated on the vehicle's driving license. If the inspection is overdue, the vehicle will not be allowed on the road. If caught by traffic police on-site or during an annual inspection, the penalty will be a 3-point deduction and a fine of 200 yuan. The following are issues that arise from not conducting an annual vehicle inspection: 1. Accidents involving vehicles with overdue inspections will not be covered by insurance. According to the 'Motor Vehicle Third Party Liability Insurance Clauses,' if an accident occurs while the insured vehicle has not undergone the required annual inspection, fails the inspection, or lacks other valid driving documents, the insurer will not be liable for compensation. 2. Vehicles without an annual inspection will be impounded and fined. For vehicles that have not undergone an annual inspection, traffic police can impose a fine of 200 yuan and a 3-point penalty under the 'Road Traffic Safety Law,' and the vehicle will also be temporarily impounded.
My car's annual inspection expired a few days ago, and I consulted a friend at a professional repair shop. He told me that once the vehicle's annual inspection expires, it immediately becomes invalid with no grace period. This means the car can no longer be legally driven on the road, including parking on public roads. According to traffic regulations, the length of the overdue period determines the severity of the penalty: being just a few days overdue might result in only a verbal warning or a small fine, such as 100-200 RMB; exceeding one month increases the fine to over 500 RMB, possibly with points deducted; if delayed for over six months, the vehicle could be impounded or the license plate suspended in severe cases, even affecting insurance claims—in the event of an accident, the insurer might refuse coverage. Safety-wise, key components like brakes and lights haven’t been inspected after expiration, making driving highly risky. I recommend owners regularly check the inspection date, set phone reminders, and stop driving immediately if overdue to get it rechecked. The re-inspection process is simple: bring all required documents to the inspection station and complete it in a few hours. Don’t underestimate this—it protects you and avoids trouble.
Last summer, I forgot my car's annual inspection date and ended up being overdue by half a month. When I drove to the supermarket, I was pulled over by traffic police, issued a ticket, and fined 400 yuan, which really stung. Later, I rushed to get the inspection done, but still had to queue for half a day—costing both money and time. The lesson I learned is that there's absolutely no leniency for overdue car inspections, not even a single day. Handling it quickly results in a smaller fine, but delaying leads to heftier penalties and even risks having your car impounded. Now, I stick the inspection reminder on my fridge and start preparing a month in advance. I advise new car owners to pay attention to this detail too—don’t be as careless as I was. The inspection isn’t just a formality; it’s about safety. Driving an old car with issues can cause bigger problems on the road. During the reinspection, they also check the brakes and lights to ensure everything is in order.
