How long is the validity period of the vehicle license?
2 Answers
The vehicle license is valid for a long term, but it still requires annual inspection. The inspection validity period is noted on the supplementary page, which essentially indicates the deadline for the annual inspection. Therefore, the validity period of the vehicle license is also tied to the annual inspection. Where to apply for the vehicle license: Embassies, consulates, and foreign-licensed vehicles should apply at the Vehicle Management Office. Other vehicles should apply at the branch office of the Vehicle Management Office corresponding to the residential address recorded in the identity proof of the vehicle owner. For Beijing B-licensed motorcycles, tricycles, low-speed trucks, and wheeled self-propelled machinery owned by individuals whose residential address is in a suburban county, the application should be made at the local Vehicle Management Station. Documents required for application: "Application Form for Replacement or Reissuance of Vehicle License Plates and Certificates," identity proof of the vehicle owner and the agent, the original license plate if it is illegible or one side is missing, and for replacement or reissuance of the vehicle license, a standard photo of the vehicle is also required.
I've been driving for almost 20 years, and there's actually no fixed validity period for the vehicle license. Unlike a driver's license, which has a clear expiration period of several years, the vehicle license remains valid as long as your car is in normal use—provided you complete the annual inspections on time. For example, in mainland China, new vehicles are exempt from on-site inspections for the first six years, but you still need to collect an inspection sticker from the DMV every two years and affix it to the car. After that, the vehicle must undergo a full inspection every two years, and the vehicle license information is updated upon passing. My own old car operates this way; once, I forgot the inspection and was stopped by traffic police, receiving a 200-yuan fine—a lesson learned. Remember, the vehicle license itself doesn’t need separate renewal, but if the inspection is overdue, the entire document becomes invalid, and driving a non-compliant vehicle could even affect insurance claims. In daily life, I recommend setting a phone reminder to avoid missing inspection deadlines, as this is ultimately a matter of safety.
