How Long Overdue is Considered Exceeding the Deadline for 2021 Vehicle Annual Inspection?
3 Answers
According to the 2021 regulations, a vehicle's annual inspection is considered overdue if it exceeds the deadline by even one day. As per the "Motor Vehicle Registration Regulations," all traffic violations of the vehicle must be settled before the annual inspection. Any inspection conducted after the expiration of the annual inspection period is deemed overdue. The inspection can be conducted up to 3 months in advance or delayed by 1 month. According to the "Implementation Regulations of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China," if the inspection is delayed by 2 months, the driver will be penalized with a 3-point deduction from their driving license and a fine of 200 yuan. According to the "Implementation Regulations of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China," non-commercial vehicles are exempt from on-site inspections for the first 6 years, requiring only an application for an inspection mark every two years. For vehicles over 6 years but under 10 years old, inspections are required every two years, meaning private cars only need two on-site inspections within 10 years, specifically in the 6th and 8th years. Private cars aged 10-15 years require an annual inspection, while those over 15 years old require inspections every six months. Commercial passenger vehicles require annual inspections within the first 5 years and inspections every six months thereafter. Trucks and large or medium-sized non-commercial passenger vehicles require annual inspections within the first 10 years and inspections every six months thereafter. Motorcycles require inspections every two years within the first 4 years and annual inspections thereafter. According to the "Implementation Regulations of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China," the main items of vehicle annual inspection include: Exterior Inspection: Primarily checks vehicle lights, body appearance, suspension, sunroof, and tires. It verifies whether the lights are functioning correctly, if there are any non-working lights, if the body color has been altered, and if the suspension has been modified. Emission Inspection: Checks whether the vehicle's tailpipe emissions meet national standards during high-speed operation. On-site Inspection: Focuses on the vehicle's braking system, headlights, horn, and chassis. Violation Check: Before the annual inspection, all traffic violation records of the vehicle must be cleared to pass the inspection. Vehicle annual inspections can be conducted up to 90 days in advance but must not be overdue. According to the "Implementation Regulations of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China," the consequences of overdue inspections are as follows: Vehicles that fail to undergo the annual inspection on time are not allowed on the road. Driving an overdue vehicle on the road results in a 3-point deduction from the driving license and a fine of 200 yuan. If an accident occurs involving a vehicle that has not undergone the annual inspection, the driver bears full or primary responsibility, and the insurance company will not cover the damages. Driving an overdue vehicle is considered illegal and may result in the vehicle being impounded.
As a car owner registered in 2021, you can't be careless about exceeding the deadline. The annual inspection expiration date usually corresponds to the month and day of the vehicle's registration date. Even if you exceed the deadline by just one day, it's considered fully overdue. According to traffic regulations, driving on the road at this time will result in a fine of 200 yuan and 3 demerit points, and the vehicle may also be impounded. I remember I forgot once and was stopped by traffic police just one day after the deadline—it was a big lesson. New cars are exempt from inspection for the first 6 years, but you still need to apply for the inspection decal. Cars registered in 2021 may already be subject to annual inspections, so it's best to handle the inspection 30 days before the deadline—don’t wait until the last minute. If you forget, the insurance company might deny your claim, and you’d have to pay for repairs out of pocket, which would be a huge loss. In short, setting a phone reminder is the safest bet—safety comes first.
As an elderly driver with decades of experience, I can tell you there's absolutely no grace period for overdue vehicle inspections - it's strictly based on the expiration date. For a 2021 car (if purchased that year), while exempt from physical inspection for the first few years as a new vehicle, you still must complete the paperwork. Even being half a day late counts as a violation. I've seen friends get penalized - they forgot to go on the due date and were fined the very next day, with the straightforward reason being 'failure to conduct timely inspection'. In practice, inspection stations may give you some scheduling flexibility due to high volumes, but officially the regulations have zero tolerance. Don't wait - check the vehicle management app in advance to confirm deadlines. At my age with failing memory, I rely on written reminders. Overdue inspections compromise safety - aging tires and brakes can develop issues, leading to costlier repairs. Make it a habit to complete inspections early for peace of mind.
