
A car without annual inspection has no specified detention period. The vehicle can be retrieved after traffic violations are processed. Relevant regulations: According to Article 16 of the "Regulations for the Implementation of the Road Traffic Safety Law": Motor vehicles shall undergo safety technical inspections according to the following periods from the date of registration: Passenger vehicles for operational use shall be inspected once a year within 5 years; after exceeding 5 years, once every 6 months; Trucks and large/medium non-operational passenger vehicles shall be inspected once a year within 10 years; after exceeding 10 years, once every 6 months. Inspection cycle: Small and non-operational passenger vehicles are exempt from inspection for 6 years, requiring biennial inspection mark applications. Non-operational small/mini passenger vehicles (excluding vans) exceeding 6 years but under 10 years will have their inspection cycle relaxed from annual to biennial inspections.

















I've been driving for twenty years. I remember last year, an old friend of mine forgot his car's annual inspection and was directly stopped by traffic police, resulting in his car being impounded for a full 15 days. He regretfully said that he didn't handle it in time, was fined 500 yuan, and had 3 points deducted from his license. During those days, he had to take taxis to work every day, wasting a lot of money. The impoundment period is usually around 15 days, but you must promptly go to the traffic police station to complete the inspection and pay the fine to retrieve your car, otherwise, it could be held even longer. I recommend everyone set a reminder not to forget the annual inspection. It's not just about following the rules, but also about safety—for example, if your brake lights aren't working, it's easy to have an accident. It's really not worth the risk to save money.

As a new driver who just got my license, I'm most afraid of this kind of situation. A colleague mentioned that un-inspected vehicles caught by inspection usually get impounded for at least two weeks - he learned the hard way when his car was held for 15 days, forcing him to squeeze onto subways for half a month. Fines typically run several hundred yuan, plus possible point deductions that could raise next year's premiums. While impound periods aren't fixed, the average seems to be around 15 days for retrieval if handled promptly. I always remind myself to get timely inspections when driving. If I ever miss the deadline, I'd rather hire a chauffeur or rent a car temporarily than deal with the hassle.

I'm the one in charge of the car at home. Last time, my neighbor's car was impounded for 15 days because it hadn't passed the annual inspection, and his wife was so anxious that she could only on buses to pick up their kids. The traffic police said impounding the car is standard procedure, just to urge us to follow the rules. During the impoundment, you have to pay fines and complete the paperwork, wasting both time and money. I've taken this lesson to heart and now schedule the annual inspection a month in advance to avoid any last-minute issues. Safety comes first—getting your car impounded for a broken light is minor compared to the risk of an accident.

I drive to work every day, and the most annoying thing is an unexpected interruption to my trip. Once I neglected my annual inspection, and as a result, my car was impounded for about 15 days, fined 600 yuan, and points were deducted, causing me significant losses. During those days, I had to on shared bikes and buses, which was particularly inconvenient. The impoundment period usually ranges from 10 to 15 days, depending on the violation, but don't think it's short—it's enough to ruin a week's plans. Now I've developed a habit: the night before the annual inspection, I double-check the checklist to ensure all procedures are complete, avoiding the hassle of having my car impounded and disrupting my life.

From a safety perspective, if a vehicle is caught without an annual inspection, the traffic police will impound it for 15 days as a mandatory rectification period, which is the standard procedure. Failure to promptly address and complete the inspection may result in extended impoundment or even the vehicle being auctioned. I've experienced a similar situation where my car was impounded for half a month, and I had to pay a 500-yuan fine to resolve it. This serves as a reminder that annual inspections are not just about following rules but also about preventing potential hazards like tire wear and air leaks. I make it a habit to mark my calendar with regular reminders for the annual inspection to ensure both my own and others' peace of mind on the road.


