How Many Years After the Vehicle's Initial Exemption from Inspection Does It Need to Be Inspected?
2 Answers
After the initial six-year exemption from inspection, vehicles need to undergo on-site inspections. For non-commercial private vehicles with fewer than nine seats, from six to ten years of use, they must be inspected every two years. From ten to fifteen years of use, they must be inspected annually. Vehicle annual inspection (or motor vehicle annual inspection) refers to the annual examination of vehicles that have already obtained official license plates and registration certificates, conducted according to the technical conditions for safe operation of motor vehicles. The purpose of the vehicle annual inspection is to check the main technical conditions of the vehicle, encourage enhanced maintenance and upkeep, ensure the vehicle is always in good condition, and guarantee driving safety. The annual inspection of motor vehicles is divided into the initial annual inspection and regular annual inspection.
I was also quite curious when I first bought my car. For the first 6 years, new cars are exempt from inspection, meaning you don’t need to go through an on-site test. You just need to collect an inspection sticker every two years via an app or at the vehicle management office. However, once the exemption period ends, starting from the 7th year, you’ll need to undergo an on-site inspection every two years, checking all safety components like brakes and lights. After 10 years, the inspection frequency increases to once a year, and for cars over 15 years old, it becomes every six months. I recommend new car owners to note down their car’s purchase year to avoid missing deadlines. A fine of 100-200 RMB is minor, but the real trouble comes if a malfunction leads to an accident. Last year, I forgot to inspect my car and had to pay over 300 RMB extra—luckily, nothing serious happened. Regular maintenance of tires and the engine can save you inspection hassles. Honestly, this policy makes sense—safety comes first as cars age, so just remember to check your car’s condition periodically.
