How often is the vehicle license subject to annual inspection?
2 Answers
Vehicle licenses are subject to annual inspection either every year or every two years. The inspection schedule for motor vehicle licenses is determined based on the vehicle type and its age, aiming to better regulate the use of licenses and promptly verify whether the license holder still meets the necessary conditions. The vehicle license is the legal document permitting a motor vehicle to operate on roads within China, consisting of a cover, main page, and supplementary page. The front of the main page contains the endorsed certificate core, while the back displays the vehicle's photo. The supplementary page includes another endorsed certificate core. Vehicle licenses are issued by the Vehicle Management Center and are used to verify the authenticity of vehicle information.
As an experienced car owner, I understand the importance of the annual inspection cycle for the vehicle license. For newly purchased cars, the first six years require an inspection every two years, meaning the first, third, and fifth years are exempt, but the second, fourth, and sixth years require an inspection. During the inspection, you must drive the car to the testing station for safety and environmental checks, such as verifying the functionality of the braking and lighting systems and ensuring the exhaust emissions meet standards. I recommend making an appointment in advance to avoid long queues and bringing all necessary documents, including the vehicle license, ID card, and compulsory traffic insurance policy. Failing to inspect on time may result in a fine of 200 to 500 RMB and 3 penalty points from traffic police. More seriously, the annual inspection sticker will become invalid, and insurance won’t cover accident losses. I once delayed the inspection but later set a phone reminder to handle it on time, avoiding trouble. After six years, the car must be inspected annually, and after ten years, every six months—the cycle becomes tighter, so safety should always come first, and delays are not advisable.
