How often should a passenger car be inspected after 6 years?
2 Answers
For passenger cars, the inspection frequency is once a year after 6 years, once every 2 years within the first 6 years, and twice a year after 15 years. Annual inspection refers to a comprehensive safety check conducted every year or every two years, covering aspects such as the horn, brakes, axle weight, chassis, ignition system, lighting system, exhaust system, and license plate installation. According to Article 16 of the Implementation Regulations of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China, motor vehicles must undergo safety technical inspections according to the following schedule from the date of registration: 1. For commercial passenger vehicles, inspections are required once a year within the first 5 years, and once every 6 months after 5 years; 2. For trucks and large or medium-sized non-commercial passenger vehicles, inspections are required once a year within the first 10 years, and once every 6 months after 10 years.
I just went through the annual inspection cycle for my car, and the rules changed after 6 years. For the first 6 years, new cars only need to apply for a free inspection sticker every two years, but in the 6th year, they must undergo an on-site test for emissions, brakes, and other items. That time, I spent almost the whole day waiting in line at the inspection station to get it done. Then, the inspector told me that I’d have to come back two years later, in the 8th year, and again two years after that, in the 10th year, for another on-site test. Essentially, after 6 years, you have to visit the inspection station every two years, which is quite a hassle. However, in the 7th and 9th years, no on-site test is required—just a few clicks on the traffic management app 12123 to renew the electronic sticker. This policy was actually updated in 2020; before that, cars had to undergo annual on-site inspections after 6 years. Oh, and after 10 years, it gets even stricter: yearly on-site inspections are mandatory, and for cars older than 15 years, inspections are required every six months. Be sure to check the date on your vehicle registration to avoid penalties for overdue inspections.
