How often should a private car be inspected after several years?
3 Answers
Private cars require annual inspection after exceeding 6 years. According to Article 16 of the "Regulations for the Implementation of the Road Traffic Safety Law", small and micro non-operating passenger vehicles must undergo biennial inspections within the first 6 years. After exceeding 6 years, annual inspections are required, and after exceeding 15 years, inspections are required every 6 months. Below are the new regulations for private vehicle inspections: 1. Additional inspection step: The online inspection process for private cars now includes a "safety defect recall" check. If the vehicle has safety issues subject to manufacturer recall, inspectors will notify the owner. 2. Clarified exterior inspection scope: The new regulations explicitly relax exterior inspection standards, permitting modifications to grilles, pedals, roof racks, bumpers, and wheel hubs during exterior checks.
Many people are concerned about the annual inspection cycle for private cars. Having driven for over a decade, my own car has gone through several inspection policy changes. Specifically, for the first 6 years of a new car, you only need to apply for an inspection label online every two years without physically taking the vehicle to a testing station. However, when the car reaches its 6th and 8th year, it must undergo an on-site inspection at the testing center. The key point comes at the 10-year mark - from then on, the vehicle requires annual inspections. That means starting from the 11th year, you'll need to take your car for inspection every year. This change requires special attention, as many drivers accustomed to the biennial inspection schedule might forget about the switch to annual inspections. For older vehicles over a decade old, remember to schedule your inspection within three months before the expiration month marked on the supplementary page of your vehicle license to avoid penalties for overdue inspections.
As someone who frequently helps friends with vehicle inspections, I'm particularly clear about this timeline. Private cars officially enter the annual inspection phase starting from the eleventh year, which is actually quite reasonable. After a car has been driven for over a decade, the risk of component aging increases, making it necessary to enhance inspection frequency. I remember last year when I helped my colleague inspect his 12-year-old Passat, it took three adjustments just to get the headlights up to standard. I recommend that owners check items like headlight brightness and brake pad thickness in advance after their vehicle reaches ten years of age, to avoid failing the first inspection. Nowadays, the Traffic Management 12123 APP allows for appointments to be made three months in advance, saving time by avoiding queues.
