How often should vehicles be inspected after 15 years?
2 Answers
For vehicles over 15 years old, they must undergo inspection every six months. According to the new inspection regulations, new vehicles within 6 years are exempt from physical inspection twice (inspection marks need to be applied for every two years without requiring the vehicle to undergo on-site testing). At the 6th and 8th years, the vehicle must undergo on-site testing. For private cars over 10 years old, the original inspection cycle still applies: vehicles between 10 and 15 years old must be inspected once a year, and those over 15 years old must be inspected every six months. The owner of the motor vehicle can apply for the inspection mark at the vehicle management office where the vehicle is registered within three months before the expiration of the current inspection period. Article 15 of the "Regulations for the Implementation of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China" stipulates that motor vehicle safety technical inspections shall be conducted by motor vehicle safety technical inspection institutions. These institutions must inspect motor vehicles according to national safety technical inspection standards and bear legal responsibility for the inspection results. According to Article 16 of the "Regulations for the Implementation of the Road Traffic Safety Law": motor vehicles must undergo safety technical inspections according to the following periods from the date of registration: passenger vehicles for commercial use must be inspected once a year within 5 years; if over 5 years, they must be inspected every 6 months; trucks and large or medium-sized non-commercial passenger vehicles must be inspected once a year within 10 years; if over 10 years, they must be inspected every 6 months; small and mini non-commercial passenger vehicles are exempt from inspection for 6 years, with inspection marks applied for every two years. Starting from November 20, 2020, non-commercial mini and micro passenger vehicles with 7-9 seats (excluding vans) are included in the exemption range.
After driving my old car for over 15 years, according to regulations, it now requires a biannual inspection. I remember being quite surprised during my first visit to the testing station, as new cars only needed an annual check before. The increased frequency is for safety reasons: older car parts wear out faster, with components like turn signals and brake discs being prone to issues. I've developed a habit of monthly self-checks, inspecting tire pressure and looking for oil leaks, and replacing wiper blades and checking lights before inspections. Booking an appointment saves time, avoiding long queues that could waste half a day. The cost isn't high, around a hundred yuan each time, but the key is avoiding fines or accidents. Chatting with mechanics has been helpful; they recommend paying extra attention to emission standards for older cars, with regular air filter cleanings helping pass tests quicker. Sticking to these practices makes driving much more reassuring. After all, safety is no small matter.
