How Often Should Vehicles Undergo Inspection?

[Noelle]

Vehicles must undergo inspection once a year. For vehicles over 10 years old, inspection is required every 6 months. Small and micro non-commercial passenger vehicles within 6 years of use must be inspected every 2 years; those over 6 years old require annual inspection, and those over 15 years old must be inspected every 6 months. If a motor vehicle fails to obtain a valid inspection certificate for three consecutive inspection cycles after the expiration of its inspection validity period, it will be mandatorily scrapped. Vehicles that do not undergo annual inspections on time not only compromise driving safety but also, according to the Road Traffic Safety Law, will result in a fine of 200 yuan and 3 demerit points for the driver. In the event of any traffic accidents caused by a vehicle that has not undergone timely annual inspection, the responsible party will bear full or primary liability, and the insurance company will not assume any responsibility.

[StQuinn]

I’ve been driving this old car for almost ten years, so I’m very familiar with the vehicle inspection cycle. For passenger cars, you only need to collect the inspection label online every two years in the first six years without going to the testing line. However, the 6th and 10th years require an on-site inspection at the testing station. After that, you must report to the inspection station every year without fail. My SUV is exactly at the 10-year mark this year, and I just queued up last month to get the lights and emissions tested. Special note: the new regulations have abolished the policy of semi-annual inspections after 15 years, now unifying it to annual inspections after 10 years. Commercial vehicles and vans are calculated separately, so it’s best to check your vehicle’s inspection schedule in advance on the traffic management app 12123.

[VonFelix]

I remember being confused by the annual inspection when I bought my first car, but now I finally understand it. Private passenger cars are divided into three stages: for the first 6 years, you only need to collect the inspection-exempt sticker; the first on-site inspection happens in the 6th year, followed by 4 years with no inspection required, and then another on-site inspection at the 10th year. After 10 years, the car enters its "senior years," requiring an annual inspection every 12 months. Motorcycles are simpler, needing only two on-site inspections in the 6th and 10th years during the first 10 years. Trucks and buses are much more troublesome, requiring an inspection every year, so you need to pay special attention to the inspection cycle when buying a used commercial vehicle.

[LaneFitz]

The most dreaded part of the vehicle inspection cycle is misremembering the deadlines. For mainstream private cars, the process is divided into three stages: Years 1-6 involve online application for exemption from physical inspection; both the 6th and 10th years require mandatory in-person vehicle inspections; vehicles older than 10 years must undergo annual inspections at testing stations. Remember to keep your vehicle license and insurance policy handy, and modified vehicles must be restored to their original condition before inspection. Applications can be submitted up to three months in advance—I always set double reminders on my phone calendar. If you miss the deadline and are caught driving without inspection, expect fines plus vehicle impoundment until the inspection is completed.

[VonJosephine]

Just helped my neighbor deal with an overdue vehicle inspection issue. Under the 2023 new regulations: for the first six years, new cars need to apply for an electronic inspection label via the traffic management APP every two years, with the first on-site emission and light test occurring in the sixth year. The key turning point is at the tenth year, after which inspections are required annually. Electric vehicles face stricter battery inspection requirements, and tire tread depth below 1.6mm results in immediate failure. Inspection stations are always equipped with adhesive removers, as window tint with less than 70% light transmittance must be removed on the spot. It's advisable to schedule inspections during off-peak seasons in winter or summer to avoid two-hour queues.