How to Check the Validity Period of Vehicle Annual Inspection?
3 Answers
Annual inspection validity period can be checked by looking at the vehicle license, inspection sticker, or compulsory insurance policy. Below are the detailed methods for checking the annual inspection validity period: Check the Vehicle License: Look at the vehicle license. At the bottom of the original copy, the registration date is listed. The month of the registration date is the month for the vehicle's annual inspection, with the deadline being the last day of that month. Additionally, a printed note on the duplicate copy states 'Inspection valid until XXXX/XX,' and the inspection can be done up to three months in advance (including the inspection month). Check the Inspection Sticker: On the white side of the annual inspection sticker, it is printed 'Inspection valid until XXXX/XX,' which indicates the final deadline month for the inspection. Similarly, it can be done up to three months in advance. Check the Compulsory Insurance Policy: The compulsory insurance policy includes the vehicle's registration date. As mentioned in the first point, the month of the registration date is the month when the vehicle needs to undergo the annual inspection.
I installed the Traffic Management 12123 app on my phone. After logging in, I clicked on 'My Vehicle' and it directly displayed the annual inspection deadline. This is the most accurate, as it shows real-time data from the traffic management system. Additionally, I usually check the annual inspection sticker on the upper right corner of the windshield—the expiration year and month are clearly printed there. If I really forget, I can always pull out the vehicle registration certificate, where the 'Inspection Validity' field is specifically printed on the supplementary page. Now, I’ve made it a habit to check at the beginning of each year to avoid forgetting later when work gets busy. A neighbor of mine was recently fined 200 yuan and had points deducted for overdue inspection—what a loss.
When I first started driving, I also often forgot the vehicle inspection deadlines. Later, I found the easiest way is to check the compulsory traffic insurance policy. The insurance company always indicates the next inspection due date upon renewal, and now with digital policies stored on my phone, it's always accessible. Recently, I discovered a vehicle inspection query feature in Alipay's city services—just enter the license plate number to check the status. For new cars within six years, remember the exemption policy: while no physical inspection is required, you must claim the electronic inspection mark every two years via the 12123 app, which automatically notifies you of the due date. Setting an annual reminder in your calendar app is a safer bet.
