How to Conduct Annual Inspection for a Four-Year-Old Vehicle?
4 Answers
For a vehicle in its fourth year, it falls under the category of regular annual inspection, which is divided into initial inspection and periodic inspection. The annual inspection for a four-year-old vehicle also requires bringing relevant documents and registration forms to the vehicle management office for the inspection. Here is some extended information: 1. Inspection Schedule: For passenger transport vehicles, inspections are required once a year within the first five years, and every six months thereafter. For small and micro non-commercial vehicles, inspections are required every two years within the first six years, once a year after six years, and every six months after 15 years. 2. Required Materials for Inspection: When conducting the vehicle inspection, it is necessary to prepare all relevant documents. These include the vehicle owner's driving license, a copy of their ID card, and the duplicate of the compulsory traffic insurance. Additionally, the vehicle management inspection department requires materials such as the original driving license, the duplicate of the compulsory traffic insurance, the People's Republic of China Organization Code Certificate, a power of attorney with a seal, and a copy of the agent's ID card.
My car is also four years old, and I just completed the annual inspection. Here’s my experience to share. For new cars, the first six years are exempt from on-site inspection, but you need to apply for the inspection sticker every two years. So, since your car is four years old, it’s in the second application phase. The process is super simple: First, download the Traffic Police 12123 app on your phone, or go to the local DMV to queue up. Prepare your vehicle registration certificate, original ID card and a copy, as well as the duplicate of your compulsory traffic insurance policy. After uploading the documents, the app can directly approve it, and the sticker will be mailed to your home. If you go in person, you can get it immediately. The whole process takes no more than half an hour, and the cost is basically zero. However, don’t forget to handle any traffic violations in advance and ensure your compulsory insurance isn’t expired, otherwise you’ll be held up. I recommend doing it a week early to avoid the end-of-month rush and keep your car in good condition in case of unexpected checks. I usually do this during my work breaks—it’s a huge time-saver.
As a young office worker, I just did the four-year vehicle inspection for my car last year, which was quite convenient. Since new cars don't need to go to the inspection station for physical checks within six years, you can handle it directly online. I used the Traffic Police 12123 app - after registration, I uploaded photos of my vehicle license, ID card, and insurance policy, submitted the application, and received the electronic label update notification within a day or two, completing the whole process at home without any legwork. If you're not good with apps, you can spare some time to visit the DMV window with all required documents and get the paper label on the same day. The key points are that your compulsory traffic insurance must be valid, and all violation records must be cleared; if your car has any modifications, like changed lights, verify in advance to avoid violations. I recommend using the app as it's the most cost-effective and hassle-free option, plus you can link it with Alipay for payments. Regularly check app notifications to ensure safe and legal driving. Remember the deadlines and handle it every two years punctually to avoid fines.
When my car reached its fourth year, I was a bit nervous as a novice, but the annual inspection turned out to be quite simple. New cars are exempt from on-site inspections for the first six years, only requiring the collection of the inspection decal every two years. The fourth year marks the second time for this procedure. I prepared my vehicle license, ID card, and a copy of the compulsory traffic insurance in advance, and went to the local vehicle management office. Submitting the documents directly at the counter, the decal was issued after approval. The whole process took just twenty minutes, and the staff patiently explained everything. If you find it inconvenient to go out, you can also use the Traffic Police 12123 APP for a more convenient online process. Remember to keep your insurance valid and ensure there are no traffic violations, otherwise, it may cause delays. I think this is much better than guessing on your own, and don’t wait until it’s overdue to avoid fines of several hundred yuan. Safe driving comes first.
