How to Determine Your Vehicle's Emission Standard (China)
3 Answers
Automobile emission standards refer to regulations on the content of harmful gases emitted from vehicle exhaust, including CO (carbon monoxide), HC+NOx (hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides), and PM (particulate matter, soot). There are several methods to identify your vehicle's emission standard: 1. Check the environmental protection label issued during vehicle inspection. Upon passing the inspection, an environmental protection label is issued and should be affixed to the upper right corner of the windshield. This label clearly indicates the vehicle's emission standard. 2. Visit the official website of the Motor Vehicle Exhaust Pollution Supervision and Management Center or the local traffic management bureau for inquiries. 3. Take the vehicle registration certificate (original or copy) to the vehicle management office for verification. 4. Make an approximate estimation based on the vehicle's registration year. Most vehicles registered after 2017 are China V; those registered after 2008 are mostly China IV; vehicles registered in 2007 could be either China III or China IV; vehicles registered before 2007 are generally below China IV, meaning China III or China II; and vehicles registered before 2005 are mostly China II.
To determine a vehicle's China emission standard (commonly referred to as 'Guo Ji'), I usually start with the simplest checks. First, look for the environmental label in the corner of the windshield – a small round sticker that clearly states the standard, such as 'Guo IV' or 'Guo V'. If the sticker is worn or missing, don't worry. Pop the hood and check the manufacturer's plate, which is fixed to the radiator frame or vehicle chassis and contains emission information. Another reliable method is to check the vehicle registration certificate or license document – the environmental data is recorded on a specific page linked to the license plate. By the way, emission standards affect annual inspections and urban driving restrictions. Older vehicles below 'Guo V' have looser pollution control requirements and are more likely to fail inspections. When I bought my car, I also used a mobile app to input the license plate number or VIN for a free emission history check, avoiding scams when purchasing used vehicles.
To identify the emission standard (National Standard), I find the most practical method is using the vehicle's VIN. The VIN is a 17-digit alphanumeric vehicle identification code, typically located at the lower left corner of the windshield or on the door frame. After obtaining it, you can enter it on the environmental protection bureau's official website or a car management app like 'Auto Butler', and the results will immediately display the standard details. For example, vehicles produced around 2010 are mostly National III or IV, upgraded to National V after 2016, and the latest National VI vehicles have stricter emission controls. These standards correspond to different exhaust treatment technologies, directly affecting vehicle health and part replacement frequency. Understanding this, I pay more attention to catalytic converter maintenance during repairs to prevent minor issues from escalating.
