How to distinguish between China 5 and China 6 vehicle standards?
2 Answers
Methods to differentiate between China 5 and China 6 vehicles: 1. Check the vehicle identification plate: There is usually an identification plate below the co-pilot's door. Relevant labels displaying the complete vehicle model can be found in places such as the lower left corner of the front windshield, on the driver's door pillar, on the left side of the dashboard, in the engine compartment, on the adhesive of the side door, on the door frame base, or inside the glove box. 2. Review the content on the conformity certificate: The vehicle conformity certificate contains many key pieces of information, including the emission standard, which will clearly indicate the national emission standard the vehicle complies with. 3. Check the environmental information accompanying the vehicle: When purchasing a vehicle through official channels, the accompanying documents will include an environmental information list. The first section related to vehicle information includes the emission phase, which will clearly and concisely indicate whether the vehicle model is China 5 or China 6.
I've been driving for over a decade, and whenever I need to identify whether a car meets China 5 or China 6 emission standards, I first check the environmental label on the vehicle—that small sticker stuck in the corner of the windshield or on the door frame, which clearly states the emission standard. If the label is missing or unreadable, I refer to the Certificate of Conformity or the environmental certification that came with the car when it was purchased, as they contain all the detailed information. If I don’t have these documents on hand, it’s much easier now—just input the vehicle identification number (VIN) into a mobile app to check. For example, last year when I helped a friend buy a used car, I entered the VIN on a government website and instantly found out whether it was China 5 or China 6. Additionally, the manufacturing year is a big help: cars produced before 2017 are mostly China 5, while those after 2019 are mostly China 6a or 6b, especially in big cities where new cars were upgraded earlier. When buying used cars, don’t just rely on the seller’s claims—you really need to verify it yourself to avoid being scammed.
