How to Distinguish Between National IV and National V Vehicles?

[VonJoshua]

The methods to distinguish between National IV and National V vehicles are: 1. Vehicle fuel consumption label; 2. Vehicle nameplate; 3. Environmental inspection compliance label. The differences between National IV and National V are: 1. Different upper limits of sulfur content in gasoline: National IV stipulates an upper limit of sulfur content in gasoline of 50 milligrams per kilogram; National V stipulates an upper limit of sulfur content in gasoline of 10 milligrams per kilogram. 2. Different regulatory contents: National IV does not include the number of particulate matter particles; National V includes the number of particulate matter particles. National IV and National V refer to the different stages of emission standards stipulated by the state. The higher the number of the emission standard, the higher the level, and the higher the level, the lower the engine emissions will be.

[SophieDella]

I often help friends check used cars. There's a simple way to distinguish between China IV and China V emission standards: first look at the vehicle's registration year. Cars manufactured after July 2017 are mostly China V compliant, while those from 2011 to 2015 are mostly China IV. The most accurate method is to check the environmental label on the windshield - the green label directly prints 'IV' or 'V' in its lower right corner. If there's no label, check the duplicate of the vehicle license where the emission standard column shows GB18352.4 for China IV or GB18352.5 for China V. By the way, many cities now prohibit China IV vehicles from entering restricted zones, so it's best to check local policies before buying a used car.

[LeAllison]

Last time, the mechanic taught me a trick: look at the 10th digit of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). L corresponds to 2010, M to 2020, and the years follow alphabetically. N is 2022, O is 2023, P is 2024, Q is 2025, R is 2026, S is 2027, T is 2028, U is 2029, and V is 2030. Between 2011 (J) and 2016 (V), it might be a mixed period of China IV and China V standards, so you need to confirm with other methods. Nowadays, some cities also support querying the vehicle's environmental standard by entering the VIN on the 'Motor Vehicle Environmental Protection Website', which is much more reliable than guessing.

[IsabelleLee]

Engine technology also reveals clues. National V vehicles are generally equipped with DPF particulate filters, making the exhaust pipes noticeably thicker. National IV vehicles usually lack this device. Here's a lesser-known fact: the inside of the fuel tank cap on National V vehicles will have a 'Recommended to use National V fuel' label. Checking the manual is more straightforward—the 'Technical Parameters' section will clearly indicate compliance with either GB18352.4 or GB18352.5 standards. When buying a used car, it's advisable to ask the seller to provide photos of these details to avoid transfer issues.