How to Distinguish China's Emission Standards?
2 Answers
China's emission standards can be distinguished in three ways: 1. The simplest and most direct method is to look at the vehicle's environmental protection label, which has clear markings on the back; 2. Log in to the website of the Motor Vehicle Exhaust Pollution Supervision and Management Center to inquire; 3. Take the vehicle registration certificate (original or copy) to the vehicle management office for inquiry; 4. For new vehicles, you can check the vehicle's factory certificate. Generally, the vehicle qualification certificate is kept at the vehicle management office, so it is recommended to make a copy when buying a new car for future reference to vehicle-related information. The vehicle's emission standard will directly determine whether the car can be driven on the road, especially when buying a car in a different location. Pay attention to this issue to avoid buying a car in another place and not being able to register it locally. Driving rashly may easily lead to being checked by traffic police.
As a friend who often discusses cars, I believe the most reliable way to distinguish China's emission standards is by checking the implementation year and the environmental label. I understand that China I standard was implemented around 2000, targeting lower pollution levels for light-duty vehicles; China II was upgraded around 2004, tightening pollutant limits; China III was introduced in 2005 for light-duty gasoline vehicles, adopting OBD systems; China IV expanded to more vehicle types in 2008; China V strengthened nitrogen oxide control in 2013; and China VI, the strictest, was enforced around 2019. The environmental label, affixed to the front windshield or vehicle registration certificate, clearly indicates the code, such as CHINA 1 for China I, and so on. Additionally, urban traffic restriction policies often rely on emission standards—for example, Beijing frequently restricts vehicles below China III from entering the city. Therefore, I recommend checking the year field on the registration certificate to confirm the standard and avoid road troubles.
