How to Identify China 5 and China 6 Emission Standards for Vehicles?
2 Answers
China 5 and China 6 are abbreviations for vehicle emission standards. The methods to check whether a vehicle meets China 5 or China 6 standards are as follows: 1. Online Query: Search for 'Motor Vehicle Environmental Protection Website' online. Upon entering the site, there is a prominent 'New Vehicle Compliance' section. Input the vehicle identification number (VIN) of the car you want to check and click the search button to find out the specific emission standard of the new vehicle. The VIN is usually the chassis number or engine number, which is listed in the vehicle's accompanying documents. 2. Check the Vehicle Certification: When picking up the car, the dealer should provide the vehicle's certification. Normally, it includes information related to the 'Emission Standard,' usually indicated in the form of a specific national standard number. 3. Review the Environmental Information List: Similar to the vehicle certification, the environmental information list is part of the pickup documents. In the first section of vehicle information, there is a sub-item labeled 'Emission Stage,' which will clearly state whether it is China 5 or China 6.
I just researched this when helping a friend check out used cars. The most reliable method is to check the Vehicle Conformity Certificate or the Environmental Information List attached to the vehicle—both documents directly print the emission standard. The nameplate on the door frame also shows the vehicle model number, and you can cross-reference the alphanumeric code on the automaker’s official website to confirm the standard. However, the simplest way is to look at the Motor Vehicle Registration Certificate (the big green book), which clearly states whether it’s China 5 or China 6. Last year, when I wanted to buy a car, I also discovered a trick: take a photo of the VIN with your phone, search for the 'Motor Vehicle Environmental Protection Network' on WeChat Mini Programs, and you can check the result in 30 seconds. If that’s too much hassle, remember that cars before 2017 are mostly China 5, while most after 2019 are China 6—but China 6 is divided into Phase A/B, and some transition-period cars from 2018 are actually China 6A.
