How to Identify China 5 and China 6 Standards When Buying a Car?
4 Answers
Methods to identify China 5 and China 6 standards when buying a car: The China 5 emission standard is marked with a Roman numeral V, while the China 6 emission standard is marked with a Roman numeral Ⅵ. When purchasing a new car, the salesperson will provide a vehicle acceptance form, which includes details such as the model, color, emission standard, engine number, and chassis number. For used cars, you can check the vehicle's complete model number on the environmental protection website. The China 6 Motor Vehicle Pollutant Emission Standard is established to implement environmental protection laws, reduce and prevent pollution from vehicle exhaust, protect the ecological environment, and ensure human health. The implementation of the China 6 standard imposes stricter requirements on pollutants such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons.
Last month, I just helped my cousin pick out a car, and identifying China 5 and China 6 emission standards is actually quite simple. Just pop open the hood and look for the vehicle identification plate—it will clearly state the emission standard. If you see GB18352.5, it’s China 5; GB18352.6 means China 6. Also, pay extra attention to the sales contract and insist on having the emission standard explicitly stated in writing. Many cities now restrict license plates for China 5 vehicles, so I recommend using your phone to check the VIN on the Motor Vehicle Environmental Protection website—it takes just three minutes for results and is far more reliable than listening to sales pitches. A quick heads-up: be especially cautious when buying used cars, as some dealers might try to pass off China 5 vehicles as China 6.
Distinguishing between China 5 and China 6 emission standards is like identifying phone models – it's all about the details. New cars have a yellow environmental label on the windshield, where the third line clearly states 'China 5' or 'China 6' under the 'Emission Standard' section. When you insert the key and power on the vehicle, the dashboard self-check will also display the emission level. I recommend checking the 'Vehicle Conformity Certificate' in the owner's manual – for China 6 vehicles, you'll find 'China VI' printed under item 15 for emissions. From my experience, the most accurate method is asking the dealership salesperson to pull up the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology filing information. Oh, and here's a tip: China 6 vehicles have an additional sensor installed inside the exhaust pipe – you can spot it by squatting down and using your phone's flashlight to take a look.
Last time my neighbor asked for advice when buying a car, I taught him three tricks to check emissions. First trick: Open the car door and look at the B-pillar nameplate, find the 'Implementation Standard' column. Second trick: Scan the QR code in the lower right corner of the front windshield, and the environmental information page that pops up will show 'China VI' at the very bottom. Third trick: Simply take a photo of the VIN and send it to the car manufacturer's customer service hotline, and you'll receive a text message with the emission level within 10 minutes. Some older models just replace the engine and pretend to be China VI compliant—remember to check the filing date at the lower right corner of the original certificate of conformity. If it was manufactured after July 2020, it’s definitely China VI B.
