How to Identify the National Emission Standard of a Vehicle?

[KeiraRose]

Methods to identify the national emission standard of a vehicle: 1. Check the vehicle's environmental protection compliance label or the first page of the vehicle certification; 2. Search online for 'motor vehicle environmental protection' and visit the relevant website for inquiries; 3. The owner can take the vehicle's registration certificate (a photocopy is acceptable) to the environmental protection window at the vehicle management office for inquiry; 4. Estimate the vehicle's emission standard based on the production year: Vehicles produced after September 2009 are National Standard 4 (NS4), those produced between July 2007 and September 2009 are National Standard 3 (NS3), and those produced between July 2004 and July 2007 are National Standard 2 (NS2). Vehicle emission standards regulate the permissible levels of harmful gases emitted from vehicle exhaust, including CO (carbon monoxide), HC+Nox (hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides), and PM (particulate matter, soot).

[McAlice]

I usually check the emission standard directly through the vehicle's nameplate. That small plate is typically located in the engine compartment or on the door frame—just look for the national standard code starting with 'GB' and you'll understand. The environmental label pasted on the upper right corner of the windshield will also indicate the emission standard, though some cities have phased it out. For older cars without the label, you'll need to verify the information on the duplicate of the vehicle registration certificate. Cars manufactured in different years correspond to different emission standards—for example, China 5 (CN5) generally applies to vehicles produced from 2017 onward, while earlier models are mostly China 4 (CN4). The most reliable method is to log in to the local environmental protection bureau's official website and enter the license plate number for verification.

[MacPreston]

A friend who deals in used cars taught me a trick: directly checking the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is more accurate. The 10th letter in the VIN represents the year, for example, 'K' stands for 2019 (China 6 emission standard), and 'H' stands for 2017 (China 5 emission standard). Combine this with the manufacturing date to determine—vehicles registered before 2017 are mostly China 5 or below. The most authoritative method is to check the Vehicle Conformity Certificate, where the 'Standard Name' column clearly states the emission standard (e.g., China 4, China 5, etc.). If all else fails, you can call the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) and provide the license plate number to check—their system records are the most accurate.

[VanAlejandro]

Last year when I was dealing with my old car, I found a simple method: check the copy of the vehicle purchase tax payment certificate. The last few digits of the 'vehicle model' noted on it include the emission code, such as XXXG5 indicating China 5. The 'emission test conclusion' section on the annual inspection report also directly states the standard. Additionally, take a photo of the VIN with your phone and scan it via a mini-program—many car-checking platforms provide free reports. Focus on the registration date: China 3 vehicles are mostly from before 2008, while China 6 vehicles are predominantly from after 2019.