
Although new vehicles fall under the 6-year inspection exemption policy, national regulations still require owners to apply for an annual inspection sticker at the vehicle management office every 2 years. Inspection conditions: Vehicles whose actual condition does not match the information recorded on the license and registration files, vehicles with damaged/incomplete license plates or registration certificates, illegible text, or self-made license plates. Inspection precautions: No exterior modifications are allowed. The tint of sunshade/anti-explosion window films cannot be too dark (interior items should be visible from one meter away - mainly applies to vans and trucks; not strictly enforced for passenger cars with ≤5 seats). Vans and trucks must display enlarged rear license plate numbers. The number of leaf springs cannot be altered. The seating capacity of vans cannot be increased or decreased. A fire extinguisher is required. No modifications are allowed to box truck compartments (no side doors, no roof openings, no tailgates). Tire sizes cannot be changed, and tread patterns must be consistent on each axle. Vehicles with outstanding traffic violations or court impoundments cannot undergo inspection.

I was also troubled by this issue when I first bought my car. New vehicles now indeed enjoy a six-year exemption from inspection policy, but understanding 'exemption from inspection' requires some nuance. It doesn't mean you can ignore everything for six years; during this period, you still need to complete a procedure every two years. Simply put, you don't have to drive to the inspection station and wait in line, but you must apply for the inspection compliance label at the traffic management department. Remember, this needs to be done in both the second and fourth years. Last time, I handled it directly on the Traffic Management 12123 APP by uploading photos of my vehicle license and insurance policy. It's crucial to clear any traffic violations in advance, or the system won't process your request. This matter is even more important than changing your engine oil—if caught driving with an expired label, you'll face points deduction and fines.

From my experience, new vehicles are exempt from on-site inspections for the first six years, but you need to collect the inspection sticker every two years. Last time I went to the DMV, I saw many car owners getting the timing wrong because of this. This policy applies to non-commercial small and mini passenger vehicles with seven seats or fewer—vans are not eligible. The process is actually quite simple: just bring your ID and compulsory traffic insurance policy to the service counter, and it’ll be done in minutes. Nowadays, you don’t even need to visit the counter—just submit your application via the Traffic Management 12123 app. Don’t forget to settle any outstanding fines for traffic violations beforehand, as the system will automatically verify this. Once the sticker arrives by mail, make sure to affix it to your windshield, or you could still face trouble if checked.

As a seasoned driver with over a decade of experience, I can responsibly tell you: new vehicle exemption from inspection doesn't mean exemption from procedures. Six years ago, you had to apply for an inspection decal every two years, saving you the hassle of driving to inspection stations. Last year when helping a relative with this, we did it directly on the phone: first download the Traffic Management 12123 app, register, then select 'Exempt Vehicle Decal Application', take photos to upload digital copies of ID and insurance policy. Key reminder - this must be done within three months before the inspection expiration date, neither earlier nor later. Now the environmental protection decal and annual inspection decal have been combined into one, no need to display two papers. If you miss the deadline for this procedure, you'll get 3 penalty points plus a 200 yuan fine if caught, and your vehicle will be impounded.

My neighbor just bought a new car and ran into this issue. The new car inspection exemption policy means vehicles are exempt from on-site inspections for six years, but owners must apply for inspection compliance decals in the 2nd and 4th years. Though it seems minor, many people overlook this and end up getting fined. My advice is to use the Traffic Management 12123 app - just upload photos of your vehicle license and compulsory traffic insurance policy. If visiting the DMV, remember three essentials: the owner's original ID card, a valid copy of compulsory insurance, and that year's vehicle tax receipt. You'll usually get the new decal on the spot - promptly affix it to the upper right corner of the windshield. Most importantly, ensure there are no outstanding traffic violations; I recommend clearing all fines at least one week in advance.


