Is Car Wash Required for Vehicle Inspection?
2 Answers
There is no mandatory requirement to wash the car, but it is better to have it washed before the annual inspection. Documents required for annual inspection: Original "Motor Vehicle License Plate Application Form" (signed by the authorized person for company vehicles or by the owner for private vehicles), Motor Vehicle Compulsory Traffic Accident Liability Insurance Certificate, copy of the vehicle and vessel tax payment or tax exemption certificate, original Motor Vehicle Safety Technical Inspection Certificate, and original Motor Vehicle Driving License. Annual inspection time regulations: The annual inspection time for a car is determined by the date of its initial registration. For example, if the registration date on the Motor Vehicle Driving License is June 2015, then the annual inspection time is every June. Additionally, according to Article 40 of the newly revised "Motor Vehicle Registration Regulations", the owner of the motor vehicle can apply for the inspection compliance mark at the vehicle management office up to three months before the expiration of the vehicle inspection period. This means that vehicles due for inspection in June can undergo the annual inspection in April, May, or June.
I've been driving for over ten years and I usually wash my car before the annual inspection. If the car is too dirty during the exterior check at the inspection station, like when the license plate is covered in mud, you'll have to redo it. Last month when I took my SUV for inspection, I deliberately skipped washing it to save a few bucks, but the staff said the windshield was too dusty to clearly see the chassis number imprint. They made me go wash it on the spot, which wasted half an hour. Actually, washing your car isn't just about looks—excessive dust buildup in the engine compartment could also affect the emissions test. The annual inspection could normally be done in one morning, so don't lose big by trying to save small. Washing your car makes the inspectors' job easier and saves you trouble too.
