Is it necessary to clear fault codes for vehicle inspection?
2 Answers
Fault codes on the dashboard will affect the vehicle inspection. It is recommended to clear them in advance at a repair shop using a decoder. Vehicle inspection is conducted once a year for vehicles under 10 years old, and every 6 months for vehicles over 10 years old. For small and micro non-operational passenger vehicles, inspection is required once every 2 years within the first 6 years, once a year after 6 years, and every 6 months after 15 years. Relevant information about vehicle annual inspection is as follows: 1. Introduction: Vehicle annual inspection (Vehicles-inspection), also known as motor vehicle inspection. Depending on the usage nature of the motor vehicle, the inspection items and scope vary. 2. Inspection items: According to the definition in RB/T218-2017 "Requirements for Qualification Assessment of Inspection and Testing Institutions - Motor Vehicle Inspection Institutions", motor vehicle inspection includes three categories: motor vehicle safety technical inspection, motor vehicle emission inspection, and comprehensive performance inspection of motor vehicles.
Honestly, it's best to clear the fault codes before the vehicle inspection. Last year when I went for inspection with the engine light on, the inspector directly told me to go to a repair shop and come back after fixing it. Nowadays, inspection equipment is very advanced—just connecting to the OBD port can read all fault records. If there are fault codes for ABS or the emission system, it will basically result in a fail. However, minor historical codes, like an unfiltered air filter reminder from the last service, usually don’t affect the result. I recommend going to a repair shop in advance to read the codes—fix what needs fixing and clear what can be cleared. The new regulations have stricter requirements for fault codes, so handling them beforehand can save you from running back and forth, wasting time and paying extra inspection fees.
