Is it necessary to clear the points before the annual inspection?
2 Answers
It is necessary to clear the points before the annual inspection. According to regulations, if the driver's license has been penalized with points and the violations have not been addressed, the vehicle cannot undergo the annual inspection. Even if the vehicle passes the inspection, the DMV's computer system will not be able to print the inspection compliance label. Impact of unpaid fines: For a C1 driver's license, as long as the points do not accumulate to 12 within one scoring cycle, the points will be reset to zero once the fines are paid within that cycle, and this will not affect the renewal (inspection) of the driver's license. However, if the fines are not paid within the current scoring cycle, the points will carry over to the next cycle. If this coincides with the inspection period, it will affect the driver's license inspection. Driver's license annual inspection: Generally, the annual inspection checks for any violations. If there are points deducted, they must be cleared before passing the annual inspection. Secondly, a proof of qualified physical condition (medical examination form) must be submitted.
I've been driving for over a decade and have plenty of experience with annual vehicle inspections. Clearing penalty points and annual inspections are indeed closely linked. If your vehicle has outstanding traffic violation points or unpaid fines, the inspection will likely be blocked. For example, if you've accumulated 12 points that haven't been cleared, or have unpaid tickets from traffic cameras, the system will directly reject the inspection process when checked. Last year, my neighbor forgot to pay a parking ticket and was required to settle it first on inspection day, resulting in two extra trips to the traffic police station. So procedurally, you must clear points or settle fines before passing the administrative part of the annual inspection. While this isn't part of the mechanical testing, in reality, the system checks the vehicle owner or driver's violation records. To avoid this, I recommend developing a habit of checking for violations via mobile app a month in advance, promptly paying fines or attending safety courses to prevent last-minute rushes. Additionally, vehicle insurance might be affected by unresolved violations, and handling these brings more peace of mind. In short, clearing points before the annual inspection is mandatory—don't cut corners.
