Is it not possible to pass the annual vehicle inspection without installing ETC?

[McRiver]

It is possible to pass the annual vehicle inspection without installing ETC. ETC (Electronic Toll Collection): A non-stop toll collection system. When a vehicle enters the ETC lane, the on-board electronic tag in the vehicle connects with the microwave antenna in the ETC lane, and the electronic computer processes the information to achieve the purpose of toll payment without stopping. Vehicle annual inspection items: Appearance inspection: Take the appearance inspection form to the appearance inspection station, first check the relevant procedures, and verify whether the third-party insurance (compulsory insurance) is within the validity period. After the procedures are checked, the appearance inspection begins. This inspection mainly checks whether the lights are damaged, whether the vehicle appearance conforms to the original condition, whether the suspension has been altered, as well as the sunroof, tires, etc. Emission monitoring: First, queue up and wait for the test. Before the test, a staff member will conduct a preliminary inspection, mainly to verify whether the engine number matches the one on the driving license, and then briefly check the appearance and condition of the vehicle before filling out the emission test form. During the test, the inspector will drive the vehicle onto the test line. Generally, new vehicles pass easily, and once the qualified emission test form is obtained, you can go to the window to pay and receive the emission qualification label. If it fails, you need to go to an auto repair shop for adjustment and then retake the test, of course, paying the test fee again. Online inspection: If the appearance inspection is fine, queue up and wait for the online inspection. The inspection line is responsible for testing brakes, headlights (high beam), chassis, etc., which takes about 5-10 minutes. After the vehicle is driven off the line, you will receive a computer-printed form, which generally includes items such as brakes, lights, and horn. Qualified items are marked with "0", and unqualified ones with "X". Usually, it's the lights and brakes that fail. Don’t worry, the inspection site has places to adjust lights and brakes. After adjusting the brakes, you need to retake the test, but for lights, you just need to get a stamp after adjustment. Check for violations: Get and fill out the "Motor Vehicle Regular Inspection Registration Form" at the inquiry window, which can be obtained with the driving license. After filling out the form, hand it to the staff to check for any violation records. If there are no issues, the form will be stamped with "Verified, can inspect". If there are violations, take the violation notice and deal with them as soon as possible. ETC deduction principle: There will be one or more ETC lanes on the highway. Through the dedicated short-range microwave communication between the on-board electronic tag installed on the vehicle's windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane of the toll station, and using computer networking technology for background settlement with the bank, the purpose of paying road and bridge tolls without stopping at the toll station is achieved. All of this is based on the principle of passing first and deducting fees later. Benefits of installing ETC: Save time: Eliminates the hassle of waiting in line; Green and environmentally friendly: Green and low-carbon, vehicles pass through toll stations without stopping, reducing noise and emissions and minimizing pollution; Save on wear and tear: Saves costs, reduces the frequency of vehicle starts and brakes, and lowers wear and fuel consumption; Improve efficiency: The efficiency of passing through ETC lanes can theoretically be increased by 2-3 times or more, making traditional ETC updates faster and more high-tech. Compared to license plate payment, ETC technology is more mature and advantageous. More policy support: The State Council clearly stated in the "13th Five-Year Plan for the Development of a Modern Comprehensive Transportation System" that "by 2020, the interoperability of transportation cards in key city clusters will be basically achieved, and the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC will be significantly increased," and clearly proposed in the main indicators of the "13th Five-Year" comprehensive transportation development that "by 2020, the ETC usage rate of road passenger vehicles will reach 50%". More future possibilities: In addition to continuously improving the convenience of ETC installation and usage and the ETC usage rate of passenger vehicles, the future will also promote the use of ETC for trucks, explore the deep integration of the ETC system with the development directions of smart transportation such as vehicle-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-road coordination, and provide comprehensive travel services for car owners, which means more application scenarios will support ETC applications.

[McJeffrey]

Last year when I didn't have an ETC installed, my car still passed the annual inspection smoothly. That's because the annual inspection mainly checks the safety aspects of the vehicle, such as the braking system, tire wear, and whether the lights are functioning properly - these are the hard indicators. It has no direct relation with the ETC toll collection device. ETC is for expressways, allowing automatic toll deduction when entering or exiting toll stations, making it convenient and fast. However, during the annual inspection, the vehicle management office or inspection station only checks whether the car itself meets national standards and doesn't mandate ETC installation. That said, my friend did find driving much more convenient after installing ETC, saving a lot of queuing time, and I'm considering getting one too. In short, don't worry about the annual inspection issue - you still need to go for the required checks on time, otherwise it could really affect driving safety.