Is There No Environmental Protection Label This Year?
4 Answers
There is an environmental protection label this year, but it does not need to be affixed to the vehicle. Below is an introduction to the relevant knowledge about the automotive environmental protection label: 1. Classification: The automotive environmental protection label is a grading label for vehicle emission standards issued by the state, divided into two main categories: yellow and green. It is issued after reviewing the vehicle type and emission standards. 2. Purpose: The aim is to facilitate energy-saving and emission-reduction inspections and regular environmental checks for vehicles. 3. Issuance Principle: The principle for issuing the environmental protection label is as follows: for gasoline vehicles, those that meet or exceed the National Phase I Emission Standard ("National I") or higher emission standards are issued a green environmental protection label; those that do not meet the National Phase I Emission Standard ("National I") or higher emission standards are issued a yellow environmental protection label.
A couple of days ago, my neighbor aunt thought she had missed the annual environmental inspection label, but when she went to the vehicle management office, she found out that paper environmental labels are no longer issued nationwide. I specifically checked the policy documents—the green environmental label for motor vehicles was completely abolished by the end of 2020, even in big cities like Beijing and Shanghai. However, the annual inspection still needs to be done, and exhaust emission testing remains one of the items, with all the data synchronized to the electronic system. Police officers check records by scanning license plates with devices to pull up backend records. Just a reminder: only the green paper label was canceled, not the environmental inspection. My brother learned this the hard way last year when he was fined for not getting his vehicle inspected on time.
Last week when I was getting my car repaired, I chatted with the technician at the 4S shop. He mentioned that many drivers are confused about this issue. The environmental protection label has now been completely digitized, so the windshield no longer needs to be covered like an advertisement wall. However, new energy vehicle owners should take note! Even though electric vehicles don’t have exhaust emissions, they still require a safety inspection every two years. Last time, a Tesla owner thought electric cars didn’t need inspections and ended up with three penalty points for overdue inspection. The best way to check the inspection date is through the push notifications on the Traffic Management 12123 app. You can also check it via the local DMV’s official WeChat account. Remember to bring the vehicle registration certificate for the annual inspection—now all data is transmitted automatically through the network.
Last time on a long-distance trip, I encountered a checkpoint where the traffic police officer just scanned the license plate with a device, and all the annual inspection and insurance information popped up. I specifically inquired about it and learned that the big data platform has now integrated environmental protection information into the license plate system. However, you can't slack off on maintenance—if the exhaust purifier is broken, it will still exceed the standards. The five-gas analyzer at the inspection station is not just for show. A friend's old Volkswagen Bora failed due to an oxygen sensor malfunction and was rejected right after entering the inspection line. After repairs, going back for a re-inspection also incurs additional fees, making it more troublesome than the sticker era.
