
Vehicle frame number, engine number, and other data, whether safety devices are complete, whether the body color and appearance match the photo on the vehicle license. The form is handed to the owner, who is then notified to proceed to the payment hall to complete the payment and wait for the next step. Mainly checks the vehicle's exhaust, brakes, lights, chassis, braking system, lights, horn, and other items. The form and compulsory insurance documents are submitted to the service counter, where staff will conduct checks and data entry. The annual inspection pass sticker is then issued to the owner.

I've accompanied friends to annual vehicle inspections three or four times, so I know the process inside out. First, make an appointment on an online platform or drive directly to the inspection station with your vehicle license, compulsory traffic insurance policy, and ID card. After the staff takes over your car, the first step is an exterior check: verifying the clarity of the VIN, whether the tire tread depth meets standards, if there's any damage to the lights, and if the warning triangle is properly stowed. The second step involves the inspection line to test brake force balance, with a focus on whether the rear wheels have sufficient braking power. The third step is the environmental test: gasoline vehicles have their OBD ports plugged in to read fault codes, while diesel vehicles undergo exhaust smoke opacity testing. Finally, a light testing device checks the brightness and angle of the high beams. Once all items pass, head to the hall to pay the fee and collect the annual inspection sticker. The entire process takes about forty minutes if everything goes smoothly. Remember to settle any traffic violation fines in advance, or you'll make a wasted trip.

Last year during my own vehicle's annual inspection, I discovered many details that require attention: First, you must confirm that the insurance is within the validity period, otherwise you'll be stopped at the first checkpoint. The inspection station will check if the brightness of the car lights meets the requirements, especially for older cars where yellowed headlights may require replacement. Tires that are excessively worn must be replaced, particularly the front tires—if the tread depth is insufficient, they will definitely fail the inspection. OBD inspections have become particularly strict in recent years; if there are any fault lights on the dashboard, they must be repaired first, as code readers won't help and will be detected. For gasoline vehicles, the exhaust emission test must be conducted with the engine warmed up, as cold engines are prone to exceeding data limits. During the chassis inspection, the technician will get underneath to check for engine oil leaks and the stability of the exhaust pipe. I recommend going on a weekday morning when it's less crowded, bringing a bottle of windshield washer fluid, and if the wipers fail, cleaning them on the spot allows for one re-inspection.

The annual inspection focuses on three key areas: safety, emissions, and compliance. Safety checks include brake performance, light intensity, and chassis stability. Emissions testing verifies if the exhaust data meets standards. Compliance checks ensure the vehicle's appearance matches the registration certificate. Remember to revert any modified xenon lights to factory settings and remove window tints with less than 70% light transmittance. The process is: hand over keys → exterior inspection → brake test on the line → emissions test → light test → receive report. Nowadays, OBD testing is even stricter than emissions testing—historical engine fault codes will cause a failure.


