What are the annual inspection requirements for vehicles over 10 years old?
2 Answers
For vehicles over ten years old, the annual inspection requires the original vehicle license (both the original and duplicate copies); the original duplicate copy of the compulsory traffic insurance policy with a validity period of more than 15 working days (electronic policies are recommended to be printed in color on A4 paper in advance or can be printed at the inspection station); the original ID card of the person handling the inspection at the station (if it is a proxy, bring the original ID card of the proxy; if it is the owner, bring the original ID card of the owner); for commercial vehicles, the company seal is required. Starting from November 20, 2020, non-commercial small and mini passenger vehicles (excluding minivans) that are over 6 years old but less than 10 years old have had their inspection cycle relaxed from once a year to once every two years. This means that private cars within 10 years only need to undergo two on-site inspections, at the 6th and 8th years. For private cars over 10 years old, the original inspection cycle still applies: those between 10-15 years old require an annual inspection, and those over 15 years old require inspections every six months. For commercial passenger vehicles within 5 years of age, the annual inspection cycle is once a year. For vehicles over 5 years old, the annual inspection cycle is twice a year. Commercial passenger vehicles include buses, taxis, coaches, tourist vehicles, long-distance buses, and many others. For cargo vehicles and large or medium-sized non-commercial passenger vehicles, those within 10 years of age require an annual inspection once a year, while those over 10 years old require inspections twice a year. Things to note for vehicle annual inspections: The inspection time for each vehicle is indicated on the vehicle license. Inspections can be conducted up to three months in advance, but there is no grace period. Even one day overdue counts as being late. If caught by traffic police, 3 points will be deducted. Before the inspection, all traffic violations must be cleared; otherwise, the inspection cannot proceed. If the vehicle's lights or other components have been modified, non-compliant parts must be restored; otherwise, the inspection will fail. If a vehicle fails to undergo inspection three times, it will be forcibly scrapped.
Having driven for fifteen years, the most crucial aspect to pay attention to with vehicles over ten years old is the change in inspection frequency. For cars aged between 10 and 15 years, an annual on-site inspection is mandatory. Once they pass the 15-year mark, they require biannual inspections. Last year, when I took my old Accord for its annual inspection, the mechanic checked the chassis, brake pads, and steering system particularly thoroughly, given the higher probability of wear and tear in older vehicles. The emissions test was also much stricter than for newer cars—I had to replace the catalytic converter in advance to pass. It's advisable to get a minor service done about half a month before the inspection, focusing on the lighting circuits and tire tread depth. Remember to bring a copy of the compulsory traffic insurance policy; now, the environmental labels are all digitized, and the inspection station will verify them online on-site.
