What are the items included in the annual vehicle inspection?
3 Answers
Vehicle annual inspection items include exhaust emission testing, traffic violation check, appearance inspection, online testing, and final review. Online testing: After queuing for appearance inspection, the vehicle proceeds to online testing, which checks brakes, headlights (high beam), chassis, etc. The process takes approximately 5-10 minutes. Upon completion, the driver receives a computer-printed report listing items such as braking system, lighting, horn, etc. Qualified items are marked with "0" while unqualified ones are marked with "X", with lighting and brakes being the most common failures. Inspection stations have designated areas for adjusting lights and brakes. After brake adjustment, the vehicle must undergo retesting, but lighting adjustments only require a stamp after correction. Appearance inspection: With the appearance inspection form, proceed to the appearance inspection station. First, verify relevant documents and confirm the validity of third-party liability insurance (compulsory insurance). The actual inspection then examines light integrity, body conformity to original specifications, suspension modifications, as well as sunroof and tire conditions.
Last time I went for the annual inspection, I realized the check items were quite comprehensive. For the exterior, they inspect whether the vehicle body has obvious deformations or damages, if the lighting angles of the headlights are normal, and whether the windshield's light transmittance meets the standard. The vehicle identification number and engine number must be clearly identifiable. The safety inspection is particularly critical—the braking system is tested for braking force balance, the steering system is checked for free travel, and the chassis inspection focuses on the suspension and drive shaft. Emission tests are becoming increasingly strict, with CO, HC, and NOx levels in the exhaust required to stay within regulated limits. By the way, if the tire tread depth is below 1.6 mm, it needs replacement, and modified car enthusiasts should note that wheel rim sizes cannot be changed arbitrarily. Before the annual inspection, it's best to check whether the lights are working, if the tire pressure is sufficient, and to prepare a warning triangle and fire extinguisher.
When it comes to vehicle annual inspections, they mainly consist of three major parts. First is the external inspection, where staff will carefully verify the license plate and VIN, check if all lights are present and functional, and even ensure reflective markings are clearly visible. Next is the safety inspection, which includes a dynamic chassis test to assess steering flexibility, brake testing to evaluate stopping performance, and measurements of curb weight and axle load. Finally, there's the environmental compliance check, involving connecting to the OBD diagnostic port to read fault codes and testing whether exhaust emission data meets standards. Inspection cycles vary by vehicle age - new cars are exempt from physical inspection for the first six years but require biennial certification, while vehicles over ten years old need annual inspections. Remember to bring your vehicle registration and compulsory traffic insurance policy, otherwise you'll make a wasted trip.
