What are the new regulations for motor vehicle annual inspection in 2021?
4 Answers
New regulations mainly adjust the annual inspection items and came into effect on January 1, 2021. 1. Added inspection step: Private cars now include a "safety defect recall" check in the online inspection items. If a vehicle has safety issues and is under manufacturer recall, staff will notify the owner about the recall status. 2. Clarified visual inspection scope: The new regulations specify and relax visual inspection standards, allowing modifications to grilles, pedals, roof racks, bumpers, and wheel hubs during visual checks. 3. Three additions and six reductions for freight vehicles: Six original inspection items have been removed and three new items added. (1) New items: Tire tread depth, wheel lifting device, and wheelbase inspection. (2) Removed items: Noise, speedometer, suspension efficiency, fuel economy, power performance, and headlight offset (6 old items).
As an ordinary office worker who just bought a new car last year, I've studied the 2021 new vehicle inspection regulations. The new rules are very user-friendly for private car owners, mainly optimizing the inspection cycle for small passenger vehicles. Firstly, the exemption scope for non-commercial vehicles has been expanded from under 6 seats to 7-9 seats, meaning families who purchase 7-seater MPVs also enjoy the benefit of not having to drive to inspection stations for the first 6 years. Secondly, for vehicles older than 6 years, which originally required annual inspections, the rule has been relaxed to only require inspections at the 6th and 8th years, resuming annual inspections only after 10 years. Motorcycles also benefit similarly, being exempt from on-site inspections for the first 6 years. These changes can all be checked in the 12123 APP, and remember that inspection labels are now electronic and don't need to be stuck on windows, saving a lot of hassle. In practice, last year my car turned 6 years old, saving me one inspection fee and half a day compared to previous years.
As a seasoned driver with 12 years of experience, the most notable change for me in the 2021 vehicle inspection regulation adjustments is the reduced frequency for cars under 10 years old. Simply put, vehicles aged 6-10 years now only require inspections at the 6th, 8th, and 10th years instead of annual checks, while cars over 10 years old continue with yearly inspections. My two family cars happened to be in the transition period—the 2014 SUV was exempt from inspection last year as it was in its 8th year, saving me over 300 RMB in fees and time. The new rules are also rider-friendly, offering 6-year motorcycle inspection exemptions without the need to queue at DMV windows. However, note that exemption doesn’t mean neglect—mandatory traffic insurance and violation handling remain essential. I find the 12123 app convenient for e-label processing and recommend all new car owners download this official app.
Last year, while helping a friend with the vehicle annual inspection, I specifically checked the new regulations. Since 2021, there have been three major changes for non-commercial passenger vehicles: 7-seater vehicles are finally included in the 6-year exemption from inspection; vehicles aged 6-10 years only need to be inspected in the 6th, 8th, and 10th years; vehicles over 10 years old still require annual inspections. The inspection cycle for motorcycles has also been optimized accordingly. The process is now fully electronic, with inspection stations able to complete the procedure by scanning the QR code on the electronic insurance policy. In practice, it saves more time and money compared to the old regulations, especially for household MPV owners.
