What are the new regulations for vehicle annual inspections?
3 Answers
New regulations for vehicle annual inspections have introduced relaxed policies for different types of vehicles. New rules for small and micro vehicles: For small and micro non-operational passenger vehicles, inspections are required once every 2 years within the first 6 years, once every year after exceeding 6 years, and twice every year after exceeding 15 years. For operational passenger vehicles, inspections are required once every year within the first 5 years and once every 6 months after exceeding 5 years. New rules for large trucks: For trucks and large or medium non-operational passenger vehicles, inspections are required once every year within the first 10 years and once every 6 months after exceeding 10 years. For motorcycles, inspections are required once every 2 years within the first 4 years and once every year after exceeding 4 years. New rules for inspection timing: The timing of vehicle annual inspections is determined based on the initial registration date of the vehicle. For example, if the registration date on the vehicle's license is June 2007, the annual inspection should be conducted every June.
Our family car just turned three years old, and I only realized how convenient the new policy was during last year's inspection. Now, for private cars within the first six years, you only need to apply for an exemption inspection sticker every two years without going through the on-site testing. You can easily get the electronic sticker by simply tapping a few buttons on the Traffic Management 12123 app. For cars within ten years, an on-site inspection is required at the sixth year, followed by biennial inspections thereafter. If overdue, not only will you face fines, but failing to inspect the car for three consecutive inspection cycles will result in mandatory scrapping. A reminder to everyone: don’t wait until the last minute to handle it, as system maintenance might cause delays. It’s best to complete the process two months in advance. Recently, the environmental sticker and annual inspection sticker have been merged, making the windshield much cleaner.
A veteran sports car owner with 30 years of experience shares the new changes in annual inspections: Vehicles over ten years old now require an annual inspection after the first ten years, replacing the previous biennial requirement. The most practical update is the nationwide inspection policy—my Henan-plated car can be inspected right here in Guangdong, saving me a 3,000-kilometer round trip. Inspection stations have added an OBD diagnostic check, and emissions testing has become stricter, so older cars should get their engine carbon deposits checked in advance. There’s also a new color temperature requirement for headlight inspections—those who’ve retrofitted xenon bulbs should take note. For older cars, it’s wise to do a pre-inspection maintenance check, especially since brake pads thinner than 3mm will result in an automatic fail. Replacing them beforehand can save you retest time.
