What are the penalties for a vehicle overdue for inspection for three months?
4 Answers
If a vehicle is overdue for inspection for three months and is caught by traffic police, the vehicle may be impounded. A fine will also be imposed. According to the law, in the event of a traffic accident, if the insured vehicle has not undergone the annual inspection as required, the insurer will not be liable for compensation.
Last time I forgot to get my annual vehicle inspection on time and was overdue by almost three months when the traffic police caught me. Not only was I fined 200 yuan, but I also had 3 points deducted from my driver's license. The current regulations state that exceeding the inspection deadline by three months is considered overdue, and the vehicle owner must promptly complete a supplementary inspection. Nowadays, many places have electronic surveillance that can automatically identify vehicles without valid inspections—it's very accurate. The biggest hassle is the risk of accidents; if something happens, the insurance company can outright refuse to cover the claim. When I went for the supplementary inspection, I was also charged an additional 200 yuan late fee, and the inspector said they had to focus on checking the chassis and brakes, which took half an hour longer than a normal inspection. My advice is to go for the supplementary inspection immediately after receiving the ticket—some places may even temporarily confiscate your vehicle license if you're over three months late.
It's quite serious if a vehicle's inspection is overdue by more than three months, with slight variations in handling across different cities. From cases I've handled: the standard fine ranges between 150 to 300 RMB nationwide, with a uniform deduction of 3 points. During the period of overdue inspection, your car insurance is essentially invalid, meaning you'd bear full responsibility for any accidents. Vehicles overdue by over three months will be placed on a 'priority inspection list' at testing stations—where previously only basic lighting checks might have been conducted, now mandatory additional tests for exhaust emissions and braking systems are enforced. The process involves first paying the fine and clearing demerit points at the traffic police station to obtain a re-inspection notice before the vehicle can be tested. After inspection, remember to keep the receipt as it's required by the insurance company for the next policy renewal.
The most direct consequence of not inspecting your vehicle for three months is getting caught by traffic cameras. Nowadays, high-definition cameras can even distinguish the color of inspection stickers. Last week, a car in my neighborhood was photographed three times consecutively. According to Article 95 of the Road Traffic Law, you can be fined 200 yuan and have 3 points deducted from your license, but enforcement varies by region: Beijing imposes additional late fees, while Guangzhou automatically locks the license plate, preventing annual inspection. The biggest risk is that the vehicle's status will become abnormal. Last year, someone was denied transfer of ownership for a vehicle that had missed inspection. Actually, it only takes a morning to get it done. I recommend downloading the Traffic Management 12123 app to check the queue situation at inspection stations. Once, when helping a friend, I found that his car, which was overdue for inspection by four months, required rear brake repairs before it could pass inspection.
