What are the penalties for driving a vehicle without annual inspection?
2 Answers
If a vehicle is found to be driven without passing the annual inspection, the traffic police department will impound the vehicle. For motor vehicles driven on the road without displaying license plates, inspection qualification marks, insurance marks, or without carrying the vehicle registration certificate and driver's license, the traffic management authorities of the public security department shall detain the vehicle and require the owner to provide the corresponding documents, marks, or complete the necessary procedures. Motor vehicles can undergo annual inspection up to three months before the expiration date. It is recommended that owners complete the inspection one or two months in advance. The expiration date for the annual inspection can be found on the supplementary page of the vehicle registration certificate, which states the validity period of the inspection. For example, if the copy of the registration certificate indicates an inspection validity period until September 2018, the owner should schedule the inspection within July, August, or September. Conducting the inspection early will not affect the timing of the next inspection. Considering that most people tend to wait until the end of the month, leading to congestion, it is advisable to prepare for the inspection at the beginning of the month.
That time I drove out without getting my vehicle inspected, and got pulled over by traffic police at a red light intersection. I was fined 200 yuan on the spot and had 3 points deducted from my license. The officer said this was actually lenient - if caught three times consecutively, my license could be suspended or the vehicle impounded. I immediately went for a retroactive inspection. The process was troublesome but worthwhile, because the inspection ensures brakes and lights are functioning properly. Had an accident occurred, insurance might have refused compensation. Since then, I set annual reminders on my phone well in advance to avoid similar mistakes. Road safety comes first - driving uninspected vehicles not only costs money and points, but also increases safety hazards, especially when weak headlights at night can easily cause accidents. I recommend everyone develop good habits and never procrastinate on inspection dates.
