What are the penalties for driving a vehicle without annual inspection?
2 Answers
For vehicles that fail to undergo annual inspection on time, in addition to compromised driving safety, according to the "Road Traffic Safety Law", driving a vehicle with overdue annual inspection will result in a fine and 3 penalty points for the driver. In the event of any traffic accident caused by a vehicle that has not undergone annual inspection on time, the party involved will bear full or primary responsibility, and the insurance company will not be liable. This is because the insurance policy specifies that vehicles with expired annual inspections are among the excluded objects for claims. The consequences of driving a vehicle with an expired annual inspection are as follows: Vehicles that have not undergone annual inspection on time are not allowed on the road; Driving a vehicle without timely annual inspection will result in 3 penalty points and a fine; If an accident occurs involving a vehicle that has not undergone annual inspection, the party involved must bear full or primary responsibility, and the insurance company will not provide compensation.
Last time I forgot to get my car inspected before hitting the road, and ended up being caught by traffic police—fined 200 RMB with 3 points deducted from my license. I deeply regret it. This isn’t just about the fine; you could even face having your car towed, especially in strictly enforced cities like Beijing or Shanghai. I’ve realized that overdue inspections allow vehicle issues to pile up—problems like brake failure or faulty lighting could lead to accidents, and insurance won’t cover you if something happens. So, I recommend setting a phone calendar reminder in advance, checking safety components regularly, and never risking driving an uninspected car. Safety first—it saves money and keeps the roads safe for everyone.
