What does the National IV standard mean?
3 Answers
National IV standard refers to the fourth-phase national motor vehicle emission standard in China. The methods to check a vehicle's emission standard are: 1. Check the motor vehicle conformity certificate. Vehicles come with a conformity certificate upon leaving the factory, which clearly states the emission standard; 2. Refer to the vehicle's packing list, where the emission standard can be found in the vehicle information section; 3. Examine the conformity of production certificate, which includes exhaust emissions and indicates the corresponding emission standard; 4. Query on the Motor Vehicle Environmental Protection Website by entering the vehicle's VIN code and the last 6 digits of the engine number in the public query platform located at the bottom of the homepage; 5. Inspect the vehicle's environmental protection label. The back of the environmental protection label on the vehicle's front windshield clearly indicates the emission standard.
A few days ago, my buddy asked me what the China IV standard is. I think it's basically our country's fourth-stage vehicle emission regulations, specifically controlling how dirty the exhaust gases from cars are. In simple terms, China IV means vehicles must strictly control the emissions of harmful substances like carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons, and it became mandatory around 2010. Why is it important? If a car meets China IV standards, it emits far fewer pollutants, leading to cleaner air—especially noticeable in cities like my hometown where smog gets heavy. People who drive a lot can easily see the benefits. Nowadays, new cars mostly exceed this standard, having upgraded to stricter China V or VI norms, but older vehicles may still need emission checks, and failing them means unavoidable fines. Some veteran drivers think just replacing the catalytic converter or tweaking the ECU will do the trick, but it's not that simple—a full system upgrade is more reliable. During maintenance, always choose certified parts to avoid wasting money. In short, this is crucial for both environmental protection and public health, so as drivers, we should also pay attention to protecting the environment.
The moment I hear about China IV emission standards, I immediately think of car purchasing. Simply put, it's China's fourth-phase vehicle pollution control requirement, significantly stricter than the previous China III. The specific impacts are substantial: pollutants in vehicle exhaust like nitrogen oxides and particulate matter must be greatly reduced. Why should car owners care? When buying used cars now, you need to check the environmental label. Non-compliant China IV vehicles may be restricted in some areas. During maintenance, replacement parts like EGR valves must meet standards, or emission tests will fail. The most practical benefit I see is fuel efficiency and environmental friendliness—China IV vehicles usually have better technology, potentially lower fuel consumption, and long-term economic benefits. However, upgrading older cars is troublesome; some require installing exhaust after-treatment systems, which can be costly. Nationwide enforcement began after 2013, and I remember many struggled with the policy change at the time. It doesn't hurt to know more—just pay attention during maintenance checks.
