What Happens If a Car Fails Its Annual Inspection?
4 Answers
From the date of registration and licensing, motor vehicles are required to undergo an inspection once in the first two years after purchase, and then annually thereafter. Failure to comply will result in the vehicle being prohibited from road use. According to relevant authorities at the vehicle management office, under the "Mandatory Scrapping Standards for Motor Vehicles" implemented on May 1st of this year, any registered motor vehicle that fails to obtain an inspection compliance mark for three consecutive inspection periods after the expiration of its inspection validity period will be forcibly deregistered. Vehicles that have not undergone inspection within the required period will be captured by electronic police if driven on the road and may be intercepted and impounded by traffic police. Regulations for vehicle annual inspections: 1. Consequences of failing inspection for 3 years: Registered motor vehicles that fail to obtain an inspection compliance mark for three consecutive inspection periods after the expiration of their inspection validity period will be forcibly scrapped and deregistered. 2. Mini non-operational passenger vehicles: Small and mini non-operational passenger vehicles must be inspected once every two years within the first six years; after six years, once annually; and after 15 years, twice annually. 3. Operational passenger vehicles: Operational passenger vehicles must be inspected once annually within the first five years; after five years, once every six months. 4. Trucks: Trucks and large and medium-sized non-operational passenger vehicles must be inspected once annually within the first ten years; after ten years, once every six months.
Having driven for over a decade, I know firsthand how crucial vehicle inspections are. Failing to get your annual check-up on time means facing fines—starting at 200 RMB at the very least—plus penalty points. If traffic police pull you over, your car gets impounded immediately, leading to a huge hassle: you’ll have to cover towing and storage fees. Worse, skipping inspections for three consecutive cycles results in mandatory scrapping. A relative of mine learned this the hard way—they assumed their rarely used private car didn’t need inspection, only for the system to automatically deregister it. They spent thousands just to reinstate the paperwork. These days, inspections are convenient—just book via mobile and finish in 30 minutes. Don’t lose big by cutting corners!
Skipping the annual vehicle inspection is absolutely not an option! Just think about what they check during the inspection - lights, brakes, exhaust emissions - all directly related to driving safety. I once forgot to inspect an old car I was driving, and later discovered the brake pads were completely worn out, nearly causing a rear-end collision. The insurance issue is even more critical. A friend's car got into an accident without passing inspection, and the insurance company refused to pay a single penny, leaving him to cover over 100,000 in repair costs out of pocket. If your car gets stolen, the police might not even put much effort into finding it. With so many traffic cameras nowadays, several people I know have been caught on camera, receiving tickets automatically mailed to their homes. If you're really pressed for time, hiring a broker to handle the inspection is still better than skipping it altogether.
Veteran drivers know that vehicle inspection is like a health check-up for your beloved car. I check my car's condition every six months, but some hidden issues can only be detected with professional equipment. Once, my headlight wiring was aging and short-circuited, which was only discovered during the annual inspection. There are three major risks of skipping inspections: first, safety hazards like steering failure; second, financial losses from fines and vehicle impoundment; third, legal liabilities as you'll be fully responsible in accidents. Last time, a driver hit someone with a car overdue for inspection by six months—the insurance refused to pay, and their license was revoked. My advice: stick a reminder sticker on the windshield and set a phone calendar alarm. Don’t let small neglect turn into big trouble.
