What is the difference between reissuing the inspection compliance mark and applying for the inspection exemption mark?
3 Answers
The inspection compliance mark and the inspection exemption mark are essentially the same. The mark received by an inspection-exempt vehicle and the mark issued by a testing station after passing the safety technical inspection differ only in the inspection institution item on the back. For the inspection exemption mark, "None" is printed, while for the mark issued by the testing station, the name of the inspection institution is printed. The rest is the same. Below is relevant information about vehicle inspection: 1. Processing location: Embassies/consulates and foreign-licensed motor vehicles should go to the vehicle management office, while other motor vehicles should go to the branch office of the vehicle management office corresponding to the address recorded in the identity document of the vehicle owner. The vehicle management office or branch office will complete the process within one working day from the date of acceptance, without any fees. 2. Address: For organizations, the address is the one recorded in their identity document; for individuals, the address is the one they declared. 3. Circumstances for reissuing the motor vehicle inspection compliance mark and required documents: During the valid period of the motor vehicle inspection compliance, if the inspection compliance mark is damaged, lost, or destroyed, the vehicle owner should submit the following documents to apply for reissuance of the motor vehicle inspection compliance mark.
I remember dealing with these two types of labels was quite interesting. Once, the inspection compliance label on my car's windshield got damaged, so I went to get a replacement. That was actually for a label that had been issued after the car passed the annual inspection but got lost. Applying for the exemption label is different. For example, with my new car in the first two years, I didn't need to queue up at the inspection station and suffer through the process—I could just apply online directly, saving the hassle of the inspection. The fundamental difference is that a replacement is for vehicles that have already been inspected but lost their label, requiring a trip with the vehicle license and annual inspection proof. The exemption is for vehicles that meet policy requirements, like new cars within six years, allowing them to get the label directly without inspection. The benefit of the exemption is that it's super fast and reduces hassle, but you have to take care not to lose the label often, otherwise, replacing it takes time. Safety-wise, having the label ensures you're legally on the road—don't risk penalties over something small.
As a long-time driver, I've seen many car owners confuse these two. Simply put, replacing the inspection sticker means reapplying when the original is damaged or lost; the prerequisite is that your vehicle has already passed the annual inspection and obtained the sticker, and now you need to reapply with the required documents. Applying for the exemption sticker, on the other hand, is for new vehicles within the six-year exemption period that meet the regulations and can directly receive the sticker without going through the inspection line—a policy benefit that saves time and effort. The key difference is that replacement solves accidental loss, while the exemption takes advantage of benefits for new cars. In terms of process, the exemption is easier to handle, taking just a few minutes via an app, whereas replacement is slightly more cumbersome as it involves handling documents. A reminder: regularly check that the sticker is securely attached to ensure it doesn’t get blown off by the wind or become soiled, which could affect driving safety.
