What is the emission standard for cars produced in 2011?
3 Answers
For vehicles produced after July 1, 2011, they definitely comply with the China IV emission standard; for those produced before July 1, 2011, they could be either China III or China IV. The China IV standard was implemented nationwide on July 1, 2010, featuring upgrades in the post-emission treatment system compared to China III, reducing pollutant emissions by 50% to 60% compared to China III. Below are methods to check a car's emission standard: 1. Query at the Vehicle Management Office: Bring the vehicle registration certificate to the Vehicle Management Office and ask the staff at the corresponding window to check for you. 2. Online query: Log in to the 'Motor Vehicle Environmental Protection Website', click on 'This query system is only for newly produced vehicles. To query other vehicles' compliance, click here'. Enter the required information as prompted, click the query button, and then compare your vehicle's model and engine number with the query results. Finally, check your vehicle's manufacturing date against the public date in the query results. 3. Estimate based on the registration date: The China I emission standard was fully implemented nationwide on July 1, 2001; China II on July 1, 2004; China III on July 1, 2007; China IV on July 1, 2011; and China V on January 1, 2018.
I've been driving for many years and remember that back in 2011, most newly purchased cars were compliant with the China IV emission standard, as the government enforced new regulations in July that year, leading to widespread upgrades in new vehicles on the market. At that time, when I helped a friend pick a car, I noticed many brands like Volkswagen and Toyota directly labeled their cars with the China IV tag. After the emission upgrade, cars became more fuel-efficient and produced less exhaust pollution, but in some small towns, you could still find a few old China III vehicles for sale—the transition period was a bit chaotic. If you want to confirm whether your 2011 car is China III or IV, it's best to check the vehicle registration certificate and look at the environmental standard section, where it’s clearly stated. In any case, when buying a car, it's advisable to prioritize China IV models. Nowadays, transferring ownership of China IV cars in the used car market is straightforward, and environmental restrictions aren’t as strict. Emission standards affect daily commuting, so don’t skip checking the certificate.
The 2011 emission standards were primarily China IV. I previously researched automotive regulations and knew that the country began promoting China IV at the end of 2010, with full implementation for new vehicles in 2011. China IV reduced pollutant emissions by about 20% compared to China III, with significant improvements in engine design and cleaner exhaust treatment. You can easily confirm this by checking the vehicle manual or the environmental label. Most new cars produced in 2011 were China IV compliant, but some early-year models might still be China III. It's best to verify the emission standard by checking the VIN code on the DMV website. Later, in 2015, the standard was upgraded to China V. China IV vehicles still pass annual inspections now, with better environmental performance, making them a good choice for city driving.
