
Vehicle identification methods for national emission standards are: 1. Check the environmental protection label sticker on the vehicle; 2. Refer to the vehicle conformity certificate - Roman numeral 1 indicates National Standard I, 2 indicates National Standard II, 3 indicates National Standard III, 4 indicates National Standard IV, 5 indicates National Standard V, and 6 indicates National Standard VI; 3. Use the vehicle registration certificate to inquire at the local vehicle management office. Taking National Standard VI as an example, its National Standard VIa regulations specify: 1. Gasoline vehicles must not emit more than 700mg of carbon monoxide per kilometer driven; 2. Gasoline vehicles must not emit more than 68mg of non-methane hydrocarbons per kilometer driven; 3. Gasoline vehicles must not emit more than 60mg of nitrogen oxides per kilometer driven; 4. Gasoline vehicles must not emit more than 4.5mg of PM (particulate matter) per kilometer driven.

From my personal car repair experience, I've summarized several methods to identify China's emission standards. The most intuitive way is to check the environmental label in the upper right corner of the windshield, which usually displays 'China IV' or 'China V' in conspicuous white text on a blue background. If the label is missing, examine the 'Brand Model' section on the supplementary page of the vehicle license - models ending with '4' or '5' typically indicate China IV or V standards. For more detailed verification, refer to the vehicle conformity certificate or factory certificate where emission standards are explicitly stated. A professional approach involves noting the 10th digit of the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number): for instance, 'M' corresponds to China V and 'R' to China VI, directly indicating the production year. Nowadays, beginners can conveniently use the 'Motor Vehicle Environmental Protection Network' official WeChat account to query by entering the VIN - results appear within twenty seconds.

I often use these methods to help friends check their vehicle's emission standards. First, look at the engine compartment nameplate and find the 10th letter of the VIN code. For example, a vehicle produced in 2020 with the letter R corresponds to China VI. Then check the round environmental protection label on the inside of the windshield, where China IV to China VI standards are clearly marked in large characters. The second page of the vehicle registration certificate issued by the DMV also contains key information, usually noted in the 'Engine Model' or vehicle technical parameters section. If all else fails, check the vehicle purchase invoice date. China III vehicles are mostly from before 2010, China IV from 2011-2017, and new vehicles now are basically China VI. These methods don't require professional equipment; just a phone flashlight will do.

To identify the emission standard, I usually check three key spots. First, flip open the vehicle registration certificate and look for the 'Environmental Standard' or 'Emission Level' column, which directly states the national emission standard (e.g., China IV, China V). Don't overlook the blue environmental label (10 cm in diameter) stuck on the lower right corner of the windshield—China V or China VI is printed prominently on it. Also, check the manufacturing date on the engine compartment nameplate; for instance, vehicles produced in 2019 are mostly China V, while those after 2021 are generally China VI. China III vehicles now face many restricted zones, especially older models over ten years—pay extra attention. Verifying this helps avoid urban traffic fines and is crucial for used car transactions.


