What is the Vehicle Annual Inspection Policy?
3 Answers
Annual inspection is essentially a health check for vehicles, and cars that fail the inspection are not permitted to drive on the road. Currently, the Ministry of Public Security has issued new regulations for vehicle annual inspections in 2021. According to reports, the new rules mainly adjust the inspection items and came into effect on January 1, 2021. As per the "Motor Vehicle Safety Technology Inspection Items and Methods," the adjustments to the inspection items are divided into two parts: private cars and freight vehicles, as detailed below: Added inspection step: Private cars now include a "safety defect recall" step in the online inspection process. If a vehicle has safety issues and is under recall by the manufacturer, the inspector will notify the owner of the recall status. Clarified scope of appearance inspection: The new regulations specify and relax the appearance inspection standards for vehicles. During the appearance check, modifications such as grilles, pedals, roof racks, and bumpers are allowed. Three additions and six deletions for freight vehicles: Newly added items: Tire tread depth, wheel lifting device, and wheelbase. Removed items: Noise, speedometer, suspension efficiency, fuel economy, power performance, and headlight offset—six old inspection items.
As a seasoned driver with over a decade of experience, let me talk about vehicle annual inspections. Simply put, in China, every vehicle must undergo periodic safety and environmental performance checks to ensure road safety and reduce pollution. For new cars within the first 6 years, you don’t need to visit an inspection station, but you must apply for an exemption decal every two years via a mobile app or the traffic management website—from my personal experience, this is incredibly convenient and quick, just upload a photo of your vehicle license. After 6 years, you’ll need to visit an inspection station every two years for on-site checks, including brake tests, light brightness, exhaust emissions, etc. If your car is over 10 years old, it must be inspected annually, and vehicles older than 15 years require checks every six months. Before each visit, I always do a quick self-check on tire wear and lights to avoid multiple trips. Remember, failing to complete the annual inspection on time can result in fines or even license plate suspension, so I recommend setting a reminder on your phone to avoid missing the deadline. Additionally, new policies now allow online appointment scheduling for inspections, significantly reducing wait times. Overall, these measures give us car owners greater peace of mind while driving.
From my perspective as an automotive technology enthusiast, the annual inspection policy is not just about compliance but also innovation. At its core, the inspection verifies whether a vehicle's critical systems are functioning properly—such as OBD system diagnostics for fault codes and catalytic converter evaluations for emission levels, all of which relate to environmental compliance. New vehicles are exempt from on-site testing for the first six years, but biennial online declarations are mandatory; afterward, periodic testing at inspection stations is required for metrics like braking efficiency and tire tread depth. I always remind people to perform minor maintenance in advance, such as oil changes and carbon deposit cleaning, to pass emission tests effortlessly. The policy has evolved to incorporate more automated equipment for precision testing, improving efficiency. However, if you've modified exhaust pipes or lighting, be sure to inform the inspector—otherwise, you'll fail. This process is meaningful as it encourages owners to learn about vehicle maintenance and develop good habits.
