What to Do If a China III Motorcycle Cannot Be Licensed?
3 Answers
If a China III motorcycle cannot be licensed, you must not continue to drive it on the road, as it is considered illegal. If an unlicensed motorcycle is discovered, the following penalties will apply: 1. Points deduction: The driver's license can be deducted up to 12 points. 2. Fines and detention: Detention for up to 15 days and a fine. Relevant information about China III is as follows: 1. China III: The so-called China III standard refers to China's third-stage vehicle emission standards. The national third-stage emission standard is equivalent to the European III emission standard, meaning the content of tailpipe pollutants is equivalent to that of Euro III. The difference is that new vehicles must be equipped with an OBD, or onboard diagnostic system. 2. Significance: To improve air quality and further curb the pollution caused by vehicle emissions, higher-standard energy-saving and emission-reduction policies will be gradually implemented nationwide.
I just dealt with the issue of registering a China III motorcycle. The policy has changed long ago. Most provinces and cities have now stopped registering China III vehicles, and there's no way around it. I suggest checking the latest documents from the local environmental protection bureau to confirm the policy first, as some places might have a grace period. If it's confirmed that registration isn't possible, consider two solutions: one is to treat it as an unlicensed vehicle, only daring to ride it in enclosed areas, and never on the road to avoid having the vehicle impounded and fined; the other is to quickly scrap or replace it, as many brands now offer replacement subsidies. Also, a reminder: be extra careful when buying second-hand China III motorcycles online, as some sellers deliberately conceal the year to deceive buyers. Last year, my neighbor got cheated and ended up paying to transport the motorcycle back to his hometown in another province to use it as a farm vehicle.
With ten years of experience in auto repair, I've seen too many similar cases. The failure to license China III motorcycles mainly falls into two categories: policy-related and technical. Policy-wise, motorcycles produced after July 2019 are required to meet China IV standards, naturally phasing out the older standards. Technically, you need to check three key points: whether the compliance certificate has expired, if there are any signs of tampering with the vehicle identification number, and whether the exhaust pipe's three-way catalytic converter has been removed or modified. It's advisable to take the purchase invoice and compliance certificate to the inspection station for a pre-check to identify the specific issue. If the compliance certificate is expired, ask the seller to reissue one. If that's not possible, consider affiliating with a qualified club to apply for a venue-specific license plate, but this is limited to racetrack use. Modifying the emission system is illegal—don't attempt it.
