What to Do If the Vehicle License Annual Inspection Has Expired?
3 Answers
If the vehicle license annual inspection has expired, you need to go for a supplementary inspection as soon as possible. Here are the relevant details: 1. Application for Replacement: If the vehicle license has expired, you should go to the vehicle management office to apply for a replacement. For the replacement, you need to bring the identity proof of the vehicle owner, standard photos of the vehicle, and the expired original vehicle license, which should be returned to the vehicle management office. 2. Fines: If the vehicle license has expired, it is equivalent to not having a license, and the vehicle cannot be driven on the road. If the vehicle is inspected by traffic police and found to have an expired annual inspection, the owner may be fined or the vehicle may be impounded. 3. Accidents: According to insurance contracts, a vehicle with an expired license is considered unqualified. If an accident occurs, the insurance company will not provide compensation.
I remember last year I carelessly forgot about the annual inspection of my vehicle license, and only realized it was overdue for almost a month. I was so scared that I immediately stopped driving. I quickly took a taxi to the vehicle management office, where the staff told me I had to pay a fine, usually between 100 to 200 yuan, and warned me that driving without inspection would lead to point deductions and towing. After paying the fine, I hurriedly booked an appointment at the inspection station, drove there to retest the lights, brakes, and other items, which took most of the day and cost me a few hundred yuan extra. Fortunately, my car had no major issues and passed, and the vehicle license was updated. This was a hard lesson learned, so now I set an annual reminder on my phone calendar to avoid repeating the mistake—safety first, after all. A car without annual inspection poses significant risks, and an accident would be a huge loss. Don’t delay in getting it fixed; the longer you wait, the worse the consequences.
Let me clarify this quickly. Once your vehicle inspection is overdue, the first thing to do is not to drive on the road to avoid being caught by traffic police and fined or penalized with points. Park your car first, then check the contact information of the vehicle management office online or via an app, and report promptly to pay the fine, usually starting at over 100 yuan. Next, schedule an appointment at a vehicle inspection station and drive your car there for a re-inspection as soon as possible. The inspection includes key components like brakes and emissions, and if everything goes smoothly, it can be completed in half a day with costs amounting to a few hundred yuan. Don’t forget to check your compulsory traffic insurance, as neglecting it may affect your insurance premiums. I usually advise friends to arrange inspections before the expiration date to avoid all this hassle—act quickly, as delaying may lead to increased fines or even vehicle impoundment.
