Will driving on the highway without annual vehicle inspection be detected?
4 Answers
Driving on the highway without annual vehicle inspection will be detected, and it is best not to do so. Here is relevant information: 1. Relevant regulations: If a motor vehicle does not undergo annual inspection on schedule, it will not have the annual inspection qualification mark. If caught driving on the road, the vehicle will be temporarily impounded. Afterwards, if the owner provides the relevant procedures, obtains the qualification mark, and the vehicle has all other necessary documents, the vehicle can be returned. The owner will be fined and have 1 point deducted from their driver's license. 2. Relevant laws: The state implements a registration system for motor vehicles. A motor vehicle can only be driven on the road after being registered with the traffic management department of the public security authority. For motor vehicles that have not yet been registered but need to be driven on the road temporarily, a temporary pass must be obtained.
As someone who frequently drives long distances, I think it's not worth the risk. The ETC and surveillance systems at highway entrances automatically recognize license plates, and they'll alert the authorities immediately if they detect an expired annual inspection. Last week, my buddy was pulled over by a police car right after entering the highway—he got 3 points deducted, a 200-yuan fine, and his car was towed. The truth is, the current networked systems are incredibly smart. Those checkpoint cameras can even detect expired insurance, let alone an overdue annual inspection. Once, during a random check by highway police in another city, they used a device to scan my license plate, and all my vehicle info popped up in three seconds. Even if you're lucky enough not to get caught on the spot, the toll stations keep records, so you won’t escape penalties later.
With over a decade of experience in car repairs, I've seen too many unfortunate cases. Last year, I remember a car owner drove from Hangzhou to Nanjing in a vehicle without an annual inspection. Just after crossing the provincial border, the vehicle was flagged by the automated surveillance system. This system automatically checks the vehicle's status and triggers an alarm as soon as it detects an overdue inspection. In the end, not only was there a fine and points deducted, but the highway towing fee alone cost over 800 yuan. Nowadays, even regular traffic cameras can recognize inspection stickers, and those gantry cameras on highways are even more advanced. In fact, traffic police can set up random checks in service areas at any time, especially during holidays when enforcement is stricter. I always tell my customers, it's better to get the annual inspection done ten days in advance rather than driving around in constant fear.
Uncle Wang, my neighbor, learned this the hard way last month. His vintage car's annual inspection had expired three days prior, but he thought driving just 100 kilometers wouldn't be an issue. Turned out he got stopped at the highway exit—when the officer checked the vehicle registration, his face darkened immediately. Not only was the car impounded on the spot, but he also had to ask family to bring a copy of his driver's license to sort things out. Later, I looked up the regulations and realized that a car without a valid inspection essentially has no legal right to be on the road. If caught by highway cameras, it's treated as an off-site violation. Nowadays, many provincial border checkpoints have upgraded their recognition systems, even pulling real-time emissions data. My advice? Just set a phone calendar reminder—start prepping for the annual inspection at least two weeks in advance.
