Private passenger cars in Taiwan under 5 years from manufacture are exempt from periodic safety inspections; cars aged 5 to 10 years must be inspected at least once annually, while vehicles aged 10 years and older must be inspected at least twice annually, conducted within 1 month before or after the designated inspection date (Road Traffic Safety Regulations Article 44; 道路交通安全規則第 44 條). Standard motorcycles are exempt from periodic safety inspections, but motorcycles aged 5 years and older must undergo annual exhaust emissions testing within 1 month before or after the license issue month. Failing to inspect cars incurs fines between NT$900 and NT$1,800, with vehicle license plates suspended if overdue by more than 1 month.
Important Reminder: Vehicle safety inspections and exhaust emissions inspections are two distinct regulatory systems: safety inspections fall under motor vehicle supervisory agencies, whereas emissions inspections fall under environmental protection authorities, carrying independent statutory penalties. Gasoline automobiles aged 8 years and older are subject to biennial exhaust testing. Always verify inspection deadlines on the Motor Vehicle Driver Information Service portal.
Automobile Periodic Safety Inspection Frequencies
| Vehicle Type | Mandatory Inspection Frequency | Statutory Regulatory Basis |
|---|
| Private Passenger Cars, Passenger-Cargo Dual Vehicles, Large Heavy Motorcycles, Enclosed Cabin Tricycles | Under 5 years: Exempt; 5 to 10 years: At least once annually; 10 years and older: At least twice annually. | Road Traffic Safety Regulations Article 44, Paragraph 1, Item 1. |
| Rental Passenger / Cargo Vehicles Leased for Over 1 Year | Under 3 years: Exempt; 3 to 6 years: At least once annually; 6 years and older: At least twice annually. | Road Traffic Safety Regulations Article 44, Paragraph 1, Item 2. |
| Commercial Buses and High-Pressure Tank Trucks Over 10 Years Old | At least 3 times annually (must apply within 1 month prior to designated date). | Road Traffic Safety Regulations Article 44, Paragraph 1, Item 3 & Paragraph 2. |
| LPG/CNG Vehicles, Child Transport Vans, Other Private and Commercial Vehicles | Under 5 years: At least once annually; 5 years and older: At least twice annually. | Road Traffic Safety Regulations Article 44, Paragraph 1, Item 4. |
| Trailers | At least once annually. | Road Traffic Safety Regulations Article 44, Paragraph 1, Item 5. |
| Ordinary Heavy and Light Motorcycles with Issued Plates | Zero periodic safety inspections; subject exclusively to temporary inspections upon transfer. | Road Traffic Safety Regulations Article 44, Paragraph 4. |
Large heavy motorcycles share identical inspection schedules with private cars, starting at 5 years. Bring your vehicle registration certificate (Article 44 Paragraph 3). Vehicles failing inspections must be repaired and re-inspected within 1 month; failures in drivetrain, braking, or steering systems cause immediate plate retention (Article 46).
Temporary inspections (Article 45) are mandatory when modifying engines, chassis, or electrical gear; following major collision restorations; or transferring cars aged 10+ years or motorcycles aged 5+ years.
Exhaust Emissions Testing: Motorcycles, Gasoline, and Diesel Cars
Under Air Pollution Control Act Article 44 (空氣污染防制法第 44 條), the Ministry of Environment regulates exhaust emissions frequencies:
| Vehicle Category | Testing Target and Frequency | Inspection Deadline Window | Authorized Testing Locations | Inspection Fee Burden |
|---|
| Motorcycles | Aged 5 years and older, once annually. | Within 1 month before or after license issue month. | Contracted motorcycle emissions inspection stations. | NT$100 per vehicle (subsidized by Air Pollution Fund). |
| Gasoline Passenger Cars (Effective July 1, 2023 / 112 年 7 月 1 日) | Aged 8 years and older, once every 2 years in even-numbered years. | Within 1 month before or after license issue month. | Contracted automobile inspection stations. | NT$100 per vehicle (subsidized by Air Pollution Fund). |
| Diesel Vehicles (Effective Jan 1, 2024 / 113 年 1 月 1 日) | Vehicles that failed prior environmental checks, once annually for 2 consecutive years. | Within 1 month before or after license issue month. | Environmental chassis dynamometer testing stations. | Free (NT$0). |
Motorcycle emissions rules derive from MOENV notices (amended March 4, 2019 / 108 年 3 月 4 日修正). Defective vehicles must be repaired and re-inspected within 1 month.
Statutory Penalties for Overdue Inspections
| Violation Scenario | Statutory Penalty and Administrative Sanctions | Regulatory Legal Basis |
|---|
| Automobile Overdue for Periodic or Temporary Inspection | Fined NT$900 to NT$1,800; overdue by 1+ month suspends plates until passed; overdue by 6+ months revokes registration. | Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act Article 17, Paragraph 1. |
| Unified Penalty Scale for Private Vehicles | Timely: NT$900; 1 to 30 days overdue: NT$1,000; 30 to 60 days: NT$1,100; over 60 days: NT$1,200. | Unified Traffic Penalty Criteria Table. |
| Failure to Re-Inspect or Pass Within 1 Month of Defect | License plates suspended until inspection passed. | Penalty Act Article 17, Paragraph 2. |
| Failure to Undergo Mandatory Exhaust Emissions Testing | Fined NT$500 to NT$15,000 (local environmental agencies typically assess standard NT$500 fine). | Air Pollution Control Act Article 80, Paragraph 1. |
| Emissions Defect Unrepaired Within 1 Month | Fined NT$1,500 to NT$30,000. | Air Pollution Control Act Article 80, Paragraph 2. |
| Emissions Overdue by 6+ Months After Notice | Fined NT$3,000 to NT$60,000; consecutive non-compliance prompts registration revocation. | Air Pollution Control Act Article 80, Paragraph 3. |
Article 17 citations cannot be paid by mail and require adjudication office attendance; contracted inspection stations in New Taipei can collect fines for vehicles overdue under 7 months. Pay citations via our traffic ticket lookup guide.
How to Look Up Dates and Book Inspection Appointments
- Query Inspection Dates Online: Visit the Motor Vehicle Driver Information Service portal under Vehicles & Inspections > Inspection Date Inquiry, entering National ID, birthdate, plate number, and vehicle class.
- Book Inspection Slots: Use the same portal to schedule appointments at official supervisory offices or private contracted stations.
- Motorcycle Emissions Lookup: Utilize the MOENV Motorcycle Emissions Inspection System to verify stations and historical compliance records.
- Advance Planning Before Holidays: Complete inspections ahead of long holidays (such as Retrocession Day / 115 年光復節連假 shutdowns) to prevent statutory deadlines from lapsing.
Compare fuel prices via our nearby gas prices tool, track weekly oil price adjustments in our weekly fuel price guide, and master senior renewal rules with our age 70 and 75 license renewal guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Years After Buying a New Car Must It First Be Inspected?
New private passenger cars are exempt for the first 5 years, inspected once annually from year 5, and twice annually from year 10 based on manufacturing dates.
Do Standard Motorcycles Require Periodic Safety Inspections?
No. Ordinary heavy and light motorcycles do not undergo periodic safety inspections (Article 44 Paragraph 4), but require annual exhaust tests after year 5, and temporary checks upon transfer after year 5. Large heavy motorcycles follow car safety inspection schedules.
How Many Days Grace Period Apply Before Fines Are Assessed?
Car safety inspections must occur within 1 month before or after the designated date; exceeding this window triggers Article 17 fines, with plates suspended after 1 month.
Must Secondhand Cars Be Inspected Before Ownership Transfer?
Yes. Automobiles aged 10 years and older, and motorcycles aged 5 years and older, must complete temporary inspections before title transfer (Article 45), clearing all unpaid traffic fines.
Last updated: 2026-10-31.
Sources
- Laws and Regulations Database: Road Traffic Safety Regulations (amended June 26, 2026; 115 年 6 月 26 日, verified 2026-10-31): Article 44 periodic inspection frequencies and 1-month margins, Article 45 temporary inspections, Article 46 defect re-inspections.
- Laws and Regulations Database: Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act (amended Aug 17, 2026; 115 年 8 月 17 日, verified 2026-10-31): Article 17 overdue inspection penalties, suspensions, and revocations.
- Laws and Regulations Database: Unified Penalty Criteria for Traffic Violations PDF (verified 2026-10-31): Article 17 fine scale of NT$900, NT$1,000, NT$1,100, and NT$1,200.
- Laws and Regulations Database: Air Pollution Control Act (amended Aug 1, 2018; 107 年 8 月 1 日, verified 2026-10-31): Article 44 exhaust emissions testing authority, Article 80 non-inspection and defect fines.
- Ministry of Environment Regulations: Motorcycle Air Pollutant Periodic Inspection Notice (amended March 4, 2019; 108 年 3 月 4 日, updated 115-09-21, verified 2026-10-31): Annual exhaust testing within 1 month of issue date for bikes 5+ years.
- MOENV Air Quality Portal: Vehicle Periodic Emissions Testing (updated 2026-10-31, verified 2026-10-31): Testing criteria, NT$100 fees, and NT$500 penalty standards.
- Motor Vehicle Driver Information Service: Vehicle Inspection Date Query (verified 2026-10-31): Vehicle query portal, inspection appointment bookings, and contracted station lookups.
- New Taipei City Traffic Adjudication Office: Citation Payment Methods (updated 2026-04-20, verified 2026-10-31): Article 17 non-mailable citation rules and contracted station fine payments.
- Motor Vehicle Driver Information Service: News Announcements (verified 2026-10-31): Inspection station holiday closure notices for Retrocession Day 2026 (115 年光復節連假).
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