There are new requirements for the accreditation assessment of testing institutions in this field!

Recently, the State Administration for Market Regulation issued the "Supplementary Technical Requirements for Accreditation and Assessment of Motor Vehicle Inspection Institutions." The motor vehicle inspection institutions referred to in these supplementary technical requirements include institutions that conduct motor vehicle safety technical inspections and emission inspections. Details are as follows:

Notice of the Office of the State Administration for Market Regulation on Issuing the "Supplementary Technical Requirements for Accreditation and Assessment of Motor Vehicle Inspection Institutions"

Market Supervision and Inspection Letter [2022] No. 111

To the market supervision bureaus (departments, committees) of each province, autonomous region, municipality directly under the Central Government, and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps: The revised "Supplementary Technical Requirements for Accreditation and Assessment of Motor Vehicle Inspection Institutions" are hereby issued to you. Please conscientiously implement them in light of the actual situation to ensure the smooth transition and implementation of the accreditation and assessment work for motor vehicle inspection institutions.

Office of the State Administration for Market Regulation

December 29, 2022

(This document is publicly released)

Supplementary Technical Requirements for Accreditation and Assessment of Motor Vehicle Inspection Institutions

       Chapter 1 General Provisions

Article 1 In order to standardize the accreditation and assessment work of motor vehicle inspection institutions, these supplementary technical requirements are formulated in accordance with the "Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China" and its implementation regulations, the "Law of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Air Pollution," the "Administrative Measures for the Accreditation of Inspection and Testing Institutions," and other relevant documents.

Article 2 The motor vehicle inspection institutions referred to in these supplementary technical requirements include institutions that conduct motor vehicle safety technical inspections and emission inspections.

Motor vehicle safety technical inspection institutions refer to institutions that, in accordance with the provisions of the "Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China" and its implementation regulations, conduct safety technical inspections of motor vehicles traveling on roads in accordance with motor vehicle safety technical inspection standards.

Motor vehicle emission inspection institutions refer to institutions that, in accordance with the provisions of the "Law of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Air Pollution," conduct emission inspections of motor vehicles traveling on roads in accordance with national standards and regulations formulated by the competent state department for ecological environment or relevant local regulations.

Article 3 The accreditation and assessment of motor vehicle inspection institutions should comply with these supplementary technical requirements.

Article 4 If the business scope of a motor vehicle inspection institution involves the repair, maintenance, and sale of motor vehicles, it should ensure the independent operation of motor vehicle inspection business from other related businesses to guarantee the impartiality of the inspection.

       Chapter 2 Technical Capability Assessment Requirements

Article 5 Motor vehicle inspection institutions should possess the inspection capabilities for all items of safety technical inspection for one or several types of vehicles in the applicable vehicle types of "Motor Vehicle Safety Technical Inspection Items and Methods" (GB 38900), and should also possess the emission inspection capabilities for corresponding vehicle types in "Emission Limits and Measurement Methods for Gasoline Vehicles (Dual Idle Speed Method and Simplified Working Condition Method)" (GB 18285), "Emission Limits and Measurement Methods for Diesel Vehicles (Free Acceleration Method and Load Deceleration Method)" (GB 3847), or other emission standards (excluding those that are not applicable).

Article 6 For motor vehicle inspection institutions with multiple locations, each inspection location should possess the inspection capabilities for all items of safety technical inspection for one or several types of vehicles and the corresponding emission inspection capabilities, with complete and independent inspection and service capabilities for conducting motor vehicle inspections.

       Chapter 3 Personnel Assessment Requirements

Article 7 Motor vehicle inspection institutions should configure corresponding inspection personnel in accordance with the requirements for accreditation. Inspection personnel of motor vehicle inspection institutions should include (but are not limited to): login personnel, appearance inspectors, chassis component inspectors, drivers, OBD inspectors, emission inspectors, etc. The inspection capabilities of inspection personnel should match the motor vehicle inspection work they undertake.

Article 8 Motor vehicle inspection institutions should provide training for inspection personnel and, after passing the assessment, confirm that they meet the technical capability requirements before they can engage in inspection work in relevant positions.

Article 9 The number of inspection personnel of a motor vehicle inspection institution should match the number of testing lines and the daily number of inspected vehicles to meet the requirements of motor vehicle inspection.

Article 10 The technical director and authorized signatory of a motor vehicle inspection institution should be familiar with relevant laws, regulations, and standards; be familiar with motor vehicle theory and structure, basic knowledge and composition of emission control systems; be familiar with the business, processes, and relevant professional knowledge of various inspection work positions; be familiar with the structure and performance of inspection and testing instruments and equipment; and be proficient in the operating procedures of inspection and testing instruments and equipment.

Article 11 The technical director and authorized signatory of a motor vehicle inspection institution should have an intermediate or higher professional technical title in a relevant field and have been engaged in relevant inspection and testing work for three years or more, or have equivalent capabilities. For the authorized signatory of large passenger vehicles, school buses, and dangerous goods transport vehicles, when the personnel have equivalent capabilities, the time limit for engaging in relevant inspection and testing work shall be increased by two years on the basis of the original requirements.

The relevant professional technical titles referred to in this article include: vehicle engineering, power engineering (internal combustion engine), automotive application engineering, automotive repair engineering, automotive testing (technology), automotive design and manufacturing, automotive testing, automotive service engineering, mechanical engineering, road transport safety, electromechanical manufacturing, automatic control, environmental engineering, and environmental monitoring, etc.

The equivalent capabilities referred to in this article refer to: meeting the equivalent capability requirements stipulated in the "Accreditation Assessment Criteria for Inspection and Testing Institutions"; or graduating with a bachelor's degree from a university in vehicle engineering, automotive application engineering, or automotive service engineering, or graduating with an associate's degree from a university in motor vehicle design, manufacturing, assembly, testing, repair, appraisal and evaluation, reshaping and modification, automotive electronics, automotive marketing and service, or new energy vehicles, and having been engaged in relevant inspection and testing work for three years or more; or having a technician or higher skill qualification (level) in motor vehicle testing, motor vehicle repair, automobile manufacturing, automobile assembly and adjustment, or engineering machinery repair, and having been engaged in relevant inspection and testing work for three years or more.

The relevant inspection and testing work referred to in this article means: engaging in whole vehicle inspection of motor vehicles at inspection and testing institutions, engaging in whole vehicle inspection of motor vehicles at motor vehicle manufacturing enterprises, engaging in whole vehicle inspection of motor vehicles at automobile repair enterprises, engaging in motor vehicle safety technical inspection, motor vehicle emission inspection, and motor vehicle comprehensive performance inspection work.

       Article 12. Motor vehicle inspection drivers shall hold a valid motor vehicle driver's license corresponding to the type of vehicle being inspected and have more than two years of driving experience.

       Article 13. Motor vehicle inspection institutions shall sign labor/employment contracts with motor vehicle inspection personnel and establish labor relations. Inspection personnel shall sign a commitment letter of integrity inspection, pledging to conduct motor vehicle inspection work strictly in accordance with laws, regulations, and technical standards.

       Chapter 4 Site and Facility Review Requirements

       Article 14. Motor vehicle inspection institutions shall have a fixed workplace with ownership or full usage rights, and its working environment shall ensure the accuracy of the inspection results.

       Article 15. The site, buildings, and other facilities of motor vehicle inspection institutions shall meet the requirements of the inspection items and safe operation of the inspected vehicle types, and shall set up corresponding office, inspection, and service areas.

       The office area shall include offices, archives (classified storage of technical archives and vehicle archives), and computer rooms.

       The inspection area shall include a pre-inspection area, an external inspection area, a vehicle chassis component inspection area (can be merged with an inspection area with the same function), a testing workshop (instrument and equipment automatic control area), a chassis dynamic inspection area, a driving brake performance road test inspection area (when applicable), a parking brake performance road test inspection area, and a curb weight/tare weight and overall dimension inspection area (when applicable). The external inspection area shall have an external inspection shed or external inspection workshop. When conducting mobile inspections of vehicles in the inspection area, closed management shall be implemented, with isolation facilities to prevent unauthorized personnel from entering, ensuring inspection safety.

       Article 16. Internal roads of motor vehicle inspection institutions shall be made of cement or asphalt pavement, with good visibility and smooth traffic. The length, width, and turning radius of the roads shall meet the normal driving requirements of the inspected vehicle types.

       Article 17. Motor vehicle inspection institutions shall reasonably plan the on-site driving routes. Sufficient traffic signs, traffic markings, guide signs, and safety signs shall be set up. The traffic signs and markings information within the site shall be concise, clear, continuous, and clearly directional, conforming to the provisions of "Road Traffic Signs and Markings" (GB 5768), ensuring the safe and smooth passage of vehicles and personnel.

       Article 18. The operating space for vehicle chassis component inspection shall meet the inspection requirements, with good lighting, ventilation, and signaling facilities, and anti-vehicle fall measures around the pit.

       The entrance and exit stairs of the pit shall be located on the side of the pit, with safety railings at the entrance and exit, or other safety measures to protect the vehicle chassis component inspection personnel, without affecting vehicle passage.

       The site using lifting devices for inspection shall have sufficient working and safety space.

       Article 19. The testing workshop shall be a fixed building, with ventilation, lighting, drainage, rain protection, and fire protection meeting safety protection requirements.

       The length, width, internal space, space of each workstation, spacing, and entrances and exits of the testing workshop shall meet the requirements of the corresponding inspected vehicle types and inspection items. The testing workshop shall fully consider air circulation, and install vehicle exhaust emission devices if necessary, reducing air pollution in the workshop, ensuring that the emission inspection workshop is well ventilated, and that no accumulation or aggregation of motor vehicle exhaust occurs in the emission inspection area.

       The testing workshop shall be paved with hard surfaces that are easy to clean (such as cement, terrazzo, etc.), and the ground strength shall meet the load requirements of the inspected vehicles; the longitudinal and transverse slopes of the driving surface shall not exceed 0.1%; the coefficient of friction between the tires and the ground in front of and behind the brake performance testing equipment shall be no less than 0.7 (within 6m of the large vehicle testing line and within 3m of the small vehicle testing line, except when using a flat brake testing platform), or other measures to prevent the vehicle from slipping backward during brake testing.

       The entrances and exits of the testing workshop shall be set separately and shall not be mixed.

       Pedestrian walkways (if any) in the testing workshop shall be separated from the inspection walkways by isolation barriers and signs, with a width of not less than 1m.

       The entrances and exits of the testing workshop shall be equipped with access roads and necessary traffic signs.

       Article 20. Motor vehicle inspection institutions shall have a driving brake road test lane, and the length and width of the lane shall meet the requirements of the inspection work.

       The road test lane shall be paved with flat, hard, and clean cement or asphalt pavement, with standard traffic signs and markings, a longitudinal slope of no more than 1%, and a coefficient of friction between the tires and the ground of no less than 0.7. For vehicles with a total mass of 3500kg or less, the effective length of the road test lane shall be no less than 80m and the width shall be no less than 6m; for vehicles with a total mass of more than 3500kg, the effective length shall be no less than 100m and the width shall be no less than 6m; or it shall meet the requirements of the inspected vehicle type after actual measurement. The road test lane shall have safety signs and safety protection measures.

       Road test lanes shall not be set up on rooftops, in basements, or outside the site area.

       When using a flat brake testing platform to test the driving brake performance of non-operating small and micro passenger cars, a road test lane may not be required.

       Article 21. Motor vehicle inspection institutions shall have a parking ramp or be equipped with parking brake instruments and equipment that meet the requirements of "Motor Vehicle Safety Technical Inspection Items and Methods" (GB 38900).

       The parking ramp shall meet the following requirements: a slope of 15% (when applicable) and 20%, and a ramp width 1m wider than the maximum width of the inspected vehicle type. Safety signs and safety protection measures shall be provided.

       Parking ramps shall not be set up on rooftops, in basements, or outside the site area.

       Article 22. The motor vehicle inspection agency's site shall have a chassis dynamic inspection area, the length and width of which shall meet the requirements of the inspected vehicle types.

       Article 23. The area of the motor vehicle inspection agency's parking lot shall be appropriate to its inspection capacity and the daily number of vehicles inspected.

       The parking area shall have a cement, asphalt, or other hard surface capable of withstanding vehicle traffic; parking lines and vehicle lanes shall be marked within the site, ensuring smooth entry and exit; fire safety and other safety requirements shall be met; the layout shall be rational, with clear markings and signs to ensure a smooth inspection process and avoid vehicle interference as much as possible; if unavoidable, effective control measures shall be added.

       Chapter 5  Instrument and Equipment Review Requirements

       Article 24. Motor vehicle inspection agencies shall equip themselves with inspection and testing instruments and equipment and relevant standard substances that meet the requirements of national standards and regulations, based on the scope of inspection and testing capabilities they have applied for.

       Major motor vehicle inspection and testing instruments and equipment, such as brake testing stands, wheel (axle) weighing instruments (ground scales), skid testing stands, headlamp testers, automatic exterior dimension measuring devices, chassis dynamometers, chassis clearance gauges, etc., shall be fixed equipment; automatically controlled instruments and equipment shall be installed in the inspection workshop. Mobile equipment may be used for major inspection and testing instruments and equipment for motorcycles and three-wheeled vehicles.

       Motor vehicle inspection agencies shall own the inspection and testing instruments and equipment used.

       Article 25. Motor vehicle inspection agencies shall ensure that the software used for inspection and testing that affects the results complies with relevant laws, regulations, and standards, has been verified, and has been re-verified after maintenance, changes, and upgrades, and is uniquely identified.

       Motor vehicle inspection agencies shall ensure the uniqueness and integrity of the software used for inspection and testing and shall not modify the software without authorization. If upgrades are required, the version number, time, and functional modification description shall be recorded.

       Chapter 6 Management System Review Requirements

       Article 26. Motor vehicle inspection agencies shall publicly display, in a conspicuous location in their service area, a legally binding commitment to fairness and integrity signed by their legal representative or highest manager.

       Article 27. Motor vehicle inspection agencies shall establish a system for protecting customer information confidentiality, and the confidential content shall include at least the following:

       (1) Documents and materials submitted by the client;

       (2) Client information involved in inspection records and reports;

       (3) Information obtained by inspectors during on-site inspections, including inspection conclusions;

       (4) Information about the client obtained by the motor vehicle inspection agency from channels other than the client (e.g., regulatory agencies, complainants).

       Article 28. Motor vehicle inspection agencies shall not subcontract motor vehicle inspections.

       Article 29. For vehicles that fail inspection, the motor vehicle inspection agency shall inform the submitter in writing of the reasons for failure. This does not apply to items that are unsuitable for further inspection.

       Article 30. Fixed inspection and testing instruments used in motor vehicle inspection shall have data communication interfaces and shall be capable of network control and computer networking.

       Motor vehicle inspection agencies shall not alter the testing principles, resolution, effective number of digits of measured data, and inspection results of networked inspection and testing instruments and equipment. The rounding of emission inspection results shall be performed in accordance with the requirements of the ecological environment department.

       Fixed inspection and testing equipment shall use digital data processing secondary instruments, including: industrial control computers, single-chip microcomputers, single-board machines, digital signal processing systems (DSP digital signal processors), etc.

       Article 31. Motor vehicle inspection agencies shall establish record management procedures, protect and back up records stored in electronic form, and prevent unauthorized intrusion or modification.

       Article 32. Motor vehicle inspection records (including re-inspection records, road test records, and electronically stored records) shall record the inspector's personal identification through paper signatures, electronic media, or other means, and shall be traceable to the inspector.

       Inspectors' personal identification shall be unique and secure, and shall prevent theft and misuse.

       For authorized signatories, inspectors, and receptionists using electronic signatures, they shall comply with relevant laws and regulations, and retain corresponding image data or have functions such as facial recognition and fingerprint recognition to ensure record traceability.

       Article 33. The inspection results of all items in the motor vehicle inspection report shall be traceable to the inspection records, and the numbers of the inspection report and inspection records shall be unique and corresponding.

       Article 34. Motor vehicle inspection agencies shall not make any modifications to already issued inspection reports. If modifications to the inspection report are necessary, the issued report shall be withdrawn, voided, and a new report issued; re-inspection shall be conducted if necessary.

       Article 35. Motor vehicle inspection agencies may use electronically stored records and reports instead of paper archives, provided that safety, integrity, and traceability are ensured.

       Article 36. Vehicle inspection reports and inspection records (including initial and re-inspection records and road test records) shall be kept for no less than six years, and the electronic archives of motor vehicle emission inspection reports shall be kept for no less than ten years.

       Motor vehicle inspection institutions shall keep the inspection reports and records of each inspection during the motor vehicle inspection process.

       The preservation of monitoring videos, images, and data information related to the inspection connected with the public security, ecological environment, and transportation departments shall be implemented in accordance with the requirements of the relevant departments.

       Article 37. Motor vehicle inspection institutions shall set up a public notice board in the service hall to publicize information such as their service commitments, qualification information, inspection items, inspection standards, charging standards, and vehicle inspection flowcharts.

       Article 38. Motor vehicle inspection institutions shall provide the following services during the motor vehicle inspection process:

       (1) Appointment inspection service, and ensure priority inspection of the appointed vehicles;

       (2) "Turnkey project" service, the inspection work is handled by the inspection institution staff once. Integrate the service window process and achieve one-stop processing for the entire process. The service window implements queue calling management;

       (3) A comprehensive consultation counter is set up in the service hall to provide number collection and consultation services; an electronic screen is set up to display the vehicle inspection status in real time;

       (4) Publicly display the supervision and reporting telephone numbers and set up a reporting box in a conspicuous place, and promptly and properly respond to the reasonable opinions of the masses.

       Based on the above requirements, the market supervision departments of provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government, and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps may formulate relevant service specifications or standards for motor vehicle inspection institutions according to the actual conditions of their respective regions.

       Chapter 7 Supplementary Provisions  

       Article 39. Automobile brand sales and service enterprises with Class I and Class II repair qualifications will pilot the implementation of non-operating small and micro passenger car inspections. The application for qualification certification and review requirements shall be implemented in accordance with the relevant requirements of the "Notice of the Ministry of Public Security, the State Administration for Market Regulation, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, and the Ministry of Transport on Issuing the Opinions on Deepening the Reform of the Motor Vehicle Inspection System and Optimizing Vehicle Inspection Services".

       Article 40. This supplementary technical requirement shall come into force on June 1, 2023. The "Supplementary Requirements for the Accreditation of Inspection and Testing Institutions - Motor Vehicle Safety Technical Inspection Institutions" jointly issued by the former State Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine and the former State Certification and Accreditation Administration on September 24, 2015, shall be abolished at the same time.