[Car Tips] Top 10 Things to Check Before Car Inspection
🚗 Let me tell you: Vehicle inspection is not as simple as just “passing”
There are generally several situations for vehicle inspection in Hong Kong:
- First inspection of new vehicles (e.g. imported vehicles, or vehicles after modification)
- Government designated vehicle inspection (annual inspection for commercial vehicles)
- Vehicle inspection ordered by the court/Transport Department (e.g., vehicle involved in a traffic accident, vehicle condition is suspicious)
- Vehicle inspection before license plate replacement
Regardless of the situation, if your vehicle is not in good condition, not only will you have to pay extra for re-inspection , but it may also affect your license renewal or the legality of driving on the road.
I often hear drivers fall into this trap: they think their car is in good condition, only to discover a few minor issues upon entering the vehicle inspection center. They then have to book a re-inspection, wasting both time and money. Therefore, it's best to do a "pre-inspection" before getting your vehicle inspected .
✅ Top 10 things to check before a car inspection (Hong Kong version)
1️⃣ Headlights (front, rear and turn signals)
- Check items : Check whether the bulbs of low beam, high beam, fog lights, turn signals, tail lights, brake lights, and reverse lights are burned out and whether the brightness is sufficient.
- Key points of vehicle inspection in Hong Kong : The light beam angle must be correct, the brightness must be uniform, and the left and right sides must be symmetrical; the flashing frequency of the signal lights must be normal.
- Editor's Tip : Many drivers overlook their taillights and license plate lights, often causing burnouts and resulting in a vehicle failure. Before your inspection, take a night drive and have a friend help you spot the lights.
2️⃣Brake system
- Inspection contents : The foot brake responds sensitively and there is no abnormal noise; there is sufficient braking force when the handbrake is pulled.
- Key points of vehicle inspection in Hong Kong : A brake tester will be used to check the braking force and balance of the front and rear wheels. The difference cannot be too large.
- Editor's tip : If the brakes are biased, vibrating, or noisy, go to the garage first to have the brake pads replaced and the brake tips checked. Don't wait until the dealership rejects your car.
3️⃣Tire condition
- Inspection items : tread depth (not less than 1.6mm), no cuts, bulges, cracks, and normal tire pressure.
- Key points of Hong Kong vehicle inspection : The tire tread gauge is used for testing, if it is not enough, it will fail directly.
- Editor's tip : Don't change the tires on the last day, as the new tires will need to wear off the protective layer after driving for a while, and the grip will be normal during the test.
4️⃣Suspension and chassis
- Inspection contents : No oil leakage or abnormal noise from the shock absorber, no cracks or serious rust on the chassis.
- Key points of vehicle inspection in Hong Kong : The vehicle inspection center will use a rocking platform to test the shock absorption effect and stability.
- Editor’s tip : Old trucks often fail due to untreated chassis rust, so get them sanded and apply anti-rust oil early.
5️⃣ Direction system
- Inspection items : There is no excessive play on the steering wheel, the steering is smooth and there is no abnormal noise; the steering rod and the steering wheel are not loose.
- Key points of vehicle inspection in Hong Kong : Checking steering wheel clearance and steering response.
- Editor’s tip : If you feel your steering is “weak” or “floating”, be sure to check it before having your vehicle inspected.
6️⃣ Exhaust system
- Inspection contents : No air leakage, no obvious cracks, and the sound meets the specifications.
- Key points of vehicle inspection in Hong Kong : Emissions testing is a hard indicator, including carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), etc.
- Editor's tip : Warm up the car by driving on the highway for a while before testing to ensure the catalyst temperature meets the standard and the emission values become more stable.
7️⃣ Wiper system
- Inspection contents : The wiper blades have no damage or scratches, and the washer is supplying water normally.
- Key points of vehicle inspection in Hong Kong : Check whether water marks can be effectively removed to ensure clear driving vision.
- Editor's tip : Replace your old windshield wipers before your vehicle inspection for just a few dollars, saving you the re-inspection fee that would have otherwise been required if they failed due to poor visibility.
8️⃣ speakers
- Inspection contents : loud sound and immediate response.
- Key points of vehicle inspection in Hong Kong : Press once during vehicle inspection to confirm that the function is normal.
- Editor’s Tip : It’s easy to ignore the problem of insufficient sound volume. You can easily solve it by replacing it with an original or compliant speaker.
9️⃣Seat belts and safety equipment
- Inspection contents : The seat belt rebounds and the buckle are normal and not damaged; the airbag light is not on for a long time.
- Key points for Hong Kong vehicle inspection : Any seat belt failure = failure; airbag system must work properly.
- Editor’s tip : If the seat belts in old cars cannot be retracted, they need to be replaced or repaired.
🔟Vehicle license plate and logo
- Inspection contents : The license plate is firm, clear and unobstructed; the license plate light is normal.
- Key points for vehicle inspection in Hong Kong : font color meets specifications (black text on white background/black text on yellow background) and the handwriting is complete.
- Editor’s tip : Wear out license plates and replace them; don’t think you can get away with it.
Other additional editor suggestions
- Oil inspection : engine oil, gearbox oil, cooling water and brake oil are sufficient and free of contamination.
- Vehicle cleanliness : It is not for appearance, but to make it easier for inspectors to check the chassis and components.
- All documents are in place : vehicle registration document, vehicle inspection paper, and identity certificate.
- Test short drive : Before the vehicle inspection, drive to the garage and test the braking, steering, and acceleration to see if there are any abnormal sounds or slow responses.
Editor's summary
"A car inspection is like a health check – just because something looks fine doesn't mean there's nothing wrong."
Checking the top ten items in advance can reduce the chances of failure on the spot.
It's not just about passing the checkpoint, but also about ensuring the safety of yourself and your passengers every time you take to the road.
