Can I delay purchasing compulsory traffic insurance if my car is not in use?
2 Answers
It is possible to postpone the purchase if the car is not driven on the road, but it is recommended to purchase it before driving, as compulsory traffic insurance is mandatory by the state and is required for normal road use. Otherwise, according to the "Road Traffic Safety Law," the traffic management department of the public security authority shall detain the motor vehicle, notify the party to provide the corresponding license, mark, or complete the relevant procedures, and may issue a warning or impose a fine of not less than 20 yuan but not more than 200 yuan. Compulsory Traffic Insurance for Automobiles: The full name of compulsory traffic insurance is "Compulsory Liability Insurance for Motor Vehicle Traffic Accidents." It is a mandatory liability insurance where the insurance company compensates for personal injuries, deaths, and property losses of victims (excluding vehicle occupants and the insured) caused by road traffic accidents within the liability limits. The premium is based on the nationally unified standard rates. However, the price of compulsory traffic insurance varies for different vehicle types, mainly influenced by the number of car seats. Compared to the more than 20 exemption clauses in commercial third-party insurance, compulsory traffic insurance covers a much broader range, including losses caused by intentional acts of the victim, the insured's own property losses, related arbitration and litigation costs, and some indirect losses caused by accidents. Moreover, regardless of whether the insured vehicle is at fault in an accident, compulsory traffic insurance will compensate within the liability limits, with no deductible or exemption. Introduction to Electronic Insurance Policies An electronic insurance policy refers to a digital policy issued by an insurance company using digital signature software and corporate digital certificates that comply with the PKI system, bearing the electronic signature of the insurance company. The insurance policy, abbreviated as the policy, is the official written proof of the insurance contract between the insurer and the insured. The policy must fully record the rights, obligations, and responsibilities of both parties to the insurance contract. The content recorded in the policy serves as the basis for both parties to fulfill the contract. The insurance policy is proof of the establishment of the insurance contract. Advantages of Electronic Insurance Policies: Saves paper resources, eliminating the need to print insurance proof marks; Time-saving and convenient, unrestricted by time or location, with information universally accessible online anytime, quickly and easily; Can apply for reissuance or resending, no need to worry about losing it, and a printed version can be provided if needed offline; Easy management, with electronic unification making it convenient for insurance companies and traffic police departments to manage the insurance information of various vehicles.
From a practical risk perspective, if you indeed plan to leave your car unused for an extended period, such as parking it at home or in a garage, you can temporarily suspend the compulsory traffic insurance. However, you must complete the official vehicle suspension procedures. Otherwise, parking the vehicle in public spaces may lead to issues—for instance, if it gets damaged by thieves or accidentally hit by someone, you would have to cover the repair costs yourself, which can be quite costly. I personally experienced a similar situation where my car sat idle for six months without suspension procedures, and a neighbor accidentally scraped it while driving by. With no insurance coverage, I ended up paying thousands in repair fees. I recommend checking your local traffic regulations; typically, you can apply for suspension online, saving on insurance premiums but paying a small administrative fee. Once the car is moved or restarted, insurance must be reinstated immediately, or you risk fines and even annual inspection complications. In short, skipping insurance might seem convenient, but the risk of unexpected incidents is high. It’s wiser to properly complete the suspension procedures for peace of mind.
