Do I still need to display insurance stickers on my car after purchasing auto insurance?
2 Answers
After purchasing auto insurance, you no longer need to display the insurance sticker on your car. However, the compulsory traffic insurance sticker and annual inspection sticker still need to be displayed. The compulsory traffic insurance sticker can be obtained by purchasing compulsory traffic insurance, which is a mandatory insurance required by the state for all vehicles. Once a car is registered with the vehicle management office, it must display the annual inspection sticker. Vehicle annual inspection refers to the mandatory testing required for all vehicles that have obtained official license plates and registration certificates. It is equivalent to an annual physical examination for vehicles based on the safety technical requirements for motor vehicle operation. Vehicle annual inspections help promptly eliminate potential safety hazards, encourage better vehicle maintenance, and reduce the occurrence of traffic accidents.
As a seasoned driver with years of experience, I feel this issue has evolved. In the past, after purchasing auto insurance, it was indeed mandatory to affix that blue compulsory traffic insurance label on the upper right corner of the windshield. This made it convenient for police officers to check during roadside inspections—they could instantly verify your insurance coverage. Failure to display it might result in being pulled over, fined, and having to go through the hassle of reapplying, which was quite time-consuming. However, things are different now. Many regions have adopted electronic insurance policies—for instance, in cities, traffic police can scan license plates via mobile devices to check insurance details, eliminating the need for physical labels. Still, I personally prefer sticking it on, especially when traveling to other cities or remote areas. It serves as a reliable backup in case my phone runs out of battery or there’s poor signal. Insurance companies include the label when mailing your policy documents, so just affix it properly—don’t skip this step. During annual vehicle inspections, they also verify that the label is intact and legible. In short, while it’s no longer strictly necessary to display the label, I’d recommend keeping it on for peace of mind.
