How to Check If the Compulsory Insurance of a Used Car Has Expired?
4 Answers
You can call the customer service hotline of the insurance company and provide basic information to check the car insurance policy. Log in to the compulsory insurance inquiry website of the respective region, enter the license plate number of the used car as prompted, and then you can view the details.
Last month when I helped a friend check used car insurance, I used the Traffic Management 12123 app, which was super convenient. Just log into the app, enter the motor vehicle section, bind the vehicle information, and you can see the validity period of the compulsory traffic insurance. If the ownership hasn't been transferred yet, first ask the seller for a photo of the insurance policy, which clearly shows the expiration date. Nowadays, many insurance companies' official accounts can also check it—just enter the license plate number and the last few digits of the VIN. However, the most reliable way is to take the vehicle registration certificate to the insurance company's counter to print an endorsement, and confirm whether the policy has been transferred to avoid the original owner canceling the insurance. Poor insurance transition for used cars can affect the annual inspection.
I remember when I bought my first used car, I made a special trip to the DMV to check the insurance. With the green book and ID card, I could pull up the compulsory insurance record at the counter and confirm if there was any lapse in coverage before. Now, an easier method is to check the top right corner of the windshield—a compliant insurance sticker will show the expiration year. If the sticker is missing, don’t panic—just call the insurance company’s customer service, provide the license plate number, and verify your identity to get the info. Key reminder: Never trust the previous owner’s verbal claim about the date—always insist on written proof!
The most straightforward method is to check the compulsory insurance sticker on the windshield, which features a blue oval background with the insurance expiration year printed on it. If there's no sticker, ask the car owner for a scanned copy or electronic version of the original policy. Last time I helped a neighbor check, I directly called the insurance company, verified the owner's identity, and obtained the expiration date. If the car was recently transferred, be sure to request the new policy to double-check the date. A coverage gap in used car insurance is extremely risky—if caught without insurance, the vehicle may be impounded and you could face double fines.
