Is it acceptable not to display the inspection compliance sticker?
4 Answers
2020 saw the nationwide promotion of electronic inspection labels. In provinces and cities that have implemented the digitization of annual inspection stickers, it is permissible not to display the physical inspection compliance sticker. However, in regions where electronic inspection stickers have not yet been adopted, the physical inspection compliance sticker must still be displayed. Below are the relevant details: 1. For vehicles within the first 6 years, owners are required to apply for the annual inspection sticker every two years at the vehicle management office, or they can apply online. 2. For vehicles older than 6 years but less than 10 years, the inspection frequency has been relaxed from once a year to once every two years. This means that within 10 years, only two on-site inspections are required—specifically in the 6th and 8th years—effective from November 20, 2020. 3. Vehicles older than 10 years must continue with annual inspections. 4. For vehicles older than 15 years, semi-annual inspections are required to ensure they meet roadworthiness standards.
As a veteran driver with ten years of experience, I highly recommend keeping your inspection decal properly displayed. Last year during a highway spot check, the first thing the officer checked was the top right corner of my windshield. Even though we now have electronic decals, many jurisdictions still require a paper backup. A special reminder for those taking cross-province road trips: since provincial electronic systems aren't fully interconnected yet, you might get pulled over by meticulous traffic police. While you can keep electronic insurance documents on your phone, it's best to print out your inspection decal as backup - don't risk getting a ticket just to save some trouble.
When I first bought my car last year, I also struggled with this issue and specifically consulted the vehicle management office. The staff informed me that under the new policy, paper stickers are no longer required, but it's essential to ensure the electronic sticker in the 12123 Traffic Management APP is valid. From practical experience, I found two key points to note: first, in some remote areas with poor network coverage, police may still request a paper version; second, during used car transfers, paper stickers can serve as proof of the inspection cycle. I recommend keeping the paper sticker in a waterproof bag inside the glove compartment for double assurance and peace of mind.
Whether to display the inspection decal depends on local policies. Having managed a corporate fleet for 15 years, my experience suggests: Tier 1-2 cities generally accept electronic labels, but county-level cities and below still require physical stickers. Last month, a GL8 in our fleet got fined 200 yuan in a county town precisely for lacking the paper decal. Best practice is to keep three digital backups on your phone: 1) Annual inspection query page from the local police department's official account, 2) Electronic certificate from the 12123 traffic management app, and 3) Photo of the windshield's top-right corner showing proper placement. Memorize the last six digits of your VIN - quoting these to officers during checks works too.
