Is it necessary to display the vehicle inspection exemption sticker on the car?
4 Answers
No, the annual inspection sticker is no longer required to be displayed on the windshield. Specific details are as follows: Starting from June 20th, Henan Province will implement the electronic version of the motor vehicle inspection sticker. The promotion of the electronic motor vehicle inspection sticker will be carried out in two batches. The first batch, starting from April 25, 2020, includes 12 provinces such as Heilongjiang, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shandong, and Hubei. The second batch, starting from June 20th, includes 15 provinces such as Hebei, Shanxi, and Henan, achieving nationwide coverage. The implementation of the electronic inspection sticker, through the nationally unified internet traffic safety comprehensive service platform, will issue electronic certificates for motor vehicle inspection stickers, making it more convenient for the public and enterprises to apply for, display, and use them. Additional information: When handling motor vehicle registration and issuing inspection stickers, the public security traffic management department will automatically generate and push the electronic certificate of the inspection sticker through the information system. The owner of the motor vehicle can log in to the internet traffic safety comprehensive service platform or the "Traffic Management 12123" mobile app to directly view and download it. For vehicles exempt from inspection within 6 years, the electronic certificate of the inspection sticker can be directly applied for online. For vehicles still within the inspection validity period, the public security traffic management department will uniformly generate the electronic certificate of the inspection sticker, and the owner can directly download and use it online. If the paper certificate of the inspection sticker is lost or damaged, there is no need to apply for a replacement; it can be directly downloaded and used online. If a paper certificate of the inspection sticker is needed, one can choose to have it delivered by mail or pick it up at the vehicle management office.
No need to stick it anymore! I just went through the annual vehicle inspection, and the traffic management office staff said electronic labels have been implemented nationwide since 2020. A few days ago, when I drove to another province for a trip, I was pulled over by traffic police at the highway entrance for a vehicle check. They simply scanned my license plate, and the inspection info popped up right away—they even complimented me on how clean my windshield was. Just remember to apply for the electronic label in the "Traffic Management 12123" APP and save it to your phone. If you encounter old-fashioned inspection equipment that's not connected to the network, showing a screenshot on your phone will suffice. My hands were shaking when I peeled off the old sticker—it took me forever to clean off the adhesive residue with a remover. Now, I'm finally free!
As a veteran driver with over a decade of experience, I can definitively tell you that paper inspection exemption stickers have been completely phased out. Last time I went for my annual inspection, I almost instinctively tried to put the new sticker on my windshield, but the staff stopped me with a smile, explaining everything is digital now. I recommend car owners regularly check their e-sticker status through the 12123 app – I even set an annual reminder in my phone's memo. While you don't need physical stickers anymore, driving with an expired inspection will still result in penalty points and fines. Just last week, my neighbor Old Zhang's car got towed from our compound for being three months overdue on inspection.
Personal experience tells you it's unnecessary! Last year, I took my new car to get window tinting, and the technician specifically asked if I wanted to leave a corner for the inspection sticker, saying otherwise I'd have to peel it off later. It turned out, after consulting the DMV, that even the environmental and insurance stickers have gone digital now. During a highway traffic stop, the officer simply scanned my license plate with a recognition device and let me pass in two seconds. However, when driving in another province, it's best to save screenshots of your electronic insurance policy and inspection marks on your phone. I once encountered poor signal on a remote provincial road, and those screenshots came in handy.
