Is it no longer necessary to display the compulsory insurance decal now?
4 Answers
Whether the compulsory insurance decal needs to be displayed depends on the specific regulations of the local vehicle management office. If the local vehicle management office has implemented electronic insurance policies, vehicle owners in that area are no longer required to display the compulsory traffic insurance decal on their windshields. The reason it's said that the decal no longer needs to be displayed is because electronic insurance policy technology can now replace the compulsory insurance decal. The full name of compulsory insurance is Compulsory Traffic Accident Liability Insurance for Motor Vehicles, which is a vehicle insurance mandated by China's Traffic Safety Law. Insurance companies deliver policy information to vehicle policyholders and insured parties through email, SMS, WeChat, mobile apps, etc., while providing services such as querying, downloading, and printing electronic policies and compulsory insurance decals, achieving paperless operations. When handling motor vehicle registration or applying for vehicle inspection qualification marks, traffic management departments of public security authorities can query motor vehicle insurance information through the information sharing platform.
Actually, many places stopped requiring the display of these stickers last year. Previously, the cluster of labels on my car's windshield really obstructed the view. Now, electronic insurance policies have been rolled out nationwide. Last time I went to the DMV, they said it's no longer necessary to display them as everything can be checked in the system. However, it depends on local regulations, as some remote areas might not have fully implemented this yet. Personally, I keep the electronic policy saved in my phone's photo album - if stopped by traffic police, I can just show it to them, which is much more convenient than stickers. But compulsory traffic insurance still needs to be purchased, it's just that physical display isn't mandatory like before.
Neither of my two cars has the compulsory traffic insurance sticker now. I specifically asked the staff during the last vehicle inspection. Most provinces and cities across the country have implemented electronic insurance policies, so as long as you have the electronic version saved on your phone, it's fine. However, be aware that some provinces might still have their own regulations, so it's best to check the local traffic police's official account. Honestly, the windshield looks much cleaner without the sticker, but remember that the annual inspection sticker still needs to be displayed. Once before a long trip, I printed out the insurance policy and kept it in the glove box—though I didn't end up needing it, it's always good for peace of mind.
Indeed, there's no need to stick it anymore, as everything is mostly digital now. Last year during my vehicle's annual inspection, the staff at the window directly told me that the compulsory traffic insurance label didn't need to be displayed, as it can all be checked in the system. However, I recommend keeping a screenshot of the electronic policy on your phone or printing it out to keep in the car as a backup. The implementation time varies by region. My cousin in a small county in Yunnan was still required to display it last year. During routine traffic checks, traffic police can scan your license plate with their device to see the insurance information, but it's still advisable to have the electronic copy ready to be on the safe side.
