Is it no longer necessary to display the insurance sticker?
3 Answers
Whether the insurance sticker still needs to be displayed depends on the regulations of the local traffic authorities. Regions such as Beijing and Shenzhen have taken the lead in implementing the electronic insurance policy policy. Vehicle owners who purchase electronic insurance policies no longer need to display the insurance sticker on their car windows, as traffic police can verify insurance coverage through online checks. In other words, in these areas, the insurance sticker is no longer required. After the implementation of electronic insurance policies, individuals no longer need to provide paper proof of compulsory traffic insurance when handling traffic management procedures within the province. During traffic law enforcement, confirmation is made by real-time verification of the vehicle's compulsory traffic insurance information. Vehicles with valid insurance will not be penalized or impounded. For vehicle registration and inspection, the comprehensive platform checks the compulsory traffic insurance information, eliminating the need for paper proof. When handling accident cases, traffic police can confirm relevant insurance information by querying the electronic insurance policy.
I was just discussing this in the car recently. Many places are digitizing insurance decals now, so you might not actually need to display them—but you should confirm local policies. In big cities like Beijing and Shanghai, you can check insurance info via mobile apps, and traffic police can just scan it. This saves you from cluttering your windshield with a bunch of labels and keeps your view clearer. However, rural areas or some older urban districts might not have adopted this yet, so you’d still need to display the decal to avoid being pulled over and wasting time on checks. Once, I forgot to display mine and got fined 200 yuan—totally regret it. Insurance decals serve as proof that you have valid auto insurance, and without them, accident claims get more complicated. I’d suggest checking your local DMV website or asking your insurer first to know the rules before deciding. Times are changing, but safety comes first—don’t slack off. Making it a habit to double-check never hurts.
I've been driving for twenty years, and based on experience, the insurance decal should be affixed. Most regulations require it to be placed in the upper right corner of the windshield as proof of compulsory traffic insurance, to avoid disputes during emergency checks or accidents. Nowadays, electronic policies are becoming popular, and you can display them on your phone, but implementation varies by region. Until there's 100% coverage, it's best to stick with the physical decal. Once the insurance decal expires, it should be replaced promptly, or you might face issues during the annual inspection or be fined a few hundred yuan. Looking back, sticking the decal was mandatory in the past, but it's much more convenient now. However, for safety's sake, I never take it lightly and advise car owners to comply to avoid turning small issues into big troubles.
