Is It No Longer Necessary to Display the Insurance Sticker?
3 Answers
Whether the insurance sticker needs to be displayed depends on the situation. In cities where electronic insurance policies have been implemented, it is not required. However, in areas where this policy has not been implemented, the sticker still needs to be displayed. Motor vehicle insurance, also known as auto insurance (referred to as car insurance), is a type of commercial insurance that covers liability for personal injury or property damage caused by natural disasters or accidents involving motor vehicles. The vehicle inspection sticker, compulsory insurance sticker, and environmental inspection sticker were all mandatory in the past and had to be neatly displayed on the front windshield. After the new regulations were introduced, the environmental inspection sticker has been abolished, and only the vehicle inspection sticker and compulsory insurance sticker need to be displayed.
I just changed my car last year and specifically asked the counter staff about insurance. Nowadays, electronic insurance policies are indeed implemented in most parts of the country. For example, in Zhejiang where I drive, the windshield is completely clean, and traffic police can scan a QR code to check insurance information. However, some provinces still require carrying a printed copy during the transition period. Before a long-distance trip, I made sure to put a copy in the glove box. I recommend checking the latest notices on the local traffic police's official account, especially when driving across provinces. It's better to be safe, and you can quickly show a screenshot of the electronic insurance policy if checked. Having it downloaded on your phone is actually more convenient than a sticker.
A detail I noticed while helping my father-in-law with his car insurance the other day. Currently, compulsory traffic insurance is basically electronic nationwide, but some provinces are strict about checking electronic certificates for commercial insurance. For example, my neighbor was asked to show a screenshot of his electronic policy during a self-drive trip to Yunnan. The most hassle-free approach is: keep PDFs of both compulsory and commercial insurance on your phone, and back them up using the Traffic Management 12123 app. Whether to stick the insurance on the windshield depends on local regulations, but I prefer to keep a printed copy in the glove compartment. During checks, it takes just ten seconds to pull it out, which is much easier than fumbling through files on the phone.
