Is it still necessary to display insurance and inspection decals on vehicles?
2 Answers
Currently, in some cities across China, vehicle owners are no longer required to display insurance decals on their windshields. Here is the relevant information: 1. Regulations: It's important to note that this applies only to certain cities nationwide, as electronic insurance policies have not yet been fully implemented across the country. Previously, three types of decals were mandatory for display on vehicle windshields: the motor vehicle inspection compliance decal, compulsory insurance decal, and environmental inspection compliance decal. However, in 2017, the requirement to display the environmental inspection compliance decal was abolished nationwide. Therefore, vehicle owners are now exempt from displaying this particular decal. 2. Important Notes: At present, only certain cities such as Beijing, Guangdong, Jiangxi, Hubei, Guizhou, and Shanghai have gradually introduced electronic insurance policies. With the implementation of electronic policies, vehicle owners no longer need paper-based insurance documents when handling annual inspections, claims, and other related procedures, nor are they required to display the compulsory insurance decal in their vehicles.
I've been driving for over a decade and deeply feel these changes. In the past, we indeed had to stick the insurance decal and annual inspection certificate on the windshield every year, which were prone to damage from wind and sun exposure. However, after the national reform in 2020, the physical pasting requirement for insurance decals was basically abolished, replaced by electronic policies that can be stored on mobile phones—much more convenient. As for the compliance certificate, that's used for new vehicle registration when purchasing a car, not something to be stuck; it's kept in a drawer or file folder after registration. Annual inspection decals still need to be displayed in some provinces, but digitalization is expanding. Personally, I'm accustomed to carrying the electronic version on my mobile app. My advice to new car owners is not to obsess over sticking decals but to focus on timely insurance renewal and annual inspections, regularly backing up electronic documents. This way, driving becomes hassle-free without compromising visibility safety.
