Is it still necessary to display insurance and inspection decals on vehicles?
3 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.
I just bought my new car a year ago and also struggled with whether to put these stickers on. A friend said that with digitalization now, insurance stickers are no longer mandatory, and you can just check the electronic policy on WeChat or Alipay. The conformity certificate is used when purchasing the car and becomes useless after registration, so no need to stick it. Some regions still require the annual inspection sticker to be placed on the windshield, but try to use the electronic version instead to avoid fogging or messy residue. Personally, I think it's great—no need to peel and stick every year, much more convenient. But a reminder: before heading out, make sure the insurance and inspection info is updated in the app, and carry a paper backup in case there's no signal for checks. Ultimately, keeping the documents valid is what matters most.
