Is it still necessary to display the annual inspection sticker now?
4 Answers
Annual inspection stickers are still required to be displayed. How to obtain the annual inspection sticker: You need to bring your vehicle registration certificate, compulsory traffic insurance, and ID card to the vehicle management office or traffic police station to receive the annual inspection sticker for free. The annual inspection sticker needs to be replaced periodically. For small passenger vehicles, the inspection is generally required every 2 years within the first 6 years, and annually after exceeding 6 years. Regulations regarding annual inspection stickers: According to Article 13 of the "Regulations for the Implementation of the Road Traffic Safety Law": The motor vehicle inspection compliance mark, environmental protection mark, and insurance mark should be affixed to the upper right corner of the vehicle's front windshield. Failure to display the relevant vehicle marks as required will result in corresponding fines and penalty points.
I remember in the past we always had to leave a spot on the windshield for the annual inspection sticker, and peeling it off would leave annoying adhesive marks. Fortunately, the policy changed in recent years with the nationwide implementation of electronic inspection marks, completely eliminating the need for paper stickers. During my last inspection, the staff specifically reminded me that traffic police now check system data online during enforcement. But just to be safe, I downloaded the electronic certificate from the 12123 traffic management app and saved screenshots in my phone gallery, so I can retrieve them immediately if there's a system glitch. Some veteran drivers worry about cross-region vehicle checks, but I've already gone on three road trips and found that just providing the license plate number suffices during inspections. One thing worth reminding everyone: it's time to clean off old stickers from the windshield as residual adhesive not only obstructs vision but is also unsafe.
Young people nowadays don't even need to think about putting up annual inspection stickers when getting a new car! When my new car was delivered, the salesperson directly taught me how to activate the electronic certificate. Nowadays, traffic police scan QR codes to check vehicles during inspections—who even looks at windshields anymore? But folks from my dad's generation always feel uneasy about it, so I helped him save a PDF version on his phone and even set it as his wallpaper. By the way, the progress varies across different vehicle management offices—some remote areas might still require a backup paper copy. I brought printed copies when I drove to the northwest. Here's a fun fact: if the car gets resold, the new owner doesn't need to reapply for the sticker either. The electronic tag automatically updates after the system processes the ownership transfer. These changes are truly convenient.
The policy has changed, no need to stick it. Now the electronic label is nationwide valid, and the system automatically recognizes it during vehicle inspection. But remember three points: after the annual inspection, confirm the electronic certificate is updated in the 12123 APP; it's recommended to take a screenshot for backup; complete the electronic transfer in time when transferring the vehicle. Don't leave adhesive marks that may affect visibility and safety.
