Is the Insurance Sticker No Longer Required to be Displayed?
3 Answers
On January 1, 2019, the transportation department implemented a series of new regulations, one of which was the introduction of electronic insurance policies. This means that insurance companies will no longer provide physical copies of the compulsory traffic insurance (CTI) stickers or commercial insurance policies, and there is no longer a need to display the CTI sticker or environmental protection sticker on the windshield. The only remaining sticker required is the annual inspection sticker, making the windshield cleaner and reducing visual blind spots to some extent. Below are the relevant details: 1. Legal Provisions: The removal of the sticker requirement does not mean that purchasing CTI is optional. During traffic police checks or annual inspections, drivers are still required to present their electronic insurance policy for verification. If a vehicle is found without CTI or with an expired CTI, the traffic police have the authority to impound the vehicle, impose a fine of twice the amount of the compulsory insurance premium, and require the driver to complete the necessary procedures. 2. Penalties for Fraud: For those who use or produce fake insurance stickers, the public security traffic police department will confiscate the stickers, impound the vehicle, and impose a fine ranging from 200 to 2,000 yuan. If the act constitutes a crime, criminal liability will be pursued according to the law.
I remember that many places stopped requiring the blue-and-white insurance decal a couple of years ago. I removed mine from my car long ago. Nowadays, electronic insurance policies are widely adopted, and traffic police can check insurance information by scanning the license plate with their devices. However, this varies by region. Major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen have basically implemented it, but if you're traveling to smaller cities, it's best to check local policies. I usually keep a screenshot of my electronic insurance policy in my phone's photo album and show it to the police during random checks. If you're still concerned, you can print a small copy and keep it in the glove box, just don't stick it on the windshield where it might obstruct your view.
Last time when my car insurance was about to expire, I specifically asked the insurance company's customer service and was told that 90% of regions nationwide have abolished paper insurance stickers. But two points need attention: first, the vehicle must be bound in the traffic management 12123 APP; second, ensure the insurance information is promptly uploaded to the traffic management system. Old Wang in our neighborhood was stopped last month when driving to the county town without displaying the sticker, but fortunately he had the electronic version on his phone to avoid a fine. Additionally, new energy vehicle owners should pay extra attention - don't just focus on the insurance sticker, the electronic certificate in the vehicle's infotainment system also needs to be updated accordingly.
