Is There No Insurance Label for 2021 Auto Insurance?

[DiHeidi]

2021 auto insurance does have labels. After the 2020 auto insurance reform, the electronic policy for compulsory traffic insurance began to be implemented nationwide. In regions where this policy has been implemented, it is not necessary to display the insurance label on the vehicle. However, in areas where the policy has not yet been implemented, the insurance label must be displayed; otherwise, penalties may apply. Additional information: Currently, many cities have abolished the requirement to display the compulsory traffic insurance label on the windshield, but this has not been uniformly implemented across the country. Vehicles in regions such as Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Shandong Province, Shanxi Province, Henan Province, Hubei Province, and Sichuan Province are not required to display the compulsory traffic insurance label. During traffic checks, drivers can present the electronic policy for compulsory traffic insurance, and traffic police can verify the vehicle's insurance status through the information-sharing platform. The abolition of the compulsory traffic insurance label is still in the pilot implementation phase and has not been fully implemented nationwide. Therefore, in other regions, drivers should follow the regulations set by the traffic police to avoid penalties for not displaying the label.

[VanBrooke]

I remember that by the end of 2020, China started piloting electronic compulsory traffic insurance policies, and by 2021, paper labels were basically phased out nationwide. Once when I went out and forgot to bring the policy, the traffic police used their police device to scan my license plate and confirmed they found the electronic policy. Nowadays, if you encounter a check on the road, you can simply show the 'Electronic Certificate of Compulsory Traffic Insurance,' which can be accessed through Alipay or the insurance company's app. However, I’ve heard that in some remote areas, there might still be a transition period requiring paper labels, so I suggest checking the local traffic police’s official account. I keep a screenshot of the electronic policy in my car, just in case there’s no phone signal—that would be awkward. It’s both eco-friendly and convenient now, and having one less piece of paper on the windshield gives a clearer view.

[MacNicole]

I've encountered this before! When renewing my insurance in 2021, the insurer directly told me that physical labels weren't required anymore, but adhesive marks from previous labels remained on the windshield. After the implementation of electronic insurance policies, vehicle inspection systems automatically link insurance information, and traffic police can check insurance status by scanning license plates with their terminals. I remember going on a self-drive trip to Yunnan last year where the rental company specifically instructed me to keep the electronic policy on my phone for reference. However, be cautious about cross-province situations as some regions adopted the policy later - it's advisable to check destination regulations on the '12123' app before departure. I personally store electronic policies and vehicle license photos in my phone's encrypted album, which allows me to retrieve them within ten seconds if inspected.

[Toby]

In 2021, the compulsory traffic insurance indeed went fully electronic, with paper decals officially phased out. A friend of mine working at the vehicle management office mentioned that after digitization, their system automatically connects with insurance platforms, eliminating the insurance verification step during annual inspections. Nowadays, traffic police enforce laws via mobile devices – patrol cars can instantly check insurance status through license plate recognition systems. However, it's advisable for vehicle owners to keep electronic policy documents, especially to proactively present them during inspections. Last month at a highway service area, I saw someone delayed for half an hour because their phone died and couldn't display the e-policy. Storing a PDF backup on your phone is prudent, with an additional copy in the cloud for double protection.