What are the stickers on the front windshield?
3 Answers
Stickers on the front windshield include: 1. Annual inspection sticker: Vehicles must undergo regular inspections, mainly focusing on the braking system, lighting system, and exterior appearance; 2. Compulsory insurance sticker: The insurance sticker should be affixed to the upper right corner of the front windshield. Failure to display the inspection compliance sticker as required may result in fines from traffic police; 3. Green environmental protection sticker: Vehicles that pass the environmental inspection for emission standards should be issued a green environmental inspection sticker by the environmental protection department. Vehicles that fail to meet emission standards but are not subject to mandatory elimination will receive a yellow environmental inspection sticker. Vehicles that fail to meet emission standards and are subject to mandatory elimination will not be issued any environmental inspection sticker.
I've been driving for over ten years, and I feel that the main decals on the front windshield are still the vehicle annual inspection sticker, compulsory traffic insurance sticker, and environmental protection sticker. These three are legally required. Otherwise, if the traffic police stop your car for inspection and find one missing, it's an immediate fine and points deduction. Once I forgot the annual inspection sticker and got fined 200 yuan directly, plus wasted half a day getting it replaced—such a hassle. Usually, I stick the decals in the upper right corner of the windshield, just making sure they don't block the view. Besides these, some car owners also put up temporary parking permits or company access passes, but those aren't mandatory. The key is to remember to replace them regularly, especially handling the annual inspection sticker renewal at least one month before expiration—otherwise, if you get into an accident, insurance won't cover it, and that'd be terrible. Recently, I heard some cities are promoting electronic decals that can be checked via smartphone, but most places still rely on paper stickers, so developing a habit of checking them is always a good idea.
With years of experience in auto repair, I'm very familiar with the mandatory windshield sticker requirements: The annual vehicle inspection sticker proves the vehicle has passed safety checks, the compulsory traffic insurance sticker ensures accident risk coverage, and the environmental inspection sticker is only mandatory in key pollution control areas like Beijing and Shanghai. These must all be affixed to the upper center area of the windshield for law enforcement visibility, avoiding obstruction of the driver's view. If stickers are lost or damaged, promptly obtain replacements from the DMV or insurance company to avoid doubled fines and late fees. While digital solutions via apps are being promoted to reduce paper usage, static cling stickers are still recommended during replacement to prevent windshield scratches. Maintaining valid stickers is fundamental to road safety, and I recommend drivers perform self-checks every six months.
