What happens if a motorcycle's insurance is expired and caught by traffic police?
2 Answers
According to Article 98 of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China: If the owner or manager of a motor vehicle fails to purchase compulsory third-party liability insurance for the motor vehicle as required by the state, the traffic management department of the public security organ shall detain the vehicle until the insurance is purchased as required, and impose a fine of twice the insurance premium that should be paid for the minimum liability limit as required. Below is additional information: Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China regulations: Article 4 People's governments at all levels shall ensure that road traffic safety management work is compatible with economic construction and social development. Local people's governments at or above the county level shall, in accordance with the needs of road traffic development and based on road traffic safety laws, regulations, and relevant national policies, formulate road traffic safety management plans and organize their implementation.
Once when I was riding my motorcycle, I was stopped by traffic police for a check and they found my insurance had expired. The officer issued a fine, which ranged between 200 to 500 yuan depending on the region. They might also deduct points or temporarily impound the vehicle. I immediately cooperated and paid the fine, then went straight to the insurance company to renew my compulsory insurance—just needed my ID and vehicle registration, and it only took half an hour. After that, I took the new policy to the traffic police station to settle the violation record. The whole process was a bit of a hassle but necessary, as riding without insurance is risky; in case of an accident, you'd have to cover all costs yourself. So, I recommend setting phone reminders to check insurance renewal dates annually to avoid extra fines and stress. This lesson taught me to maintain regular checks and management habits.
