What is the difference between the colors of the annual inspection sticker?
2 Answers
The color of the annual inspection sticker represents different years. Generally, the colors of the annual inspection stickers follow the sequence of yellow, green, and blue. For example, if the sticker was yellow in 2020, it would be green in 2021, blue in 2022, and then back to yellow in 2023, and so on. Starting from June 2020, electronic annual inspection stickers have been implemented nationwide. You can check, download, and use the electronic inspection sticker via the "Traffic Management 12123" app. For vehicles that have already obtained the electronic inspection sticker, there is no need to apply for a paper sticker at the vehicle management office or traffic police station, nor is it necessary to display the paper sticker on the vehicle. Traffic police will verify the inspection status of the vehicle through law enforcement terminals during checks. Non-commercial small and micro passenger vehicles with up to 6 seats can enjoy a 6-year exemption from physical inspection but must obtain the annual inspection sticker every two years. The sticker can be applied for via the Traffic Management 12123 app or at the vehicle management office. For new vehicles, the annual inspection sticker can be printed at the vehicle management office when registering the license plate. For private cars older than 6 years, the annual inspection sticker can only be obtained after passing the annual inspection at a vehicle inspection center.
I just had my vehicle inspected last year and specifically asked the staff about this. The color of the annual inspection sticker rotates in a fixed order each year. In 2023 it was blue, in 2024 it changes to yellow, in 2025 it will be green, and in 2026 it returns to blue, continuing this cycle. Don't be fooled by the flashy colors—they're mainly to help traffic police quickly identify if your inspection has expired. Last time I was pulled over, the officer spotted from afar that the yellow sticker on my windshield didn't match. The key things to check are the numeric year in the middle and the inspection validity period—the color is just an auxiliary identification method. Oh, and remember to place the sticker in the lower left corner of the front windshield. Definitely don't follow my friend's example of using static cling stickers—they faded and smeared completely after being baked in the summer sun.
