What stickers are required on car windows?

[MacAmy]

There are three types of stickers required on car windows: the annual inspection sticker, the environmental protection sticker, and the compulsory traffic insurance sticker. Here is relevant information about the compulsory traffic insurance sticker: 1. Sticker is no longer mandatory: It should be noted that before the cancellation of the compulsory traffic insurance sticker, the environmental protection sticker for vehicles had already been abolished, and the annual inspection sticker has also been digitized. Therefore, it is no longer mandatory for vehicle owners to display stickers on their vehicles. 2. Digitalization trend: Digitalization is a major trend, which not only reduces costs, saves resources, and eliminates the hassle of tearing off/attaching stickers for vehicle owners, but also does not obstruct the driver's view, ensuring driving safety. Additionally, it can improve work efficiency to some extent, making it a win-win situation.

[AshlynLynn]

As a veteran driver with 20 years of experience, I'm all too familiar with sticker placement. Initially, we had to stick three small labels—the annual inspection sticker, compulsory traffic insurance sticker, and environmental protection sticker—crowding the top right corner of the windshield like patches. After 2017, the environmental protection sticker was abolished, and in 2020, the nationwide electronic sticker policy was implemented, eliminating the need for the annual inspection sticker. However, it's important to note that the compulsory traffic insurance sticker still follows a dual system of electronic and paper formats, with some provinces retaining the paper version that must be displayed. I prefer saving the electronic policy in my phone's photo album and keeping a printed copy in the glove compartment for backup. When pulled over, showing the electronic certificate directly is much more convenient than sticking labels, and it avoids the hassle of stubborn adhesive marks left after prolonged exposure to heat.

[VanReid]

The year I got my driver's license, I actually looked up the regulations on this. Currently, traffic rules only require the compulsory insurance label to be displayed. After the annual inspection labels went digital, in most cases, they no longer need to be displayed. However, enforcement varies by region—for example, Zhejiang was still issuing paper inspection labels last year. Personally, I recommend displaying all labels in the first year of a new car—annual inspection label + compulsory insurance label. After the second year, just the compulsory insurance label is sufficient. Static cling labels bought online are very practical; they peel off cleanly without leaving marks when replaced. Another tip: don’t stick the labels directly on the glass. First, put them in a clear document holder and then fix it, so you can easily take them out to check the expiration date.

[McJackson]

After reviewing the latest "Motor Vehicle Registration Regulations," the compulsory traffic accident liability insurance label should be affixed to the windshield. Although the inspection qualification label has been digitized, in mountainous areas with no signal, traffic police may verify the paper insurance policy. Practical tests show that the upper left corner of the windshield or behind the rearview mirror is the least obstructive to the driver's view. Last time, I received a ticket because the old label wasn’t removed in time, and the new label was pasted over it, obscuring the expiration date. Remember, the label must be placed in a position clearly visible from outside the vehicle, and replacement should be arranged 90 days before the annual inspection expires.

[McAlex]

Last year when accompanying my relative for the vehicle inspection, I specifically asked the staff: passenger cars only need to display the compulsory traffic insurance decal, but trucks still require the inspection compliance sticker. I once got fined 200 yuan because the decal got damp in rainy weather and the text became illegible. Later I bought special moisture-proof sticker film. When applying decals, clean the glass with alcohol swabs first to prevent bubbling. I recommend beginners prepare a decal organizer booklet for the glove compartment to store annual decals in chronological order for easy validity verification. Regularly cleaning old adhesive marks from the windshield is also a good habit.

[StJosie]

After changing to my third car, I've summarized some tips: Only the valid compulsory traffic insurance decal needs to be displayed on the windshield, but pay attention to preserving the paper decal. Using a sunshade when parking in summer can prevent the decal from fading. There was a discussion in a car enthusiasts group about the optimal placement - five centimeters from the edge of the glass is best, as being too close to the edge may cause corners to lift. Nowadays electronic decals can be downloaded from traffic apps, but I always keep a printed copy in the center console. During a cross-province road trip last time, I encountered a temporary inspection and fortunately had the printed copy to avoid trouble. When defogging in winter, remember not to let hot air blow directly on the decal.