Which labels must be affixed to the car windows?
4 Answers
The front windshield must display three major labels: the Motor Vehicle Inspection Compliance Label, the Compulsory Insurance Label, and the Environmental Protection Inspection Compliance Label. Below are more detailed explanations: 1. Motor Vehicle Inspection Compliance Label: This label indicates that the vehicle has passed the annual inspection, meaning it meets the roadworthiness requirements. Vehicles nearing scrappage that fail the inspection will not receive this label. The color of the label varies by year for easy identification. 2. Compulsory Insurance Label: This label is well-known and must be displayed. Purchasing compulsory auto insurance is a mandatory requirement. In the event of an accident, the insurance company will provide compensation within the coverage limits, significantly reducing financial burdens and offering protection. 3. Environmental Protection Inspection Compliance Label: This label classifies vehicles based on emission standards, with yellow and green categories determined by vehicle type and emission levels. Although the environmental protection label has been abolished to reduce the burden on car owners, vehicle emission testing remains a mandatory inspection item.
In the past, car windshields were always covered with various stickers, but now it's much simpler. There are mainly two decals: the compulsory traffic insurance sticker and the annual inspection sticker. The compulsory insurance one has a blue background and is mailed to you by the insurance company when you renew it each year. It must be displayed, otherwise you'll face fines. The annual inspection sticker is issued by the vehicle management office to prove your car has passed safety checks. The environmental protection sticker has been canceled nationwide, so the green sticker is no longer required. Recently, I saw in the news that some regions have even eliminated paper stickers altogether, switching to digital versions. But to be on the safe side, I still recommend placing these two stickers in the upper right corner of your windshield without obstructing your view. After all, policy enforcement varies by region, and you don't want trouble if you encounter a strict traffic officer.
Last year when I just bought my car, the technician told me I needed to place two small decals on the vehicle: one is the yellow-background black-text annual inspection sticker, proving the car has undergone regular safety checks; the other is the blue-background compulsory traffic insurance decal, which is a legally mandated insurance. There used to be a green environmental protection sticker too, but it was discontinued three years ago. Nowadays, many cities have adopted electronic decals that can be checked via mobile apps. However, I prefer sticking the paper decals on the corner of the windshield on the passenger side for easy inspection when needed. Remember not to use regular transparent tape for sticking – buy specialized static cling stickers from stationery stores instead, or else removing them might leave adhesive residue and damage the car film.
I've been repairing cars for over a decade, and the most common issue I see is incorrectly placed stickers. Actually, there are only two legally required stickers: the annual inspection sticker issued by the DMV and the compulsory insurance sticker from the insurance company. The environmental protection sticker was canceled nationwide last year, so don't believe those rumors saying you still need it. When placing the stickers, pay attention to the position—they should be in the upper right corner of the windshield directly in front of the driver's seat, without obstructing the driving view. Many cities now support electronic stickers, which can be checked via the Traffic Management 12123 app. However, for long-distance trips, it's still advisable to use the paper versions. Last week, a customer got fined in Shanxi because the electronic system isn't fully implemented there yet.
