Starting January 1, 2027, it is replaced by a QR code decal mailed to drivers when they register or renew their vehicle. What the New System Actually DoesThe QR code decal goes on the passenger side of the windshield. It costs $6 per year — down from the $10 annual inspection fee, or $18 in areas requiring emissions testing. The QR code confirms what the vehicle’s registration and insurance status are right now, today, at the moment of the scan. The Safety Argument That Did Not WinNot everyone celebrating the end of the brake tag is thinking about the QR code.