Can a motorcycle license still be used if it hasn't been reviewed for 15 years?
3 Answers
According to regulations, motorcycle licenses do not require annual review; they only need to be renewed upon expiration. The validity period of a motorcycle license has three tiers: the first issuance is valid for six years, the second renewal extends it to ten years, and the third renewal makes it long-term. However, there is a prerequisite: the license holder must not have accumulated 12 penalty points in the previous scoring cycle to qualify for this process. If the license expires, it can be renewed within one year. If it remains unrenewed for more than one year, it will be revoked. According to Article 71 of the Ministry of Public Security's Order No. 139, the review content for motor vehicle driving licenses includes: 1. Road traffic violations and accident handling records, 2. Physical condition, 3. Road traffic violation points and participation in study and examination after accumulating 12 points.
When I was young, I got my motorcycle license. It was just after I got married, and riding a motorcycle to commute was really cool. Later, as work got busy and I moved several times, I never got around to renewing my license. Before I knew it, 15 years had passed. Recently, I wanted to pick up my old hobby but found out my license had long expired and was invalid. I asked a friend at the DMV, and he said you need to renew and verify your skills every few years. If it's overdue by a certain period, the license becomes completely invalid, and you have to retake the test. This is because skills can get rusty, and not being familiar with new traffic rules could lead to accidents. Now, I'm preparing to sign up for a driving course—both the theory and practical tests are required. Don’t follow my example; regularly check your license status to avoid trouble.
I'm a novice motorcycle enthusiast, and my dad's old license hasn't been renewed for 15 years. Recently, I've been thinking about trying out my dad's old bike, but I'm not sure if the license is still valid. I checked online, and various forums said that licenses automatically expire if not renewed for a long time, making them invalid for road use. I went directly to the local DMV to ask, and they recommended reapplying, which involves a medical check, photo, and test—possibly simpler than getting a new license. This way, it's legal and safe, avoiding fines or vehicle impoundment if caught by traffic police. I also feel it's time to update my knowledge.
