Can I apply for a driving school if my ID card is demagnetized?
3 Answers
You can apply for a driving school as long as the ID number is visible. The following materials are required for applying to a driving school: 1. For local residents, prepare 8 small one-inch pure white background headshots and three A4 paper copies of the ID card centered (for second-generation ID cards, both front and back should be copied on one sheet). 2. For non-local residents, prepare 8 small one-inch pure white background headshots, three A4 paper copies of the ID card centered (for second-generation ID cards, both front and back should be copied on one sheet), and a temporary residence permit valid for at least one year in the local area. 3. For active military personnel and armed police officers, prepare 12 one-inch white background non-uniform headshots, one copy of personal identification (officer ID or soldier ID), and one personal identification document from the regiment level or above (including current address). 4. For Hong Kong residents, prepare four copies of ID card, two copies of the "Home Return Permit," one original copy of the "Temporary Lodging Registration Certificate for Overseas Personnel" or one copy of the "Foreigner Residence Permit," and 12 one-inch white background non-uniform headshots. 5. For Hong Kong residents renewing their documents: Hong Kong residents must renew their documents themselves at the vehicle management office, as driving schools have not been able to handle this for the past two years.
I also encountered the trouble of my ID card being demagnetized when I enrolled in driving school last year. At that time, I eagerly went to the driving school to sign up, but the staff couldn't read the chip information when swiping the card. I was so anxious that I broke out in a sweat because a valid ID is required to register in the system. However, the driving school staff told me that I could use a temporary ID card as a substitute. I immediately went to the police station to apply for a replacement. The expedited ID card took fifteen days to arrive, but I got the temporary ID card on the same day. With the temporary ID, I successfully enrolled and had no issues taking the exams from subject one to subject four. So don't worry too much; the key is to handle the ID issue promptly. Be careful when storing your ID card—don't keep it with your phone or bank cards, as it's particularly prone to demagnetization.
Over the years as an instructor, I've seen many trainees get stuck during registration due to demagnetized ID cards. When the ID chip is damaged, the information becomes unreadable, making it impossible for the driving school system to input the data. Don't panic in such situations—just go to your local household registration police station to apply for a replacement immediately. Remember to bring the original household registration booklet, as you can get a temporary ID card on the spot, which holds the same legal validity as the official one. Using the temporary ID for registration and exams is perfectly fine; in the last three months alone, four trainees at our driving school resolved the issue this way. The key is not to delay, as driving test slots often have time limits. Also, once you receive your new ID, check whether it can be swiped properly to avoid repeating the problem and disrupting your training progress.
