Can I drive if my driver's license is lost?
2 Answers
You cannot drive if your driver's license is lost. If a driver operates a vehicle on the road during the period when the license is lost, although the behavior is not treated as driving without a motor vehicle driver's license, it will still be subject to legal penalties, i.e., punishment in accordance with the situation of not carrying the driver's license, which may result in a warning or a fine. Driving without a driver's license when it is lost is considered driving without a license, so driving on the road is not allowed before the license is reissued. Materials required for reissuing a driver's license: two copies of ID card, two recent 1-inch bareheaded color photos and the original ID card, the original driver's license, and a medical examination certificate from a county-level or above hospital. When applying for a replacement, you need to fill out the Motor Vehicle Driver's License Application Form and the Motor Vehicle Driver's License Replacement Application Form.
Hey, last time I lost my driver's license too, to be honest, I didn’t dare to drive at all. Why? Because the traffic law clearly states that you must carry the original valid driver's license with you when driving, otherwise it counts as driving without a license. I’m a bit careless and often misplace my documents, but this time I was really scared. I heard that if the police catch you, not only will you be fined a few hundred yuan, but your car could also be impounded or you might even be detained for a few days. I hurried to the local traffic police station to get a replacement, bringing a one-inch photo and my original ID card, filled out an application form, and got the new license in a few days. It’s important to develop a habit of keeping your documents in a fixed place or backing them up electronically with a mobile app, which can be useful temporarily during checks, but getting a replacement is always the most reliable solution. Remember, safety is no small matter—don’t lose big for small gains.
