Can I renew my driver's license during the extension period?
4 Answers
Driver's license cannot be renewed during the extension period. Validity period of driver's license: Article 56 of the "Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driver's Licenses": If a motor vehicle driver has not accumulated 12 penalty points in each scoring cycle during the six-year validity period of the motor vehicle driver's license, the driver's license shall be renewed with a ten-year validity period; if the driver has not accumulated 12 penalty points in each scoring cycle during the ten-year validity period of the motor vehicle driver's license, the driver's license shall be renewed with a long-term validity period. Penalties for expired driver's license: Driving a motor vehicle is not allowed during the expired period, otherwise it may be treated as driving without a license. If the driver's license has been expired for less than one year, the driver can renew it at any time, but if driving on the road, a fine of 200 yuan will be imposed. If the driver's license has been expired for more than one year without renewal, the traffic management department will cancel it according to the law. If the expiration period is less than three years, the driver must pass the re-examination of Subject 1 to restore the driving qualification. Driving on the road during this period will result in a fine ranging from 200 to 2,000 yuan. If the driver's license has been expired for more than three years, it will be completely canceled, and the driver must retake the driver's license test to drive again. Otherwise, driving on the road will be treated as driving without a license, with a fine of 2,000 yuan and administrative detention for up to 15 days.
I remember that my driver's license was about to expire two years ago, so I applied for a six-month extension, thinking it would be convenient to renew it during that period. However, when I went to the DMV, the staff shook their heads and said I couldn’t renew the license during the extension because the system had locked the status. This made me feel particularly awkward, as I had to wait until the extension ended to proceed. They explained that the extension is a buffer period for special circumstances, such as being away on business and unable to handle it in time. But renewing the license is an independent process, and mixing the two could mess up the records. At the time, I was worried about being checked by traffic police, but a friend assured me that as long as the license status was normal, it wouldn’t be a problem—though it’s best not to push it. After the extension, I simply waited until expiration to renew, preparing materials like the medical report, photos, and ID in advance to avoid further issues. Driving safety comes first, so I later followed the rules properly, avoiding the risk of fines and keeping my mind at ease.
Based on my driving experience, I genuinely don't recommend renewing your license during the extension period. The reason is straightforward: traffic regulations don't allow overlapping procedures. Once you apply for an extension, the system marks it as temporarily valid. If you attempt to renew midway, the application might get rejected outright, making the trip pointless. I've seen many novices get anxious over this, some even receiving fines for illegal driving. Extensions are meant for emergencies, like post-accident recovery periods—don't treat them as routine. It's better to plan your renewal ahead of time rather than wait until the last minute. With all documents ready, standard renewal is more reliable and hassle-free. Always check the local DMV website for policy updates, but generally, avoid unnecessary risks. Years of driving have taught me that license management can't be careless—one mistake could disrupt travel or even compromise safety.
Can I renew my driver's license during the extension period? Generally not possible, because the traffic management system is designed to handle only single status changes. The extension already covers the expiration issue, while renewal requires initiating a brand-new process - these two operations conflict and may cause invalidation. Based on my understanding of DMV rules, this could easily create confusing records and might even trigger system errors. My suggestion is to wait until the extension period ends before applying for renewal. Maintain your license's valid status during this period and avoid any additional operations. If urgent updates are needed, consulting professionals would be safest. But overall, prioritize completing the original extension before processing a new license. This helps avoid legal troubles and unexpected delays.
