Can I renew my driver's license if it has been expired for less than a year?
2 Answers
You can normally renew your driver's license within one year after its expiration. However, the license holder is not allowed to drive during the period when the license is expired, otherwise, they will be penalized for driving without a license. If a motor vehicle driver fails to renew their driver's license for more than one year after its expiration, the vehicle management office will cancel the driver's license. If it does not exceed one year, the license will not be canceled. Notes for driver's license renewal: The renewal of a motor vehicle driver's license is a service of replacing the old license with a new one, and the content of the driver's license will not be changed. The renewal of an expired motor vehicle driver's license refers to the expiration of the license's validity period. The specific expiration date can be found at the bottom right of the front of the driver's license. Within 90 days before the expiration of the driver's license, you can bring your ID card and driver's license to the vehicle management office or a designated hospital for a physical examination and renewal. Before renewal, make sure to handle any traffic violations, pay fines, and clear penalty points; otherwise, the vehicle management office will not issue a new license. Materials required for renewal: To renew your driver's license, you need to bring the original ID card and two copies of it, two 1-inch color passport photos without hats, the original driver's license, and a physical examination certificate from a county-level or above hospital (you can also get a free physical examination at the vehicle management office) to the vehicle management office. After filling out the "Motor Vehicle Driver's License Application Form," you can renew your license for free.
As someone who frequently handles vehicle-related matters, I know that if your driver's license has expired for less than a year, you can directly renew it. According to current regulations, a license expired within one year is still within the normal renewal period and does not require retaking the test. You just need to bring your ID card, old driver's license, a one-inch photo, and a medical examination report to the local vehicle management office to complete the renewal procedure. The fee is usually a few dozen yuan, and the process is simple and quick, taking about half an hour. I recommend booking an appointment in advance through the traffic management app to avoid queues. Remember, you must ensure your license is valid before driving, otherwise you may be fined or face revocation for driving without a license, so don’t wait too long after expiration to handle it.
