Can I still drive if my car has 12 points deducted?
3 Answers
The motor vehicle can still operate normally. The driving license has no points left to deduct. Traffic violation points are assigned to the driver rather than the vehicle. If a driver accumulates 12 points within a scoring cycle due to driving that vehicle, the traffic police department should confiscate their driver's license. During the period when the license is confiscated, the driver is not allowed to drive any motor vehicle. Below is extended information about driver's licenses: 1. Handling method: The driver must report to the traffic management department of the public security organ at the place where the motor vehicle driver's license was issued or where the violation occurred within fifteen days to participate in a seven-day study of road traffic safety laws, regulations, and related knowledge. After the motor vehicle driver completes the study, the vehicle management office should conduct an examination on road traffic safety laws, regulations, and related knowledge within twenty days. If the examination is passed, the points will be cleared, and the motor vehicle driver's license will be returned; if the examination is not passed, the driver must continue to study and take the exam. Drivers who refuse to participate in the study or take the exam will have their motor vehicle driver's license suspended by the traffic management department of the public security organ. 2. Motor vehicle handling method: The vehicle will not be prohibited from operating on the road just because its driver has accumulated 12 points. As long as there is a qualified driver, the motor vehicle can still be driven normally on the road.
If your driver's license accumulates 12 penalty points, you definitely can't drive anymore. According to my traffic officer friend, the rules are clear: once you reach 12 points, the DMV will temporarily suspend your license. You must attend a seven-day traffic safety course and retake the written test (Subject One). If you insist on driving during this period, it counts as unlicensed driving, with serious consequences—fines ranging from a minimum of 200 yuan up to 2,000 yuan, and possibly even 15 days in jail. Worse still, if an accident occurs, insurance won’t cover it, and all liability falls on you. I recall many new drivers easily rack up points for speeding or drunk driving. A sincere reminder: obey speed limits, avoid drunk driving, and drive safely—not just to protect lives but also to avoid trouble. Handle traffic violations promptly; don’t delay.
Last time my friend's car got 12 penalty points, he regretted it so much. At first, he didn't take it seriously and kept driving for a few more days until he got caught. Not only was he fined a hefty amount, but his car was also impounded for three months. Later, he told me that dealing with it was time-consuming: he had to take time off work to attend classes and take the test, which delayed his work. Most of the points were due to speeding over 50% or running red lights, which are inherently high-risk behaviors. Now he advises us to drive more carefully, as accumulating 12 points means your license is invalidated, and driving after that is illegal. If you get pulled over, your documents won’t help. I think it’s safest to pay attention to traffic signals and avoid sudden braking to avoid accumulating 12 points. Otherwise, going through the re-learning and testing process is too painful—it’s better to just drive responsibly.
