Can I still drive if my driver's license has accumulated 12 penalty points?

[SanLaura]

You cannot drive if your driver's license has accumulated 12 penalty points. According to regulations, if a motor vehicle driver accumulates 12 penalty points within one scoring cycle, the traffic management department of the public security authority shall confiscate their motor vehicle driver's license. The driver must, within 15 days, attend a seven-day study session on road traffic safety laws, regulations, and related knowledge at the traffic management department of the public security authority where the driver's license was issued or where the violation occurred, and take an exam. If the exam is passed, the penalty points will be cleared, and the motor vehicle driver's license will be returned. If the exam is not passed, the driver must continue studying and retake the exam. If the driver refuses to participate in the study or take the exam, the traffic management department of the public security authority will announce the suspension of the driver's license.

[LeGiselle]

Last time I got all my points deducted for speeding, and that experience was absolutely awful. When the traffic cop pulled me over and checked my license, they made it clear that the moment my points were maxed out, my license became invalid—no chance of driving at all. The system automatically locks your license status, and if you drive anyway, it counts as driving without a license. Not only was my car towed, but I also got slapped with a 2,000-yuan fine. The biggest hassle was having to report to the traffic police station and attend mandatory safety education classes for seven straight days, clocking in early every morning. Only after passing the theory test could I get my license back. Those weeks of commuting by subway every day were brutal. Take my advice: if your points run out, don’t even think about testing your luck behind the wheel. With so many cameras at intersections these days, getting caught means game over.

[StLondon]

As a veteran long-haul driver with twenty years of experience, I've seen too many reckless drivers still on the road after exhausting their points. Once at a service area, a truck driver next to me pulled out his phone and showed me a screenshot from the traffic management app 12123—the screen displaying 'Driver's License Suspended' in bold red letters after his points were depleted. This means your driving privileges are frozen in the DMV system, and your insurance becomes void simultaneously. If an accident occurs, you bear full responsibility and all losses. I know a fellow driver who secretly drove during his license suspension and rear-ended a Rolls-Royce, ending up bankrupt. If you really need to drive, it's better to hire a designated driver to avoid major trouble.

[DeMason]

On the very night my driver's license points were fully deducted, I consulted a traffic police officer friend. He particularly emphasized that this number isn't just data—exceeding 11 points means your traffic violation record is off the charts. The law requires drivers to promptly attend remedial courses and retake the test; driving during this period will be treated as driving without a license. Last year, there was a case in our city where a driver continued to drive their child to school after losing all points, got caught by an electronic police camera midway, and had their license directly revoked, requiring re-examination. Friends who've maxed out their points are advised to immediately download the traffic management app to schedule remedial courses—the sooner you handle it, the sooner you're free. The test questions are much harder now than ten years ago, so brushing up in advance is the only reliable approach.