Can I still drive if my driver's license has expired and I haven't renewed it?

[Brooks]

If your driver's license has expired and you haven't renewed it, you cannot drive. Otherwise, you may be treated as driving without a license, so you should renew it as soon as possible. Time regulations: If the expiration is less than one year, you can renew it normally; if it has been expired for more than one year but less than three years, the license will be revoked, but you can renew it by passing the subject one exam; if it has been expired for more than three years, the license will be invalid and cannot be renewed. Penalties for driving with an expired license: You must not drive a motor vehicle during the expiration period, otherwise you may be treated as driving without a license. If your driver's license has been expired for less than one year, you can renew it at any time, but if you drive on the road, you will face a fine of 200 yuan. If your driver's license has been expired for more than one year without renewal, the traffic management department will revoke it according to the law. If the expiration is less than three years, the driver must retake and pass the subject one exam to restore their driving qualification. If they drive on the road during this period, they will face a fine ranging from 200 to 2000 yuan. If the driver's license has been expired for more than three years, it will be completely revoked. The driver must retake the driver's license exam if they want to drive again. Otherwise, driving on the road will be treated as driving without a license, resulting in a fine of 2000 yuan and administrative detention for up to 15 days.

[LeArianna]

That day I was driving to work when I happened to encounter a traffic police check, and ended up being pulled over because my driver's license had expired without renewal—what rotten luck. Once a driver's license expires, you're no longer allowed to drive; it's a hard-and-fast rule, otherwise it counts as unlicensed driving. The traffic police fined me several hundred yuan on the spot and even warned that repeat offenses could result in vehicle impoundment or license revocation. Later, I hurried to the DMV to retake the test and renew my license, only to find out that if it's overdue for more than a year, you have to retake the written exam—what a hassle. Now I set a monthly phone reminder to check my license status, and I always remind my car enthusiast friends at meetups: never put off renewing your license to save trouble, as it can hurt both your wallet and potentially endanger yourself and others. It's best to start the license renewal process two or three months in advance—don't make the same mistake I did by counting on luck.

[SavannahLynn]

I always prioritize driving safety, and whenever I see someone asking whether they can drive with an expired license, I can't help but speak up. Legally speaking, driving with an invalid license means you're unlicensed—absolutely not allowed. Think about it: road conditions can change in an instant. If an accident happens, insurance won't cover it, and you'll have to bear all the costs yourself. I've seen many cases where people were fined thousands and had to retake the written test, wasting time and affecting their livelihood. My advice is to renew your license 90 days in advance—the process can be done through the traffic management app. If you've already missed the deadline, stop driving immediately and go straight to the DMV. Don't gamble with safety.

[MatteoFitz]

Last year on my way to take the kids to school, I heard a colleague got his car impounded for driving with an expired license. It immediately made me think about our own situation. Continuing to drive with expired documents is too risky—it's both illegal and could worry the family. My husband used to procrastinate renewing his license, and after it expired, he had to retake the written test, wasting a whole week of vacation. Now I regularly check the expiration dates of all our family's documents and have even downloaded the Traffic Management 12123 app to renew them directly from my phone. For drivers, an expired license is like expired medicine—it might seem usable but carries hidden dangers. It's better to take a taxi for a few days than to take the risk.