Can I still drive with 12 points deducted from my driver's license?

[LaDaniel]

You cannot drive with 12 points deducted from your driver's license. If a motor vehicle driver accumulates 12 points within a scoring cycle, the traffic management department of the public security authority shall detain their motor vehicle driver's license. The motor vehicle driver must report to the traffic management department of the public security authority in the place where the driver's license was issued or where the violation occurred within 15 days to participate in a seven-day study of road traffic safety laws, regulations, and related knowledge. A motor vehicle driver's license is a legal certificate issued by the management department to individuals who are legally allowed to learn to drive motor vehicles, have mastered traffic regulations and driving skills through study, and have passed the examination, permitting them to drive certain types of motor vehicles.

[Verona]

Just heard from a friend about his cousin's incident—driving on the road with a full 12-point deduction on his license, only to be caught red-handed by traffic police. This is clearly unlicensed driving! Not only was the car impounded on the spot, but he was also fined 2,000 yuan. After a license is suspended, there’s really no room for侥幸心理. Old Zhang, the mechanic in my neighborhood, mentioned that last year, a car owner got detained for 15 days for doing the same thing. If an accident happens, it’s even worse—the insurance company can openly deny the claim, leaving all repair costs to be paid out of pocket. The top priority after being deducted 12 points is to attend a 7-day traffic regulation course at the traffic management department and retake the科目一 exam. But be reminded—exam appointments usually require a few days of排队, and during this time, you absolutely must not touch the steering wheel.

[SanAiden]

We veteran drivers all know that once you accumulate 12 penalty points, that license goes into 'standby mode'. Last week I helped neighbor Uncle Wang with this exact situation—he got his entire point allowance deducted for going 50% over the speed limit on the highway. From the moment that penalty receipt prints out, you'd better put those car keys away. Nowadays traffic police stations all have facial recognition systems, so borrowing someone else's license to take the blame just doesn't fly anymore. My advice is to immediately take care of two things: first pay the fine at the bank, then bring your ID to the DMV to register for the full-point retraining course. The test questions are way harder now than ten years ago, so you'll need to put in some serious study time. Remember, until you get your license back, even riding shared bikes requires caution—getting caught still counts as unlicensed driving!

[VonAlina]

Driving with a revoked license? That's like filling a prescription with an expired note. Last year, we handled a case where Ms. Li, after losing all her points, went to pick up her child and rear-ended another car—airbags deployed instantly. The accident report was crystal clear: driving without qualification meant full liability. Not only did she pay her own medical bills, but also had to compensate 80,000 yuan for the depreciation of the other party’s new car. Honestly, losing 12 points shows serious flaws in driving awareness—it’s like running a marathon with a 38°C fever. The DMV’s refresher courses are actually helpful, offering day or evening classes with instructors covering updated traffic rules. The pass rate for retaking the written test is around 70%, slightly easier than for first-time applicants.

[AlessandraDella]

When your driver's license turns red (revoked), you must not touch the steering wheel—this is an ironclad rule. A kid from my relative's family experienced this last year: accumulating 12 penalty points during the probation period led to immediate license cancellation and retesting. The reinstatement process involves three steps: First, schedule a study session via the 12123 APP, then attend a seven-day traffic regulation course with your ID (bring a notebook to highlight lane-changing/yielding rules), and finally retake the theory test. Seasoned drivers know that the updated test bank includes region-specific questions—for instance, our local exam always covers tunnel headlight activation distances. Pro tip: If your car is parked in a paid garage during the study period, contact a designated driver for relocation. For manual transmission vehicles, it's safest to have family members drive them home to prevent temptation-induced mishaps.

[Jeff]

According to news reports, the traffic management system has been upgraded. Now if a driver's license is deducted 12 points, the monitoring platform will trigger an alarm within 30 seconds of vehicle ignition. Last week when accompanying my cousin to handle point deductions, the officer showed case records: one car owner was caught by high-definition surveillance cameras driving secretly at night to buy cigarettes, and was summoned to the station the next day for a statement. What if you temporarily need to move the car? Actually, the 12123 APP has an 'Electronic License Freeze Release' channel, but you must first register for an in-person exam. The study materials are valuable, especially the newly added defensive driving chapter which is thoroughly explained. For those too busy to attend in-person classes, some regions offer 72-hour online learning, but specialized cameras are required for proctoring.