Can the driver's license and vehicle license be kept together?
4 Answers
Driver's license and vehicle license can be kept together. In China, the definition of a driver's license is: A motor vehicle driver's license refers to a legal document issued to individuals who are legally permitted to learn to drive motor vehicles. After studying and mastering traffic regulations and driving skills, and passing the administrative department's assessment, they are granted the legal certificate to drive certain types of motor vehicles. Driving a motor vehicle requires certain driving skills. Without these skills, driving a motor vehicle recklessly may lead to traffic accidents. Ordinary people cannot drive on the road without a license. However, for those who already possess safe driving skills, the certificate that allows them to drive vehicles on the road is the 'driver's license.' This indicates that a driver's license is a kind of 'permit.' The permission to drive a vehicle is realized by issuing a driver's license. This shows that obtaining a driver's license is a formal procedure and must be issued by a specialized authority. Internationally, a driver's license is defined as 'a certificate issued by the competent authority that permits the holder to drive a vehicle for the purpose of driving a car.'
I think it's safer to keep the driver's license and vehicle registration separately when driving. The driver's license is most convenient to carry in your wallet, so you can just pull it out of your pocket when the traffic police check your car. As for the vehicle registration, it's recommended to clip it behind the sun visor or place it in a dedicated document pouch in the glove compartment, as traffic regulations clearly require the vehicle registration to be kept with the car. If you stack both documents together and stuff them in the glove compartment, it can be particularly troublesome to replace them if the car is borrowed or involved in an accident. A neighbor once had both documents stolen from their car and spent two weeks at the DMV just to replace the materials. Nowadays, some people still like to use those dual-document leather holders, but as long as the documents don't get damp, it's generally not a problem.
It's perfectly fine to keep your driver's license and vehicle license together. Personally, I use a transparent document holder for both. Just make sure the vehicle license is always readily accessible in the car - you wouldn't want to keep traffic police waiting during random checks. Avoid mixing them with annual inspection stickers and such; once I urgently needed my vehicle license but pulled out an expired invoice instead. Ultimately, storage depends on personal preference, as long as you use a sealed leather holder that prevents bending and avoids direct sunlight. For extra security, keep digital copies on your phone - you can now access them on the 12123 app for emergencies.
Whether to keep the two documents together depends on the situation. For daily short commutes, it's perfectly fine to stuff them into the same card holder—my wife often does this for convenience. However, for long trips or visits to unfamiliar places, they must be separated: keep the driver's license on your person to prevent theft, and stash the vehicle registration in the innermost part of the center console. After all, if you're involved in an accident while traveling and all your documents are in the car, even your ID could be detained during claims processing, leaving you in a passive position. It's recommended to use zippered mesh document bags for separate storage, as they offer better moisture resistance than regular folders. For new cars, remember not to use double-sided tape on the dashboard—summer heat can cause the laminated film to bubble.
