Can the old driver's license still be used after obtaining a replacement?
2 Answers
After obtaining a replacement driver's license, the original license becomes invalid and cannot be used anymore. According to Article 123 of the "Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driver's Licenses" issued by the Ministry of Public Security: If the original driver's license is lost and the original license is found after obtaining a replacement, the driver must surrender the original license to the vehicle management office or destroy it personally, and is not allowed to use both licenses simultaneously. Below are the relevant details: Required Materials: If a motor vehicle driver's license is lost, the driver must apply for a replacement at the vehicle management office where the original license was issued. The application must include a completed form and submission of relevant documents and proofs, such as the driver's identity proof and a written statement declaring the loss of the driver's license. If the application meets the requirements, the vehicle management office should issue a replacement driver's license within one day. Related Penalties: If the driver continues to use the invalidated original license in violation of regulations, the public security traffic management department will impose a fine and confiscate the original license.
When I went to the DMV to replace my lost driver's license, the staff repeatedly emphasized that the old license would be invalidated. As soon as the new license is issued, the magnetic strip on the old one is automatically deactivated, and the system updates are synchronized with the traffic police database. Last week, an experienced driver didn't believe it and tried to use his expired old license on the highway. He was stopped and penalized for driving without a valid license—fined 1,500 RMB and had 12 points deducted. The replacement process is quite convenient: just bring your ID card and a photo, and it's done on-site in about half an hour with a fee of 10 RMB. Actually, replacing a driver's license is like reporting a lost bank card and getting a new one—the old card definitely won't work anymore. Remember to cut a corner off the old license before throwing it away to prevent misuse by someone with bad intentions.
