Can the old driver's license still be used after obtaining a replacement?

[SamuelAnn]

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.

[WalterMarie]

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.

[LeAutumn]

After obtaining a replacement driver's license, the old one becomes invalid. This is similar to the legal principle of ID card replacement, where the old card is already deactivated in the system. At a gathering, I heard a friend mention that he kept both the old and new driver's licenses in his car as backups, which almost got him into trouble when checked by traffic police. Nowadays, vehicle management offices are all connected online, and scanning the license plate reveals the document's status. If the old license is used, the consequences could range from fines and penalty points to detention. It's advisable to destroy the old license immediately after replacement and develop the habit of carrying only the latest document in the car. Keeping it in the glove compartment also reduces the chance of losing it.

[Marvin]

Last time I applied for a new driver's license, I specifically asked the traffic police officer, who clearly stated that the old license cannot be used. The driver's license file number and QR code are unique, and reapplying means the original document is invalidated. My friend's car was rear-ended last year, and he happened to have his old license with him. The insurance claims adjuster said using an expired document could affect the compensation. Reapplying is quite convenient now; you can make an appointment via the Traffic Management 12123 APP. Remember to bring your ID card and a one-inch photo. It's recommended to cut the photo off the old license with scissors before disposing of it to avoid confusion. Having driven for over a decade, I've never seen a case where two licenses were valid simultaneously. Don't risk trouble for convenience.

[McRosalie]

After obtaining a new driver's license, the old one becomes immediately invalid, and only the most recently issued document is legally recognized. This is similar to replacing a bank card—once the new card is activated, the old one is automatically deactivated. Fleet driver Master Li from our company learned this the hard way when he assumed both old and new licenses could be used, resulting in his license being confiscated for 15 days at a highway checkpoint last year. Nowadays, the vehicle management system updates in real-time nationwide, and traffic police can instantly check a license's status by scanning its QR code. The replacement process is straightforward: bring your ID card and a driver's license photo to the local vehicle management office window, with fees under 20 yuan. It's advisable to destroy the chip embedded in the old license before discarding it to prevent data misuse.