Do I need to pick up my driver's license in person?
3 Answers
Motor vehicle driver's licenses cannot be collected by others; the applicant must personally go to the traffic management office to pick up the license. Below are the relevant regulations: 1. New Rule: Since the implementation of the "Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driver's Licenses" on January 1, 2013, applicants must personally visit the vehicle management office or the examination site to receive no less than half an hour of traffic safety and civilized driving common sense education, as well as case-based warnings about traffic accidents, and participate in the license issuance oath ceremony. Only after the motor vehicle driver's license is issued on the same day can the applicant collect it. If unable to attend, the license cannot be collected by someone else; the applicant must personally go to the traffic management office to participate in the oath ceremony before receiving the motor vehicle driver's license.
Last time I hit a snag when trying to collect a driver's license for a friend—the DMV insisted it had to be done in person. They explained that the initial issuance is a major administrative license that requires in-person facial and fingerprint verification. However, for replacements or renewals, you can have someone else handle it with just a copy of your ID and a letter of authorization. For special cases requiring out-of-town collection, many cities now offer mailing services where you can apply online, but identity verification must be completed digitally. A reminder to everyone: bring the receipt and your original ID, as the DMV usually stops processing applications by 4 PM.
I have experience with this. Last year when I got my license, I specifically inquired about it. After passing Subject 4, the staff clearly required me to bring my ID card to the certificate production room to sign and receive the license. Their ID verification system must read the photo information from the second-generation ID card chip on-site, and they also need to take photos for archiving. At that time, I almost made a wasted trip due to online banking system maintenance, so I recommend avoiding the peak periods at the beginning or end of the month. If the test location is in another city, some driving schools offer a proxy collection and mailing service, but you need to pay the postage and handling fee in advance.
