Do I Need to Retake the Driving Test If My Driver's License Expires?
2 Answers
If your driver's license has been expired for more than 3 years, you need to retake the test. If you fail to renew your motor vehicle driver's license for more than one year after its expiration, the vehicle management office will cancel your driver's license. For a period of 1 to 3 years (not including 3 years), the license will be in a 'canceled but recoverable' status, and you must retake and pass the subject one test to restore your driving qualification. If it has been 3 years or more, the driver's license will be permanently canceled, and you will have to retake the driving test to drive again. Below are the specific impacts of an expired driver's license: Illegal to drive on the road: The vehicle cannot legally be driven on the road. If the vehicle is stopped by traffic police and the driver's license is found to be expired, the owner will be fined or the vehicle may be impounded. Fines: If the vehicle is driven on the road and caught by traffic police, the driver will be penalized with a 3-point deduction and a fine. Mandatory scrapping: If the vehicle fails to pass the inspection for three consecutive inspection periods after the expiration of the inspection validity period, it will be subject to mandatory scrapping.
My driver's license has expired a few times, and I dealt with it promptly each time. The first time it expired for three months, I just went to the DMV for a simple physical exam, filled out a form, and got a new one without having to retake the test. However, if the expiration period is longer, such as over a year, you might have to retake the exam. A friend of mine had to start from scratch after his license expired for two years, wasting both time and money. Driving with an expired license is risky—if caught by the police, you could face fines and points on your record, and insurance might not cover accidents. I recommend regularly checking your license's expiration date, setting phone reminders, or using a traffic app to monitor the deadline. This way, it's safe and hassle-free, and you won't regret waiting until a big problem arises. Generally, minor issues can be fixed with simple repairs.
