Do I need to return to the local DMV to renew an expired driver's license?
2 Answers
The replacement and renewal of a driver's license (including renewal upon expiration, renewal upon reaching the specified age, renewal due to information changes, renewal due to damage, renewal with a downgraded vehicle class due to changes in physical condition, replacement for loss, etc.) and the review can be processed in a different location with an ID card. Below are the specific handling methods for different periods of overdue driver's license review: 1. Less than 12 months overdue: If the license has been expired for less than 12 months, it can be renewed as usual. 2. Between one and three years overdue: If the license has been expired for more than one year but less than three years, you will need to retake the subject one exam to renew the license. After passing the exam, you can obtain the license. 3. More than three years overdue: If the license has been expired for more than three years, you will need to reapply for a driver's license. Driving during the overdue period is not allowed and may be treated as driving without a license. If the license has been expired for more than three years, it will be considered invalid and canceled, and you will need to retake the driver's license test.
My driver's license also expired last year, and I was quite worried at first, thinking I had to make a special trip back to my hometown DMV to handle it. Actually, it's not necessary to return to the local area. If you're working or living in another city, you can completely handle the out-of-town license renewal at the local DMV in your current city—that's how I did it. Bring your original ID card, the old driver's license, and two recent one-inch photos, and make an appointment in advance to get a health certificate from a hospital. The whole process took me half a day, and the cost was just a few dozen yuan. After completing the process, the DMV will either issue the new license on the spot or mail it to your home. The key point is not to drive if your license has expired, otherwise, you could face fines and points if caught. I recommend setting a reminder on your phone a few months before the expiration date to start preparing early, avoiding last-minute panic that could affect your travel plans.