Do I need to take new photos when my driver's license expires?
2 Answers
Before renewing an expired license, the driver must not have accumulated 12 penalty points; all traffic violations and unresolved accident cases must be settled; the vehicle must undergo regular annual inspections, and un-inspected vehicles cannot proceed with license renewal. New photos are required—bring three one-inch, bareheaded, white-background color photos. The permitted vehicle types and corresponding codes for driver's licenses are as follows: 1. Large buses: An A1 license allows driving large passenger vehicles as well as A3, B1, B2, C1, C2, C3, C4, and M. 2. Tractor-trailers: An A2 license permits driving heavy and medium-sized full trailers, semi-trailers, and combinations of B1, B2, C1, C2, C3, C4, and M. 3. City buses: An A3 license authorizes operating city buses with a capacity of 10 or more passengers and C1, C2, C3, and C4. 4. Medium-sized buses: A B1 license allows driving medium-sized passenger vehicles (including city buses with a capacity of 10 to 19 passengers) and C1, C2, C3, C4, and M. 5. Heavy trucks: A B2 license permits driving heavy and medium-sized trucks; large, heavy, and medium-sized special-purpose vehicles and C1, C2, C3, C4, and M. 6. Small cars: A C1 license allows driving small and mini passenger vehicles, as well as light, mini trucks, and light, small, mini special-purpose vehicles and C2, C3, C4.
I remember when I renewed my driver's license last year, I did need to take a new photo. The DMV staff said that every time you renew an expired license, you must provide a photo taken within the last six months, as they need to update your recent photo in the system. That time when I went to process it, I first went to a designated hospital for a simple medical check-up to confirm my vision was fine. Then I brought my ID card, old driver's license, and several one-inch white background photos to fill out the application form. The photo was taken on-site at the DMV—they required dark-colored clothes without reflections, and hair that didn’t cover the ears or eyebrows. The whole process took about half an hour, and the new license was mailed to my home. It’s recommended to schedule an appointment one month in advance to avoid fines if caught with an expired license.
