Do I Still Need to Carry My Physical Driver's License with an Electronic One?
2 Answers
The following situations still require carrying a physical driver's license: On-site traffic enforcement: If the penalty is less than 12 points and requires license confiscation, the person involved must bring the physical license to the traffic management department for processing; if the penalty reaches 12 points, the person must bring the physical license to a traffic management service point for full-score education. Non-on-site violation handling: Drivers can present an electronic license when dealing with non-on-site traffic violations, but for accumulated penalties of 12 points, general procedure processing, or cases requiring license suspension or revocation, the physical license must still be carried and handled according to current regulations. Driver's license procedures: For procedures requiring the return or endorsement of the original physical license, the person must submit the physical license. Traffic accident handling: If evidence collection requires license confiscation, the person must carry the physical license.
I have an electronic driver's license on my phone, but I always carry the physical one when going out—it's become my habit. I remember last summer during a trip, I was pulled over by the police for inspection. My phone was almost out of battery that day, and luckily, I had the physical license; otherwise, I might have gotten a ticket. While the electronic version is convenient, device issues can happen anytime—like crashes or poor signal. I've been driving for ten years and visited many cities, and each place has different police requirements: big cities may accept the electronic version, but rural areas are often stricter. Storing it in the phone is fine—usually, you can just open the app to show it—but as a backup, the physical license is like extra insurance that never fails. Safety first, especially when checked at night; being able to quickly present the physical one saves a lot of trouble.