Do I still need to carry the original driver's license with an electronic one?
2 Answers
You still need to carry the original driver's license even if you have an electronic version. The specific reasons are as follows: Popularization of electronic driver's licenses: Electronic driver's licenses have not yet been widely adopted and are currently only in trial operation in a few locations such as Guangzhou and Yunnan. Therefore, other areas may not recognize this type of electronic certificate. Additionally, there is currently no nationwide network, so once you leave the city, the electronic license cannot be used. Electronic driver's licenses are not recognized across regions: When traveling on highways, the electronic license is also unusable. Highways typically span multiple regions, and if any issues arise, highway traffic police do not recognize electronic driver's licenses. Therefore, if you do not carry your physical driver's license, you are likely to face points deduction and fines.
I always recommend carrying a physical backup. While electronic driver's licenses are accepted in many places, such as during police checks or app verifications, they aren't universally recognized. In remote areas or specific locations like gas stations or car rental agencies, they might not accept the digital version. Once, I visited a small town with no phone signal and couldn't access my e-license—luckily, I had the original in my bag, saving me from delays. Technologically, e-licenses are advancing fast, but regulations haven't uniformly caught up. For safety, keeping a card license in your wallet takes minutes but prevents a heap of trouble. Bottom line: make it a habit to carry the physical copy—it beats last-minute hassles.
