Does the driver's license renewal reset the penalty points?
3 Answers
Driver's license renewal does not reset penalty points; they will be cleared at the end of the scoring cycle. Below are specific details about driver's license renewal: 1. Overdue renewal: You can apply for renewal within 90 days before the license expires. If the license has been expired for less than one year, you can still apply for renewal. If it has been expired for more than one year but less than three years, you must pass the subject one exam to renew. If it has been expired for more than three years, the license will be canceled, and you must reapply. 2. Required materials for renewal: Original ID card, original driver's license, a one-inch white-background photo, and a physical condition certificate. You can process the renewal at a traffic police service point or online via the comprehensive traffic safety service management platform.
I remember when I went to renew my driver's license last year, I thought the points would be reset automatically. But it turned out that wasn't the case at all. Renewing the license only updates its validity period and photo, while the points remain unchanged. Driving points are accumulated based on your usual violations—like running a red light adding a few points, or speeding adding some more. These records are stored in the traffic management system's database. During renewal, the staff only handles the license itself, such as checking medical certificates or uploading photos, and doesn't involve resetting points. Points clearing has its own rules—usually, you have to wait for a scoring cycle to end, meaning 12 months without violations, before the points automatically decrease or reset. If you max out at 12 points, the renewal might even fail, requiring you to address violations and retake the test first. Don’t take driving lightly—a friend of mine got burned by having too many points before renewal, which caused delays. Developing safe driving habits and regularly checking your point records in the app is the right approach. Don’t count on renewing your license to cheat the system.
Hey fellow drivers, I've renewed my license a few times and I get your concern. The demerit points definitely won't be reset when renewing your license - they're like the black marks on your driving record. Renewal just means getting a new card, not clearing your history. Points are tied to your violations; for example, a DUI with 12 points means you're done for, and renewal won't help you reset that. To clear points, you need time - typically when the 12-month scoring cycle ends, and only if you haven't committed new violations will they gradually decrease. The renewal process is actually super simple: just bring your ID and photos to the DMV, but they only check if your documents are valid, not your points. I recommend checking your points on the 12123 app before renewal to avoid failing due to high points. Drive carefully, don't speed or anything, and you'll naturally have fewer worries with fewer points. Don't make my mistake of almost maxing out 12 points before urgently paying fines and scrambling during renewal.