Does the Driver's License Score Reset When Renewing the License?
4 Answers
When renewing an expired driver's license, the accumulated penalty points do not reset. This is because the clearance of driver's license penalty points is calculated based on the scoring cycle of the license, not on whether the license is renewed. Renewal Rules: If a motor vehicle driver has not accumulated 12 or more penalty points in any scoring cycle during the six-year validity period of their driver's license, they will be issued a driver's license with a ten-year validity period. If the driver has not accumulated 12 or more penalty points in any scoring cycle during the ten-year validity period of their driver's license, they will be issued a long-term valid driver's license. Renewal Time: A motor vehicle driver should apply for license renewal at the vehicle management office of the license issuing authority or another jurisdiction within 90 days before the expiration of their current driver's license. Point Clearance Rules: If a motor vehicle driver's penalty points in a scoring cycle do not reach 12 and all fines have been paid, the points will be cleared. If the points do not reach 12 but there are unpaid fines, the points will be carried over to the next scoring cycle.
I just renewed my driver's license last year and thought the points would be automatically reset upon renewal. However, when I went to the vehicle management office, the staff informed me that a speeding violation record was still there, and I had to handle it first before renewing the license. Later, I learned that the reset of driver's license points is based on the scoring cycle, usually 12 months, not at the time of renewal. I recommend everyone to regularly check their violation records. If there are points before renewal, go pay the fine or attend a course to clear them first, otherwise it can cause delays. Now I drive more carefully to avoid trouble and ensure safety.
As a veteran driver who's been on the road for years, I can tell you that changing your driver's license doesn't reset the penalty points. Any demerit points from traffic violations will remain if the scoring cycle hasn't ended. License renewal only updates the document's validity period. I once forgot to handle a minor violation and got delayed for several days during renewal. It's best to regularly check your points using a mobile app and clear them before renewal. This not only ensures a smooth process but also prevents accumulated points from reaching the limit, which could lead to license suspension affecting your work.
From my youth till now, I've renewed my driver's license several times, and I can confirm that the demerit points are not reset upon license renewal. The points are managed on an annual cycle basis, and license renewal is simply a document extension procedure. The rules were more lenient in the past, but now they're stricter—traffic violation records are cleared based on the cycle's end. New drivers should pay attention to this point to avoid misunderstandings that could affect their travel plans.
