Does the validity period change when replacing a lost driver's license?
2 Answers
The validity period does not change when replacing a lost driver's license. For a C1 driver's license, the newly replaced license will have the same validity period as the original one. The validity period will only change if you apply for a license renewal at the same time as replacing the lost license. More relevant information is as follows: 1. According to Article 10 of the 'Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driver's Licenses': The validity period of a motor vehicle driver's license is divided into six years, ten years, and long-term. 2. According to Article 47 of the 'Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driver's Licenses': If a motor vehicle driver has not accumulated 12 penalty points in any scoring cycle during the six-year validity period of the driver's license, they can be issued a ten-year validity driver's license; if they have not accumulated 12 penalty points in any scoring cycle during the ten-year validity period, they can be issued a long-term valid driver's license.
I once lost my driver's license too and made a special trip to the DMV to clarify. The validity period of a replacement license doesn't change—it's completely calculated based on the original license's expiration date. The only exception is if your license was about to expire anyway, and you applied for renewal while getting a replacement—that's when the validity period gets updated. In my case, the old license still had two years left, and the replacement showed the same remaining two years. The staff explained this is simply replacing the physical document, with all information carried over from the original. However, if during replacement they notice your license is within three months of expiration, they'll proactively ask if you want to renew it directly. Everyone should remember to keep their license safe—getting a replacement involves photos and fees which can be troublesome, and more importantly, driving without carrying your license could lead to point deductions.
