Does the validity period change when replacing a lost driver's license?
2 Answers
After replacing a lost driver's license, the date will not change. The replacement process involves reissuing the driver's license without altering the original issuance date or validity period. Below are specific details about replacing a driver's license: 1. Required materials: "Motor Vehicle Driver's License Application Form," the driver's identity proof and a copy, a driver's license photo, and a written statement declaring the loss of the driver's license. 2. Important notes: You cannot drive a motor vehicle with the original license. If the replacement process is initiated but not completed on the same day, driving during this interim period without the new license is considered unlicensed driving. The original driver's license becomes invalid. In case of a lost license, once a new one is issued, even if the original is found later, it is deemed invalid, and the new license must be used.
I remember last time I lost my driver's license, so I hurried to get a replacement. I was also worried whether the validity period would change, but after asking, it turns out it doesn't. Turns out, replacing a driver's license is like getting a new shell—the information inside, including that expiration date, stays exactly the same. That means whenever your original license was set to expire, the newly replaced one will still expire on that same date. For example, if my original license was set to expire in December 2028, the replacement I got in 2024 would still show December 2028 as the expiration date. To replace it, you need to go to the DMV, fill out a form, bring your ID, and a loss report. Usually, you pay a small fee, and it’s done quickly. Don’t forget, this process takes some time, so I recommend preparing the materials in advance—don’t procrastinate. If your license is about to expire, you can take the opportunity to renew it while replacing it to extend the validity period, but that counts as two separate things. Anyway, rest assured, the validity period won’t arbitrarily shorten or extend. Don’t be careless like me and lose things—keep it safe, ideally in a dedicated wallet.
