How early should I renew my driver's license?
3 Answers
You should renew your driver's license three months in advance. It's acceptable if it's slightly overdue, but don't exceed one year, otherwise your license will be revoked. When renewing, the vehicle owner should fill out an application form and apply for renewal at the vehicle management office where the driver's license was originally issued. The required documents and certificates include: 1. The driver's identity proof; 2. The original driver's license; 3. A medical certificate issued by a county-level or higher medical institution (or a military medical institution at or above the regimental level). For those applying for a special small automatic passenger vehicle for the disabled, a medical certificate issued by a specialized medical institution designated by the provincial health authority is required.
Letting your driver's license expire is no fun—I renewed mine three months early. The DMV requires license renewal applications to be submitted within 90 days before expiration, so don't wait until the last few days. Last time, my friend delayed until only a week was left, and the system was down for maintenance—he almost panicked. Nowadays, the Traffic Management 12123 app allows advance appointments and even lets you upload your medical report, saving unnecessary trips. But remember, if your old license expires before you get the new one, driving with it counts as unlicensed driving, which means points deduction and fines. Several major service centers in the city also handle renewals on weekends—just bring your ID, old license, and a white-background photo.
Since you have a C1 license, I suggest starting preparations two months before its expiration. Last year when I renewed mine, I specifically checked that having around 50 days remaining on the validity period is safest, as medical reports are only valid for 30 days - getting it done too early means re-examination. Nowadays you can renew at smart kiosks too, but remember to submit the medical form later. If you're in another city, cross-region processing is actually possible, though material preparation takes longer. Last month I helped a colleague renew theirs - it took ten days from appointment to receiving the new license. If you encounter peak periods at the vehicle management office, just getting a queue number can take ages.
