How long does it take to get a renewed license?
4 Answers
When renewing your driver's license at the vehicle management office, you can receive your new license on the same day of application. The renewal must be processed at the vehicle management office where the original license was issued, and you can apply for renewal up to three months in advance. For renewals submitted through the 12123 platform, the application is typically reviewed within 1 business day. Once approved, the new license is produced, and the postal service is notified for delivery, which usually takes around 2-3 days. License renewal and inspection require meeting the following conditions: Holders of licenses for large buses, tractors, city buses, medium buses, or large trucks must have no demerit points in the current scoring cycle, or holders of other types of driving licenses must have fewer than 12 demerit points in the current scoring cycle. Holders of licenses for large buses, tractors, city buses, medium buses, or large trucks who have demerit points in the current scoring cycle, as well as holders of other types of driving licenses who have been involved in a traffic accident resulting in death and bear equal or greater responsibility without having their license revoked, must have completed the required inspection education. The applicant must have no pending road traffic safety violations or unresolved traffic accidents.
Last time I renewed my driver's license, I specifically noted the time—the entire process took about 2-3 working days. In the morning, I first went to the designated hospital for a medical check-up, and the report was completed in half an hour. Then, I submitted the application form and photos at the DMV counter, where the staff took about ten minutes to review the materials. After collecting the documents, they mentioned waiting for the back-end to produce the license. I applied on Tuesday morning and received the new license via EMS by Thursday afternoon. Actually, the duration depends on whether you choose mail delivery or self-pickup. Mail delivery adds an extra day for logistics. If you're in a hurry, you can opt for self-pickup to get it on the spot, but this depends on whether the DMV can produce the license that same day. Don’t forget to make an appointment in advance on the Traffic Management 12123 App to save queue time.
I remember when I renewed my license, it was during the summer vacation, and the DMV was packed. If you encounter such peak periods, you might have to wait an extra day or two. The key is to bring three essential items: the medical examination report, the original driver's license, and a copy of your ID card. Missing any of these will require multiple trips. My friend wasted time because his photo didn't meet the requirements and had to retake it. Nowadays, many places have self-service kiosks where you can submit your documents and get processed in about ten minutes. The actual production of the license is quite consistent, usually ready by the next day. A special reminder: the medical exam is only valid for six months, so don’t get it done too early to avoid re-examination due to expiration. If you're processing it in a different location, you’ll need to transfer your registration first, which takes even more time.
Currently, the fastest way to renew your driver's license is through the Traffic Management 12123 app. Last month, I tried the entire process online: first uploading the medical examination data on the app, then submitting a white-background photo and the application. The system approved it instantly. Two days later, the courier delivered the new license to my door. It saves half a day compared to offline processing and eliminates the need to take time off work, making it especially suitable for office workers. Of course, this is only possible if your local area supports full online processing—some smaller cities still require you to submit the old license in person. Delivery times depend on distance: same-city deliveries arrive the next day, while cross-province deliveries may take three to four days.
