How long does it take to receive a renewed driver's license by mail?
2 Answers
It takes three to five days to receive the new driver's license by mail after renewal. Driver's license validity period: Article 56 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 motor vehicle driver's license, the driver's license will be renewed with a ten-year validity period; if the driver has not accumulated 12 penalty points in any scoring cycle during the ten-year validity period of the motor vehicle driver's license, the license will be renewed with a long-term validity. Time regulations for driver's license invalidation: If the license expires less than one year, it can be renewed normally; if it expires between one and three years, the license will be canceled, but it can be renewed by passing the subject one exam; if it expires more than three years, the license will be invalid and cannot be renewed.
As a veteran driver with decades of experience, I remember my last driver's license renewal by mail took about 10 days from submitting the materials to receiving the new license, with an extra two-day delay due to the Spring Festival holiday. Generally, postal processing and delivery take 7 to 15 days, depending on how busy the local post office is, the weather conditions, and the geographical location. Urban residents might get it faster, while rural areas could experience slower delivery. It's advisable to avoid peak holiday periods, such as year-end or before long holidays, as applications during these times are prone to delays. Importantly, if the new license hasn't arrived and the old one has expired, never drive on the road to avoid fines or even vehicle impoundment by traffic police—use the temporary proof available on the app instead. For safety, applying one month in advance is the most reliable, and opting for faster EMS delivery is a safer bet.