How long does the driver's license oath take?
4 Answers
Taking the oath involves reciting an 89-word pledge, which can be completed in less than a minute. Here are the relevant details: Applying for a driver's license: Article 46: After passing the exam, applicants must receive at least half an hour of education on traffic safety, civilized driving knowledge, and case studies of traffic accidents, as well as participate in the license oath ceremony. The vehicle management office shall issue the motor vehicle driver's license on the same day the applicant participates in the license oath ceremony. Vehicle type application: For those applying to add a permitted driving category, the original motor vehicle driver's license must be surrendered. For those who are demobilized, transferred, or discharged from the military, the military or armed police force motor vehicle driver's license must be surrendered. The oath is mandatory by regulation, but in practice, it is just a formality, and a signature is sufficient.
Right after I got my driver's license, I went to take the oath, and the whole process was really quick. I remember queuing at the DMV window for about five minutes, then a staff member took me to a corner, handed me an oath card, and asked me to read it aloud. The content was basically pledging to obey traffic rules and such. It took me about a minute or two to finish reading, and they had me sign a confirmation—that was it. By the way, right after the oath, I got my physical driver's license booklet, and I was pretty excited at the time. I think this step, though brief, is quite important as it mentally reinforces the importance of safe driving. Just a heads-up: it's most time-efficient when there are fewer people; during peak hours, you might have to wait a few extra minutes, so it's best to go during off-peak times. Overall, the oath part only takes a few minutes, so no need to worry about it dragging on too long.
As someone who has renewed my driver's license several times, I've always felt the oath-taking part is quite brief. Every time I go to the DMV, it's just waiting in line for a while, then when it's my turn, I read a short pledge promising not to speed or drink and drive - the whole thing takes no more than two or three minutes. What matters is that this brief moment helps us remember the importance of safety, as it symbolizes your commitment before officially hitting the road. I suggest newcomers not to be nervous, bring all required documents and go early to avoid long waits during peak hours. Also, among all the driver's license procedures, the oath is probably the easiest part, and getting the license itself is very quick - don't underestimate its small ceremonial significance. When driving, I often recall this moment to remind myself to follow the rules properly.
Simply put, the driver's license oath doesn't take much time. Typically, after passing the exam, you go to the DMV, wait in line, and when it's your turn, you read the oath statement—mainly pledging to follow the rules and such. It takes a minute or two to read and sign, then it's over. This is much quicker than waiting for exam results, with the main focus being on receiving the license. I recommend checking the DMV's schedule in advance to avoid peak hours. Although the oath is brief, it helps reinforce safety awareness, which is beneficial for new drivers.
