How Long is the Probationary Period for a Driver's License?
3 Answers
The probationary period for a driver's license is 12 months. Here are some important points to note during the probationary period: 1. Driver's License Renewal: After completing the probationary period for the first-time driver's license, there is no need to renew it. If there are no demerit points or other violations, there is no requirement to undergo review at the vehicle management office or traffic police department. The initial driver's license is valid for 6 years, and renewal is only required after this period. 2. Highway Driving Requires an Experienced Driver: During the probationary period, you are allowed to drive on highways, but you must be accompanied by an experienced driver who has held a license for more than 3 years. Driving on highways without such accompaniment is prohibited, and violators may face penalties if caught by traffic police. For new drivers who have just obtained their license, it is advisable to have an experienced driver accompany them in the passenger seat for a period of time. This helps new drivers quickly familiarize themselves with road conditions and avoid traffic accidents during the probationary period.
After getting my driver's license, I specifically asked my driving school instructor, and the probation period is exactly 12 months, starting from the day you obtain your license. Remember, you must display a probation sign when driving in the first year, so I stuck a yellow sticker with red letters on the rear window. If caught by traffic police without it, you could face a fine. Another important rule is that you can't drive alone on highways during the probation period; you must be accompanied by an experienced driver with over three years of driving experience. I'd like to remind friends who just got their licenses to pay attention to this. Actually, after driving for a year, my skills have improved significantly. Looking back now, this regulation makes a lot of sense—safety really is the top priority.
Right after passing the subject four test and getting my license, my driving instructor mentioned that all new drivers have a 12-month probation period where extra caution is required. I remember that if you accumulate 12 penalty points during this probationary period, your license gets revoked directly, which means all that effort for nothing. Last year, a colleague of mine ran a red light during his probation and got 6 points deducted, almost forcing him to retake the subject one test. However, I think this one-year period is sufficient as long as you don't violate any rules. Commuting to work and practicing on weekends should be enough to get familiar with various road conditions. I especially recommend that beginners avoid mountain roads and night driving during this phase and focus more on urban roads first.
