How Often Should the Vehicle License Be Replaced?
2 Answers
Under normal circumstances, the motor vehicle license has no expiration date and does not require replacement. Only when the annual inspection stamps on the supplementary page are fully used up does the supplementary page need to be replaced. The motor vehicle license is a legal document permitting the vehicle to drive on roads within China and is an important document recognized by Chinese laws and regulations. The motor vehicle license held by the driver contains detailed information about the vehicle, including the license plate number, owner's name, model type, engine number, chassis number, load capacity or seating capacity, initial registration date, and annual inspection records. The initial validity period of a motor vehicle driver's license is 6 years, with the first year being a probationary period. The second renewal after 6 years is valid for 10 years, and subsequent renewals after 10 years are valid indefinitely. The driver must apply for a renewal at the vehicle management office where the license was issued within 90 days before the expiration of the current license. As long as the vehicle passes the inspection and review, the Motor Vehicle License will remain valid.
As an ordinary car owner, I’d like to share my experience with updating the vehicle license. Over the years of using my car, I’ve learned that the vehicle license isn’t simply replaced with a new one every few years. Instead, it requires updating the endorsement through the annual vehicle inspection, typically on a biennial cycle. For example, within the first six years after purchasing a new car, it can be exempt from on-site inspection, but you still need to visit the DMV every two years to apply for an inspection compliance sticker, which is affixed to the duplicate of the vehicle license—this counts as the update. If the car is over ten years old, inspections may be more frequent, usually once a year. I think this is quite important because, aside from a fine of a couple hundred yuan for overdue inspections, it might also affect insurance claims. I recommend keeping track of the next inspection date in advance and bringing the original ID card, the original vehicle license, and the compulsory traffic insurance documents for a smooth and worry-free process.
