How to Handle Driving After Accumulating 12 Points on Your License?

[StMargaret]

If your driver's license accumulates 12 or more points, it will be temporarily suspended, and you will need to attend a week-long road traffic safety course at the vehicle management office. Driving a motor vehicle during the period of license suspension is considered driving without a license. If caught, your driver's license will be revoked directly, and you will face a fine and up to 15 days of detention.

[AngeloRose]

Last time I accidentally sped and got all 12 points deducted, which was absolutely devastating. The process was: the traffic police directly confiscated my license and required me to register at the DMV within 15 days for a 7-day traffic law course. That week, I took the bus to class every day. The textbook was all basic traffic rules, and we had an exam right after finishing the course—passing required scoring at least 85. The hardest part was not being able to drive at all during that period. Once, I almost drove because I was in a hurry, but my wife scolded me back to my senses. Later, I heard about someone who got caught driving illegally during this time—fined 1800 and detained for five days. Just thinking about it gives me chills. It's been two years since I got my license back, and I've never gone over 120 km/h since.

[GeorgeRose]

My friend had his license suspended last year for drunk driving, and his experience left a deep impression on me. On the very first day, his driver's license was confiscated, and he was required to attend training at a designated location. Taking seven consecutive days off work was truly painful. The learning content was similar to when he first got his license, but the supervision was extremely strict—he had to retake the test once before passing. During that period, even riding an electric bike got him stopped by traffic police to check his documents, which scared him so much he didn't dare ride shared bikes either. The most practical solution was to hire a designated driver or carpool—never take chances. Later, he installed a driving monitoring app that constantly reminded him not to violate traffic rules, which he found more effective than fines.

[SpencerAnn]

I've seen many drivers continue to drive recklessly after getting 12 demerit points, which is truly unwise. The correct approach is simple: first stop driving all vehicles, then report to the DMV with your ID within 15 days. The training classes run from 8 AM to 5 PM like a workday, with impactful case studies of traffic accidents. If you fail the exam, you'll have to continue studying—a colleague of mine took three attempts to pass. The key point is that driving during this period equals unlicensed driving, and traffic cameras will send tickets straight to your home. Last week, news reported someone fined 2,000 yuan and detained, even losing their job. With ride-hailing apps so convenient nowadays, there's really no need to take such risks.

[McNova]

The process is actually a three-step procedure: After the license is confiscated, stop driving the vehicle; enroll in a study program within two weeks; complete seven days of training and pass the exam to retrieve your license. However, many people stumble at the first step—they insist on driving to the repair shop right after being penalized, only to be caught midway. The study materials consist entirely of traffic signals and accident handling cases. Our driving school instructors say they see repeat examinees every day. The most troublesome situation is for commercial drivers, who can't work during the license suspension period. It's advisable to use this week to install a dashcam, so you'll have evidence if issues arise later.

[LeOwen]

Our neighbor Uncle Wang went through this last year, and he came up with a schedule: hand over the car keys on the day points are deducted, and sign up for a training class within three days. He said attendance is taken with facial recognition in class, and missing sessions extends the training period. The study material is a little red booklet, but the exam focuses mainly on yielding rules and speed limit standards. After the test, it takes another three business days to get the license back, during which he took the bus to work every day. Now his car is covered with sticky notes reminding him not to speed, and even the radio is tuned to the traffic channel. Actually, losing 12 points isn’t the end—once you get your license back, it’s a fresh start.