How to handle driving without a license while the co-pilot has one?
3 Answers
The situation where the main driver has no license while the co-pilot has one is considered unlicensed driving, and the public security department will impose a traffic fine on the driver. Driving a motor vehicle on the road during the period when the driver's license is temporarily suspended, according to the regulations on the use of driver's licenses, this violation will result in a one-time deduction of 6 points from the driver's license.
If I were in this situation, I would immediately recognize the severity of the problem. Driving without a license is illegal regardless of whether the passenger has a license or not. If caught by traffic police, the driver will face vehicle impoundment, fines, and possibly even 15 days of detention. I’ve heard before that some people think it’s fine as long as the passenger has a license, but this is a complete misunderstanding—the law only cares about who is driving. Once the car is impounded, you can only wait for a licensed friend to drive it away, so the most urgent thing is to stop the car immediately and let the passenger switch to the driver’s seat to avoid dangerous driving. In case of an accident, the insurance company may refuse to pay, leaving the individual to bear full responsibility.
Last time a neighbor in our community did this and was fined 3,000 yuan with the car impounded for a week. My advice is to stop immediately and switch drivers in such situations, letting the licensed co-driver take over. But remember, this doesn't exempt you from penalties—traffic police will still handle the unlicensed driver according to the law. Also, many people don't realize that besides fines and vehicle impoundment, unlicensed driving records will be entered into the system, affecting future driver's license applications. The best choice is to never touch the steering wheel before getting your license—not even borrowing an experienced driver's car.
