Is Driving with an Expired License Considered Unlicensed Driving?
4 Answers
Driving with an expired license is considered unlicensed driving. If caught by traffic police, you may face fines or even detention. Here is additional information: 1. For driving with a license that has been expired for less than one year, once discovered, the driver will be fined 1,000 yuan according to the "Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China." Within one year of the expiration date, the driver can go to the traffic management department to renew the license. During the renewal process, a fine of 200 to 500 yuan will be imposed for "failing to undergo the required review on time." 2. If the license has been expired for more than one year but less than three years without renewal, the license will be in a "canceled but recoverable" state. The driver must pass a legal exam at the vehicle management office to renew the license. Driving during this period will be considered unlicensed driving, and insurance companies will not cover any accidents that occur. 3. If the license has been expired for more than three years without renewal, it will be permanently canceled, and the driver will need to retake the driving test to obtain a new license.
As a driver with over a decade of experience, I can share some insights. An expired driver's license itself doesn't count as unlicensed driving, but if you're caught driving with an expired license, you're in trouble—it's equivalent to driving without a license. A friend of mine learned this the hard way last year when he drove for three months with an expired license and got pulled over by traffic police, fined 500 yuan, and had his car impounded for a week. The real kicker is that insurance might not cover accident damages because the license was invalid. That's why I recommend everyone check their license expiration date annually and set a phone reminder to renew it a month in advance. The process is straightforward: just bring your ID and old photo to the DMV, and the medical checkup usually isn't expensive. Don't wait until something happens to regret it. Remember, safe driving starts with valid documents.
I've only had my driver's license for two years, so I'm quite mindful about this. Driving with an expired license definitely counts as unlicensed driving and poses significant risks. I personally set a calendar reminder to renew it before expiration. Once, my neighbor was careless and didn't notice his license had expired—he was fined for driving and it also affected his subsequent insurance. So it's important to take this seriously: once the validity period is over, don't touch the car and go renew it immediately. Nowadays, the DMV services are efficient, and online appointments are convenient. Just bring the required documents and it takes half a day to get it done. Keeping your license valid isn't just a legal requirement—it's also protection for yourself. Don't invite big trouble over small matters.
I used to worry about this issue too. Simply put, if you continue driving after your driver's license expires, it counts as unlicensed driving and can cause trouble. I once heard that fines could be as high as a thousand yuan, and your vehicle might even be impounded, affecting daily life. I recommend developing a habit of checking your license regularly, like reviewing the expiration date every six months. If it expires, don’t procrastinate—renew it immediately. The process isn’t complicated—just fill out forms, take a photo, get a medical check, and handle it at the DMV with low fees. This avoids risks and ensures safe driving—don’t lose big over small things.
