Is driving without the physical driver's license considered unlicensed driving?
2 Answers
If you have completed the driver's license test and passed, but have not yet received the physical driver's license, driving on the road is considered unlicensed driving. Here is relevant information: Penalty 1: If a motor vehicle driver allows someone without a driver's license or whose license has been revoked or temporarily suspended to drive, the driver's license will be confiscated, and the license may also be revoked. Penalty 2: Driving a motor vehicle without a driver's license, or during the period when the license is revoked or temporarily suspended, or allowing someone without a license or whose license has been revoked or temporarily suspended to drive, will result in a fine imposed by the traffic management department of the public security authority, and may also include detention for up to 15 days.
When I first got my driver's license, I also kept checking the logistics information every day, worried it might count as unlicensed driving. I specifically asked a traffic police friend, and he said as long as you pass the subject four test, your driving qualification is already active in the vehicle management system. The paper license is just a physical proof, and the electronic driver's license generated by the 12123 Traffic Management APP now has the same legal effect as the paper version. However, two reminders: first, the electronic driver's license is only valid in cities where the service is available, so it's best to carry the test pass certificate when traveling across provinces; second, if you've just passed the test and the electronic license hasn't been generated yet, showing the test pass record and mailing receipt during a traffic check will usually get you through, but it's still safer to wait for the official document before hitting the road.
