Is it allowed to drive without carrying a driver's license?
2 Answers
Driving without carrying a driver's license is not considered unlicensed driving, but it will incur corresponding penalties. Some regions have implemented electronic driver's licenses, which hold the same legal effect. Driver's License: A driver's license, also known as a 'driving license,' is a document issued by the government transportation department to individuals who qualify to drive, typically in the form of a card. To obtain a driver's license, one must meet the minimum age requirement and pass a driving qualification test. The license usually specifies the types of motor vehicles the holder is permitted to drive, such as motorcycles, passenger cars, trucks, buses, etc. Electronic Driver's License: An electronic driver's license has the same legal validity as a paper one. If stopped by traffic police for a license check, vehicle owners in pilot cities can present their electronic driver's license. The electronic license can prove that the driver has a valid license even when the physical copy is not carried. Traffic police are not allowed to penalize drivers for 'not carrying a paper driver's license.'
I've been driving for over a decade and never dare to hit the road without my driver's license. This is no trivial matter – traffic laws explicitly require drivers to carry their license while operating a vehicle. A friend of mine once forgot his license and got fined 200 yuan with 1 penalty point deducted. His car was temporarily impounded roadside while waiting for family to deliver the document, wasting two precious hours. Some cities now accept digital driver's licenses, but policies aren't standardized nationwide – electronic versions might not work when traveling elsewhere. The safest approach is keeping your physical license in a fixed vehicle location like the document holder in the glove compartment. Cultivate the habit of checking your pockets for documents before every drive. This routine is more crucial than buying insurance – never take shortcuts that could risk legal consequences.