Is it mandatory to carry the original vehicle license when driving?
3 Answers
It is mandatory to carry the vehicle license of the car owner when driving. Relevant introductions are as follows: Relevant regulations: According to Article 11 of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China, when driving a motor vehicle on the road, the vehicle license plate must be displayed, the inspection qualification mark and insurance mark must be placed, and the motor vehicle license must be carried with the vehicle. Vehicle license verification system: The vehicle license verification system can verify the authenticity of the motor vehicle, query motor vehicle information, and provide travel safety guarantees. Simply enter the basic information of the motor vehicle into the system to verify whether the motor vehicle is authentic. If the information matches, other details of the motor vehicle can also be verified.
When it comes to driving, you really should carry the original vehicle license with you. The law clearly states that the original vehicle license must be carried in the vehicle when driving. Presenting an electronic version or a photocopy during a traffic police check is theoretically not acceptable. I've seen people storing scanned copies on their phones, only to receive a reprimand when checked. Although some cities are piloting electronic licenses, most regions across the country still only recognize the physical blue booklet. This document records your vehicle's registration information, equivalent to the car's ID card. If you're temporarily without it during an inspection, the consequences can range from fines and penalty points to possibly having your vehicle impounded, which not only wastes time but is also a hassle to deal with. Make it a habit to check for the document before getting in the car, and keeping it in a fixed spot in the glove compartment is the most reliable.
I think, unlike a driver's license, the vehicle registration certificate must be kept in the car to be reliable. If you're pulled over for inspection on the road, pulling out your phone to show an electronic version basically doesn't work—the traffic police system only recognizes the original hard card. That little blue booklet records crucial information like the VIN and annual inspection stickers. A while ago, a neighbor in our community forgot to bring the certificate and got checked. Even though it was clearly their own car, they had to wait by the roadside for over half an hour until family members delivered the document before they were let go. He said he was supposed to get a 1-point penalty and a 200-yuan fine, but after much effort, it was downgraded to a verbal warning. Such a frustrating experience really isn't worth it—it's better to just keep it in the car once and for all.
