Is it necessary to transfer the driver's license back to the local area?
3 Answers
It is necessary to transfer the driver's license back to the local area because relevant regulations stipulate that the driver's license can only be renewed at the place where it was issued. Therefore, the fundamental purpose of transferring the driver's license back to the local area is for renewal. After transferring the driver's license back to the local area, you need to go to the local vehicle management office to apply for renewal. You need to prepare your ID card and a copy, photos, the old driver's license, and a medical examination report. Submit these materials and wait for the staff to process them. The renewed driver's license can usually be received on the spot. Before renewal, all traffic violation fines must be paid, otherwise the renewal cannot be processed. The first renewed driver's license is valid for 10 years, and the second renewal results in a long-term valid driver's license.
I've been settled in Shanghai for several years, but my driver's license was never transferred back locally. For annual reviews, I had to make a special trip back to my hometown, which was time-consuming and costly. Last year, I decisively transferred it. The vehicle management office processed the procedures quite quickly, taking only half a day and a small handling fee. Now, traffic violations can be handled directly through a mobile app, eliminating the hassle of cross-province procedures. I'm also more familiar with local traffic rules, avoiding the trouble of penalty points. I recommend transferring it back as soon as you settle down for stable living—it makes driving safer and more convenient. If your job requires frequent business trips, there's no rush, but if you use your car daily, it's definitely worth doing.
I used to be a truck driver, traveling to multiple cities frequently, and suffered losses for not transferring my driver's license. Once during an out-of-town vehicle inspection, I was held up and required to provide additional documents from my original registration location, causing delays and inconvenience. After transferring it back to my local area, things became much easier: annual inspections followed a unified process and were three times faster; traffic violation handling was completed on the same day; learning new regulations through local training programs was also simpler. For long-term out-of-town driving, failing to transfer may result in fines during random checks by traffic police. Transferring back to your local area sooner rather than later brings more benefits than drawbacks, especially for professions involving frequent driving, to avoid unexpected delays in your schedule.
