Is the driver's license invalid if it expires without renewal?
2 Answers
A driver's license will only be completely canceled and considered invalid if it is not renewed for more than 3 years after expiration. If the expiration period is less than one year, it can be renewed normally; if it has been expired for more than one year but less than three years, the license will be canceled, but it can be renewed by passing the subject one exam; if it has been expired for more than three years, the license becomes invalid and cannot be renewed. Penalties for driving with an expired license: Driving a motor vehicle during the expiration period is prohibited and may be treated as driving without a license. If the driver's license exceeds the expiration period by less than one year, the driver can renew it at any time, but driving on the road will result in a fine of 200 yuan. If the license exceeds the expiration period by more than one year without renewal, the traffic management department will cancel it according to the law. If the delay is less than three years, the driver must retake and pass the subject one exam to restore driving eligibility. Driving during this period may result in a fine ranging from 200 to 2000 yuan. If the driver's license exceeds the expiration period by three years, it will be completely canceled. To drive again, the driver must retake the driver's license exam. Otherwise, driving on the road will be treated as driving without a license, resulting in a fine of 2000 yuan and administrative detention for up to 15 days.
My driver's license expired last month, and I didn't even notice until a traffic officer reminded me, which made me panic. After checking the information, I found that in China, a driver's license won't be immediately invalid if it expires without renewal. There is a one-year grace period after expiration, meaning you can simply go to the vehicle management office to renew it within a year without much hassle. However, if it exceeds one year but is less than two years, you'll need to retake the subject one exam. If it exceeds two years, the driver's license will be completely invalidated, and you'll have to start from scratch by learning to drive and taking the driving test again. I definitely didn't want that, so I quickly booked an online renewal service and went to replace it with my ID card and the old license. I suggest everyone set a reminder on their phones or regularly check their wallets for the expiration date to avoid disrupting daily commutes or travel plans. Although an expired license isn’t immediately invalid, driving with an expired license can result in fines and points deducted if caught, and there’s also the risk of insurance companies refusing claims in case of an accident.
