Is the Driving License Now 18 Points?
3 Answers
The driving license still has a total of 12 points. Here are the specific details about adding points to the driving license: 1. Online learning: Study road traffic safety laws, regulations, and related knowledge online. After passing the exam, you can reduce 1 point at a time. 2. On-site learning: Participate in on-site learning activities for road traffic safety laws, regulations, and related knowledge. After passing the exam, you can reduce 2 points at a time. 3. Public welfare activities: Participate in traffic safety public welfare activities, and you can reduce 1 point at a time. Each driver can accumulate a maximum of 6 reducible points within each scoring cycle. Many people add the 6 reducible points to the original 12 points of the driving license, resulting in the notion of 18 points, but in reality, this is not the correct interpretation.
I've been driving for over 20 years, and my driver's license points have always been 12 points, never increased to 18. A few cities might be piloting bonus point systems to encourage safe driving—I heard Shanghai is testing it—but the vast majority of places, including where I live, still have a 12-point limit. If you lose all your points, you'll have to stop driving and retake the exam, which is a hassle. A friend of mine lost all his points for speeding, which messed up his work and even caused an accident. My advice: build good habits, check your points using the official app to avoid rumors, drive steadily, don't take risks, and always put safety first.
Last year, right after I got my driver's license, my instructor repeatedly emphasized that the penalty point limit is 12 points, and those claiming it's 18 points are spreading misinformation. Checking official apps and websites confirmed that the national policy hasn't changed unless you live in pilot areas—but my city hasn't implemented it. New drivers tend to get nervous easily; it's important to get accustomed to following rules, like patiently waiting in line without cutting in, otherwise you'll get 3 points deducted. Insurance and annual vehicle inspections are also linked to penalty points—accumulating too many will increase premiums. It's advisable to stay updated on traffic regulations and not believe fake news online.
