Is There a Fine for Driving Without a Driver's License?
2 Answers
The handling for not carrying a driver's license is as follows: Regardless of whether the driver has committed any traffic violations while driving, they are not allowed to continue driving the vehicle. The traffic management department of the public security authority shall impound the motor vehicle and notify the driver to provide their driver's license. Then, based on the situation of the driver providing the license, the following actions will be taken: 1. If the driver provides the license and there are no other violations during driving, a warning or a fine ranging from 20 to 200 yuan will be issued, and the motor vehicle will be promptly returned; 2. If the driver provides the license but has committed other violations while driving, penalties will be imposed based on the nature of the violations and the failure to carry the license, and the motor vehicle will be promptly returned; 3. If the driver fails to provide the license, they will be penalized for driving without a license.
I drive for ride-hailing services, and my biggest fear is forgetting my driver's license. According to regulations, not carrying your license does incur a fine—anywhere from 20 to 200 yuan on the spot, with Shanghai being on the lower end and Beijing on the higher end. The biggest hassle is having your car impounded; you'd have to go home to get your license and then to the traffic police station to retrieve your car, potentially losing half a day's work. I always keep both an electronic driver's license and a photo of my physical license in my car. Nowadays, the electronic license on the 12123 APP is recognized nationwide, and I've been let go twice after showing it to the traffic police on my phone during checks. However, some smaller towns outside the city might only accept the physical copy, so for long-distance trips, it's safest to keep both licenses in the armrest box to avoid any delays.
