What are the penalties for driving without a vehicle license?
3 Answers
The penalties for driving without a vehicle license are: the motor vehicle will be detained, the party will be notified to provide the corresponding vehicle license, and a warning or a fine of between 20 and 200 yuan will be imposed. Below are relevant extended materials: 1. Article 95 of the "Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China" stipulates: If a motor vehicle driven on the road does not display a motor vehicle license plate, does not have an inspection qualification mark or insurance mark, or does not carry the vehicle license or driver's license, the traffic management department of the public security organ shall detain the motor vehicle, notify the party to provide the corresponding license, mark, or complete the corresponding procedures, and may impose penalties in accordance with Article 90 of this law. 2. Article 90 states: If a motor vehicle driver violates the road traffic safety laws and regulations regarding road traffic regulations, a warning or a fine of between 20 and 200 yuan will be imposed. If this law has other provisions, penalties shall be imposed in accordance with those provisions.
I made this mistake when I first started driving. Once, in a hurry to get to work, I forgot to bring my vehicle license. I was stopped by traffic police for a document check on the road. After nervously explaining for a while, I was fined 150 RMB and had 1 driving point deducted. The officer explained that forgetting the vehicle license is a common violation in China, and drivers must carry it with them at all times—otherwise, it's treated as not having valid documentation. Fines vary by region, usually ranging from 100 to 200 RMB, with most cases deducting 1 point. Later, I learned that if you can't provide it on the spot, you might have to visit the traffic police station to submit supplementary materials, which not only wastes time but could also affect your credit record. To avoid similar issues, I now make it a habit to place my documents in a fixed spot in the glove compartment before setting off. Overall, small fines aren't a big deal, but they can add up to more trouble. Some people suggest keeping an electronic copy on your phone, but to be safe, carrying the original is the most reliable—don't lose big for small gains.
Having driven for over twenty years, I've seen many cases where people were penalized for forgetting to bring their vehicle license. The primary penalty is usually a fine, typically ranging from 100 to 200 yuan, sometimes accompanied by a 1-point deduction. If the police suspect vehicle issues or that you're driving without a license, the penalties can be more severe. So, my advice is: don't cut corners—before heading out, make sure your documents are properly stored, like keeping them in a folder with your driver's license. Additionally, some apps now support electronic document verification, but the law still requires carrying the original copies. If you genuinely forget, cooperating with the inspection with a sincere attitude might help reduce the fine. Over time, this has become second nature to me. The key is that prevention is better than regret; while the fine might seem minor, the costs could be much higher if you encounter an accident or face issues during annual inspections. In short, paying attention to small details can save you time and hassle.
