What are the penalties for overdue driver's license renewal?

[LeTeagan]

There is no penalty for overdue license renewal, but driving is prohibited from the date of license expiration until the new license is issued. If caught driving during this period, you will be penalized for unlicensed driving. It is advisable to renew your driver's license as soon as possible. However, if you drive a motor vehicle with an expired license, you will be fined between 200 and 500 yuan.

[MacJoy]

The penalties for failing to renew your driver's license on time are quite severe. Having driven for so many years, I've seen quite a few people suffer because of this. According to traffic regulations, driving with an expired license is considered unlicensed driving! If your license has been expired for less than a year, it's not too bad—you can simply go and renew it, but you'll have to pay a fine, around 200 yuan. If it's been expired for over a year, things get more complicated—you might need to retake the written test (Subject 1), which is both time-consuming and costly. The worst part is, if you're caught driving with an expired license, the fine can skyrocket to 2,000 yuan, along with demerit points and even detention. This can seriously disrupt your daily commute, and insurance won't cover any accidents. I think everyone should get into the habit of setting a phone reminder to visit the DMV a month before the expiration date. Don’t be like my friend who waited until six months after expiration, got fined hundreds of yuan, and deeply regretted it. Safety first—driving without a valid license is way too risky!

[CharlieMarie]

I was just talking about this with my cousin the other day. He's young and impulsive, didn't care that his driver's license had expired for three months, and ended up being stopped by traffic police on the road. He got a ticket with a 500-yuan fine and 3 points deducted! From the traffic police, I learned that penalties for failing to renew a driver's license on time vary by situation: less than a year is a light penalty, just pay a fee to renew; between one and three years, you must retake the theory test (Subject 1) and pass to get a new license; over three years, it's completely voided, and you have to retake all subjects—basically starting over as a beginner. It greatly impacts daily life, like for Didi drivers or food delivery workers—without a license, you're out of luck. He deeply regrets it and now always reminds me to check the expiration date regularly. Don't follow his lazy example; renewing early is the way to go!

[AshleyLynn]

Driving with an expired license is truly dangerous, as it turns driving into an illegal act with severe consequences. I've seen news reports where people involved in accidents were denied insurance claims and held fully liable. Legally, if caught driving with an expired license, the minimum fine starts at 200 yuan, and you could face detention. If left expired for too long, you might even have to retake the theoretical exam. I believe the biggest impact is on safety—without a valid license, it's hard to shift responsibility in case of an accident. Don't wait, take action now!