What are the penalties for overdue driver's license renewal?
2 Answers
Penalties for overdue driver's license renewal: 1. Less than one year: No penalty for overdue renewal within one year, but driving is prohibited from the expiration date until the new license is obtained. If caught driving during this period, it will be penalized as unlicensed driving; 2. Within one year: If the renewal deadline is exceeded by less than one year, the driver's license will be in an overdue status. The driver can renew the license by presenting their ID card, expired driver's license, and a medical certificate issued by a county-level or higher medical institution (or a military hospital at the regimental level or above) at the vehicle management office without taking any subject exams; 3. Less than three years: If the renewal deadline is exceeded by more than one year but less than three years, the driver's license will be in a "recoverable cancellation" status during these two years. This means the license is canceled but can be reinstated. The driver only needs to pass the subject one exam at the vehicle management office to proceed with the normal renewal process; 4. More than three years: If the renewal deadline is exceeded by more than three years, the driver's license will be in a "canceled" status, meaning the driving qualification is revoked and cannot be reinstated. The driver must retake all subject exams like a new applicant to obtain a new driver's license.
A friend of mine once forgot to renew his driver's license and got pulled over by traffic police. If your license has expired for less than a year and you're caught driving, it's treated as driving without a license. The fine ranges from at least 200 yuan up to 2,000 yuan, and you could even be detained for 15 days. If it's been over a year without renewal, it's even more troublesome—you'll have to retake the written test (Subject One). If it's been more than three years, the license is completely invalidated, and you'll need to retake all four driving tests from scratch. Now, I always set a reminder on my phone three months before the expiration date and regularly check the validity period. After all, retaking the tests is time-consuming, costly, and affects work. Safety comes first! I recommend you also develop a habit of checking regularly.
