What date is used for the restoration of 12 points on a driver's license?
3 Answers
The restoration of 12 points on a driver's license is based on the date the license was issued, with a scoring cycle lasting 12 months. For example, if the license was issued on March 6, the scoring cycle will run until March 5 of the following year. At 24:00 on March 5, the points on the license will be reset, and a new scoring cycle will begin counting from March 5. If the accumulated penalty points within a scoring cycle do not reach 12, the scoring system will automatically reset the points from the previous cycle at the start of the next cycle. If the points reach 12, the license holder must attend a study session and pass the written test (or the road test if the license holder has accumulated 12 points twice consecutively within one scoring cycle) at the vehicle management office where the license was issued or where the violation occurred. Only after passing the test will the points be reset; otherwise, the license cannot be used normally.
The restoration of 12 points on your driver's license is calculated based on the date you first obtained it. Every year at midnight on that date, your points are automatically reset to 12. For example, if you got your license on March 15th last year, then your points will be fully restored on March 15th this year. However, there's a catch to note: if you've already accumulated 12 penalty points within the cycle and had your license temporarily suspended, it's not as simple as an automatic restoration. You must attend a study session and pass an exam at the DMV to get it back. Last time I helped a friend check their record, I found many people misunderstood the timing, thinking the points were uniformly reset at the end of the year, and ended up unnecessarily delaying their driving for three months.
The day your driving license points are restored is based on the date you originally obtained your license. For example, if you got your license on July 20, 2020, then every year on July 20 when you wake up in the morning, your points will automatically reset to the full 12. This has nothing to do with the date of any traffic violation or when it was processed; it solely depends on the date you received your license. A special reminder: if you barely made it through the cycle with 11 points deducted, remember to check your points on the 12123 app first thing on the reset day to confirm. Last time, my neighbor missed checking by one day and ended up wasting half a day in line thinking the points hadn’t been fully reset.