What Happens If You Drive While Your License Is Suspended?
3 Answers
If your license was suspended due to accumulating 12 penalty points, driving during this period constitutes operating a motor vehicle while your license is legally suspended, resulting in a fine and vehicle impoundment. If your license was temporarily suspended for six months due to drunk driving, driving during this period is considered operating a motor vehicle while your license is temporarily suspended, leading to 6 penalty points, a fine, vehicle impoundment, and possible detention for up to 15 days. If a motor vehicle driver allows someone without a valid driver's license or whose license has been revoked or suspended to drive their vehicle, their driver's license will be suspended, and their license may also be revoked. Driving without a valid driver's license, or while your license is revoked or suspended, or allowing someone without a valid license or whose license has been revoked or suspended to drive your vehicle, will result in a fine ranging from 200 to 2,000 yuan imposed by the traffic management department of the public security authority, and may also lead to detention for up to 15 days. Special Note: If you do not carry your driver's license with you while driving, regardless of whether you have committed any traffic violations, you are not allowed to continue driving. The traffic management department of the public security authority will impound the vehicle and require the driver to provide their license. The situation will be handled differently depending on the circumstances of the provided license.
I once accidentally drove while my license was suspended, and the consequences were really troublesome. I was just in a hurry to get to the hospital, but I got pulled over by traffic police, who immediately issued a ticket with a 2000-yuan fine and impounded my car for 15 days. To make matters worse, my insurance premiums increased by 30% from that year onward because the record showed I was driving without a license, and the insurance company considered me high-risk. If an accident had occurred, I would have been fully liable and might have had to pay huge compensation. I strongly advise everyone to wait until their license is reinstated before driving again—otherwise, the losses outweigh the gains, and even renting a car becomes difficult. The suspension period usually lasts about half a year, and during this time, taking taxis or public transport is much safer. Don’t take risks for trivial matters. I still remember how I almost got detained—fortunately, my offense was minor, but the tension I felt back then is unforgettable.
Driving during a suspended license period is a serious offense with direct legal consequences. Unlicensed driving can result in hefty fines, typically ranging from 2,000 to 5,000 yuan, and the vehicle may be impounded or even auctioned. More critically, it may escalate to criminal liability—if an accident occurs, one could face police detention or criminal prosecution. Personal credit will also be affected, potentially harming future loan or job opportunities. I recommend consulting traffic authorities first to explore legal remedies, such as attending educational courses. Remember, safety always comes first—don’t let impulse ruin your life.
