What is the difference between reissuance and renewal of a driver's license?
3 Answers
Reissuance: If a driver's license is lost, a new one needs to be reissued. Article 63 of the "Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driver's Licenses": If a motor vehicle driver's license is lost, the motor vehicle driver shall apply for reissuance to the vehicle management office where the license was originally issued or to a vehicle management office outside the original issuing jurisdiction. Renewal: The driver's license is not lost, but its validity period has expired, requiring a new license to be issued. Article 57 of the "Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driver's Licenses": A motor vehicle driver shall apply for renewal to the vehicle management office where the license was originally issued or to a vehicle management office outside the original issuing jurisdiction within 90 days before the expiration of the motor vehicle driver's license. Renewal: When a driver's license expires, it must be renewed. You can apply for renewal up to 90 days in advance to manage your time effectively and avoid expiration. Before renewal, check if there are any traffic violation records. If there are, they must be resolved before renewal. Fill out the renewal application form and submit the following documents and proofs: Identity proof of the motor vehicle driver. The original motor vehicle driver's license. A medical certificate issued by a county-level or higher medical institution or a military medical institution at the regimental level or above, proving physical fitness. Submit all documents and materials to the staff, pay the processing fee, and receive the new driver's license. Reissuance: Apply for reissuance promptly. Driving without a valid license may result in fines if caught by traffic police. Fill out the reissuance application form and submit the following documents and proofs: Identity proof of the motor vehicle driver. A written statement declaring the loss of the motor vehicle driver's license. Submit all documents and materials to the staff. The process is usually completed on the spot. The difference between a reissued license and the original lies in the barcode (also known as the core code) on the back of the license: After reissuance, the original driver's license becomes invalid and must not be used. If the original driver's license is used after reissuance, the traffic management department of the public security authority will confiscate the old license and issue a warning or impose a fine. Reissuance is for a lost driver's license, where the original license is recreated. Renewal is for a driver's license that is not lost but has expired, where all information is updated before reissuance.
Hey, when it comes to license replacement and renewal, I've got to explain it carefully. Replacement is when you apply for a new license after losing it or having it stolen, like if your driver's license or vehicle registration goes missing—you need to rush to the DMV to apply. Renewal, on the other hand, is mainly for when your license expires and needs to be updated or when it's too damaged to use. The key is that the required materials are similar—ID and photos are usually needed—but for driver's license renewal upon expiration, you’ll also need a medical exam report, which is different. The process for both usually involves going to the DMV in person or submitting an online appointment, and the fees are pretty similar, just a few dozen bucks. Recently, a friend of mine panicked after losing their driver's license and rushed to get it replaced—got it done the same day. Gotta say, replacement is urgent, but don’t fake documents. For renewal, plan ahead—you can do it 90 days before expiration to avoid delays in driving. Overall, both processes don’t take long, just a few days, so don’t procrastinate.
To put it simply, these are two different things but easily confused. Replacing a lost license is when your document is lost or stolen and you must promptly handle it by obtaining a new one; renewing a license is when the document itself expires or needs updating due to damage. The core of replacement lies in the high risk of loss, while renewal is mostly due to expiration or damage. The main place to handle this is the vehicle management office, and the required materials depend on your document type. For both replacing and renewing a driver's license, you'll need the original ID and photos, but renewal upon expiration requires an additional medical report. The cost is just a few dozen bucks, but for renewal, if a medical check-up is needed, there's an extra fee. The process takes about two to three days, so don’t delay driving because of the wait. I also want to remind everyone that you can start the process three months before your license expires—don’t wait until the last minute.
