What is the penalty for forgetting to bring a driver's license?
4 Answers
According to the "Road Traffic Safety Law": driving a motor vehicle requires carrying a driver's license. Forgetting to bring it will result in a one-point deduction and a fine ranging from 20 to 200 yuan, as well as temporary seizure of the motor vehicle until the driver's license is presented. Here are the relevant details: 1. New traffic regulations: The revised new traffic regulations still stipulate that a driver's license must be carried when driving a motor vehicle. Although portable query terminals have been implemented in traffic management, not all local traffic police use them. Therefore, in some areas, even if other valid documents are provided, it may not be possible to verify the driver's license information. Additionally, electronic driver's licenses on platforms like WeChat and Alipay have only recently begun to be promoted and are not yet universally adopted nationwide. Without mobile terminals, it is also impossible to verify the authenticity of electronic driver's licenses, making them less practical. 2. Pilot implementation of electronic driver's licenses: Although electronic driver's licenses on WeChat and Alipay can only be used locally and have certain limitations when handling driving-related services, the latest regulations issued by the Ministry of Public Security indicate that starting from June 1, 2021, electronic driver's licenses will be piloted in three cities: Chengdu, Tianjin, and Suzhou. By then, drivers can not only use them for law enforcement checks but also for expanding services such as passenger and freight transport, insurance purchases, and handling traffic management business, truly realizing the digitization of driver's licenses.
Last time I drove to a friend's house and forgot my driver's license, so I was stopped and lectured by a traffic officer. According to traffic laws, driving without a license results in a 1-point deduction and a fine of 20-200 RMB, with slight variations in different regions. In our area, it's usually a 50 RMB fine. The good news is that many cities now accept electronic driver's licenses, which can be applied for through the Traffic Management 12123 app, but remember to activate it in advance for it to be valid. For daily driving, it's advisable to keep a photo of your license in your phone's gallery or a copy in the glove compartment, which can help explain during temporary checks. If you're stopped by an officer, don't panic—just provide your ID number, and they can check your records in the system. It won't be considered unlicensed driving or result in your car being impounded. Of course, any fines must be paid on time, otherwise it will affect your annual vehicle inspection.
I usually do long-distance deliveries, and my colleague Lao Zhang's experience of being fined last week for forgetting his driver's license is truly a wake-up call. The traffic police issued an on-the-spot ticket, deducting 1 point and imposing a 100-yuan fine, stating it was for not carrying the required documents, mainly considering the driver's attitude and the number of violations. The solution now is quite simple: apply for an electronic driver's license via the Traffic Management 12123 APP, which is valid in over 300 cities nationwide; or take a clear photo of your driver's license and save it in your phone's album. The key is not to argue when stopped, but to immediately cooperate by providing your ID number—if the system shows a valid driver's license record, the vehicle won't be impounded. However, if checked in another city, you might have to make an extra trip to the bank to pay the fine, which is particularly inconvenient. The most reliable habit is to always check your wallet before heading out.
When I first got my driver's license, the instructor repeatedly emphasized: always carry your license in the car! Once, I forgot to bring it while dropping off my child at school and was checked by traffic police. After verifying my driving experience, they deducted 1 point and fined me 20 yuan. Nowadays, it's even more convenient with the 12123 electronic driver's license feature—once bound, law enforcement terminals can scan the code to verify your information. If you haven't set up the electronic license, placing a photocopy of your license in the sun visor compartment also works. Penalty standards vary by region; first-time offenders like me got off lightly, but I've heard fines in big cities can go over a hundred. Note that this isn't unlicensed driving—don't be scared by rumors. As long as the system can retrieve your license record, your vehicle won't be impounded. However, if you're caught with the same issue for three consecutive years, your car might be detained.
