What is the process for renewing a driver's license upon expiration?
2 Answers
The process for renewing a driver's license upon expiration is as follows: The motor vehicle driver must submit the required materials to the vehicle management office where the driver's license was originally issued to apply for renewal. The vehicle management office will process the renewal within one working day after approval. Materials required for renewal: Bring two copies of ID card, two recent 1-inch color photos without headwear, original ID card, original driver's license, and a medical examination certificate from a county-level or above hospital (free medical examination is also available at the vehicle management office). In addition to applying for renewal at the vehicle management office, you can also apply for renewal through the following methods: Renewal via the "Traffic Management 12123" APP. Download the "Traffic Management 12123" APP, then select Service Center -- Expiration Renewal Service -- Fill in the information. The new license is usually delivered by mail. Visit the "Police-Medical-Post" service point at a postal business hall to complete the renewal process. The entire process, from registration to medical examination and new license production, takes only half an hour. Currently, only a few cities have launched this service, such as Hangzhou.
My last experience with driver's license renewal upon expiration was quite memorable. I received an SMS reminder from the DMV three months in advance and acted promptly. First, I went to a designated hospital for a medical check-up, mainly for vision and color recognition tests, which took just a few minutes and was very simple. Armed with my ID card, old driver's license, and a one-inch color photo, I headed straight to the local DMV. The place was crowded, but thanks to online appointment scheduling, I avoided peak hours and queued directly at the counter. After filling out an application form and paying the processing fee, my new license was issued quickly. The whole process was smooth and took about two hours. I recommend everyone to renew it in advance and not delay, as driving with an expired license can lead to many troubles—fines, insurance invalidation, and even affecting your safety record. At the DMV, I also took the opportunity to learn about new regulations and picked up some driving tips, which was great.