What to do if a motorcycle driver's license has been expired for over a decade?
4 Answers
If the license has been expired for more than three years, you can only reapply for a new motorcycle driver's license. You can normally apply for a license renewal, but you cannot drive on the road before the renewal.
When I was younger, my motorcycle license had been expired for fifteen years, and I never bothered to deal with it, thinking it was no big deal. Once, while riding, I was stopped by the police and almost fined 500 yuan with my bike impounded—that was a wake-up call. I rushed to the DMV to inquire, and they told me I had to retake the entire test: first a medical exam, then the written and road tests, which cost me a few hundred yuan. The whole process took two weeks to complete, but it was a hassle. Looking back now, riding without a valid license for over a decade was way too risky. If an accident had happened, the insurance company wouldn’t have paid a dime, and I’d have been fully liable. My advice to you is: don’t procrastinate—go handle it as soon as possible. Just bring your ID card, and updating your knowledge will also make riding safer. Don’t take legal risks just to save trouble—safety is more important than anything else.
A buddy of mine had his driver's license expired for over a decade and got it sorted last week. He said the process was super simple by directly booking an appointment on the local DMV website: fill out a form to apply for a re-test, study theory online using a driving test app, and get a quick physical exam at designated locations. He passed the road test on the first try, costing only four to five hundred yuan. He regretted not doing it sooner, as he was even warned for riding shared bikes without a license before. Now with the new license in hand and updated knowledge, he feels more at ease when cycling. Don't underestimate the issue of expiration—if it's been too long without renewal, just treat it as getting a new license. Save time by using online services more to avoid fines of over a thousand for being caught without a license. Take some time to handle it, for your own and others' safety.
I've been riding motorcycles for twenty years and seen too many accidents caused by expired licenses. Haven't renewed for over a decade? Basically invalid now. Need to go to the DMV and retake both the theory and road tests from scratch. The fees aren't high but there's waiting in line. I was lazy once too, delayed six months and got fined. Take action now: get a physical exam, review basic traffic rules, the simple test takes just hours. Riding without a license endangers yourself and others, insurance becomes void and you might get detained. Don't procrastinate buddy, safety first.
