What to Do If the Driver's License Expires Without Renewal?

[OCorey]

Penalties for driving with an expired license: Driving during the expiration period is prohibited and may be treated as driving without a license. If the license has been expired for less than one year, the driver can renew it at any time, but driving during this period may result in a fine of 200 yuan. If the license has been expired for more than one year without renewal, the traffic management department will revoke it. If the expiration period is less than three years, the driver must retake and pass the subject one exam to restore driving privileges. Driving during this period may result in a fine ranging from 200 to 2,000 yuan. If the license has been expired for more than three years, it will be permanently revoked. To drive again, the driver must retake the entire license exam. Otherwise, driving will be treated as driving without a license, punishable by a fine of 2,000 yuan and up to 15 days of administrative detention. Renewal process: The driver must submit the required materials to the vehicle management office where the license was originally issued. The office will process the renewal within one working day upon approval.

[VanZane]

A while ago, I only realized my driver's license had expired for three months, and I rushed to the DMV in a panic. If it expires for over a year, you have to retake the written test from scratch—what a hassle! Nowadays, the Traffic Management 12123 App allows for delayed renewal, but don’t drive if it’s expired. Last week, my cousin was caught driving with an expired license—not only did his car get impounded and he was fined, but it also affected next year’s insurance discount. Remember to bring your medical report and old license for in-person renewal. Some cities even have self-service medical checkup machines, which are super convenient. If you’re out of town, the newly launched nationwide service lets you renew without returning to the issuing location. The easiest way is to set a phone reminder 90 days before expiration to avoid the year-end renewal rush and long queues.

[ODelaney]

Last year, when I forgot to renew my license, I consulted a traffic police friend. He sternly warned me: Driving on the road is equivalent to driving without a license! A fine of 2000 can lead to license revocation or even detention. He suggested a three-step process: Stop driving immediately → Check the duration of the expiration (can be renewed normally within 1 year; need to retake subject one if over 1 year; retake all subjects if over 3 years) → Prepare ID card/medical examination form/photos. Now it can be done online, but overdue cases must be handled on-site. A friend had an accident after their license expired, and the insurance company directly refused to cover the 30,000+ repair costs. It's a real lesson to remember. Best to stick a note on your license holder to remind you of the expiry date.

[LeLeila]

This is quite common. I always keep a note in my car that says 'Renew license in [month].' If your license has expired for less than a year, just bring three things to the DMV: a medical certificate, a white-background ID photo, and your old license. Note that the photo must be taken within the last six months—don’t use leftovers from your last renewal. The medical check is now convenient with hospitals and DMVs being connected online. If it’s been over a year, it’s more troublesome—you’ll have to retake the theory test. I recommend following your local DMV’s official account; they’ll send pop-up reminders before expiration. Last month, I accompanied a neighbor and noticed something new: some cities now offer license renewal at police-postal service stations, which are half as crowded as the DMV.