What to do if the driver's license is overdue for one month without renewal?
3 Answers
Article 57 of the "Traffic Regulations Penalty Rules": The motor vehicle driver shall apply for renewal within 90 days before the expiration of the motor vehicle driver's license at the vehicle management office where the driver's license was issued or outside the issuing place, as well as on the traffic management 12123 platform. If the driver's license is overdue, the traffic police will impose a fine when caught, but no points will be deducted. There is also a latest deadline for driver's license renewal. If the license is overdue for less than one year, it can be renewed through the normal process; if it is overdue for one to three years, the license will be canceled, and it can be re-obtained by passing the subject one test; if it is overdue for more than three years, the license will be canceled. When applying, the application form should be filled out, and the following documents and certificates should be submitted: the identity proof of the motor vehicle driver; the motor vehicle driver's license; a medical certificate issued by a county-level or above medical institution or a military regiment-level medical institution. For those applying for a special small automatic passenger car for the disabled, a medical certificate issued by a specialized medical institution designated by the provincial health authority should be submitted. Relevant matters for renewing the driver's license upon expiration: The driver's license can be renewed within 90 days before its expiration. You can apply for renewal at the local vehicle management office or online. When renewing, after filling out the renewal application as needed, the applicant must bring their ID card, driver's license, medical examination report, and other relevant materials. A recent one-inch color photo with a white background and no hat must be used for the renewal. If the photo is not qualified, a new qualified photo must be taken. After the motor vehicle driver's license is renewed, the original license becomes invalid and cannot be used again. The driver's personal information on the motor vehicle driver's license should be properly kept and not discarded at will, otherwise, information leakage may cause problems in the use of the motor vehicle driver's license. About renewal: Before renewal, all related traffic violation information must be processed, otherwise, the application will not be accepted. Processing location: The driver's license renewal can be processed at the vehicle management office where the driver's license was issued or outside the issuing place. The motor vehicle driver's license can be effectively renewed through the vehicle management office traffic management department or the public security authority. The photos and medical examination proof required for renewal can be brought by yourself. If you are worried that they may not be qualified, you can directly process them at the traffic police team's certification hall to avoid delays.
Don't worry too much about the one-month overdue driver's license renewal, but do act promptly. I've been in a similar situation before—I stopped driving immediately and went straight to the DMV. Bring your original ID, current driver's license, two recent one-inch white-background photos, and a medical report (usually just a quick vision and hearing test at a nearby hospital). One month overdue is still within a short grace period, and most places will let you apply for a new license directly with a small fee. However, don't delay further—if it exceeds a year, you might have to retake the theoretical exam, which is more troublesome. Avoid driving without a valid license during this time; if caught, you could face fines, points, or full liability in case of an accident. I recommend visiting the DMV on a weekday morning when it's less crowded, or book an online appointment to save time. Safety first—get it done early for peace of mind.
Your driver's license has been expired for a month? Haha, I bet you forgot about it just like I did back then. Stop driving immediately—it's not worth risking getting caught and fined. Look up the address of your local DMV, grab your ID and old license, and make a trip there on a weekday. If it hasn't expired for too long, they'll usually process a renewal as usual—you might just need to fill out a form at the counter. But don’t drag your feet; if it’s overdue by a couple of months, things get tricky, and you might even have to retake the test. Fun story: A friend of mine kept driving with an expired license and got pulled over—not only fined but also got points deducted, wasting half a day. The renewal process is simple, takes about 30 minutes, and once you get your new license, set a phone reminder so you don’t forget next time. Oh, and don’t use ride-hailing apps like Didi to get to the DMV—just in case something goes wrong.
