What to Do If You Don't Have Your Driver's License with You?
4 Answers
If you do not carry your driver's license with you, regardless of whether the driver has violated any traffic laws while driving, the driver is not allowed to continue driving the vehicle. The traffic management department of the public security authority should impound the motor vehicle and notify the driver to provide the driver's license. Then, based on the situation of the driver providing the license, the following actions will be taken: 1. If the driver provides the license and there are no other violations during driving, a warning or a fine ranging from 20 to 200 yuan will be issued, and the motor vehicle will be promptly returned; 2. If the driver provides the license but has committed other violations while driving, penalties will be imposed based on the violations and the failure to carry the license, and the motor vehicle will be promptly returned; 3. If the driver fails to provide the license, it will be treated as driving without a license.
I encountered this situation last time, and driving without a license can indeed be nerve-wracking. If stopped by traffic police, don’t panic—cooperate proactively. Current traffic regulations state that in such cases, your car won’t be impounded or points deducted immediately. I would pull over, explain the situation, and provide my ID number for the officer to verify my license details in the system. Slowing down reduces the risk of being checked, and then I’d contact family or friends to send a photo of my license. Keeping a copy in the car’s hidden compartment is also helpful. If all else fails, you might need someone else to drive or take a taxi home. Remember the three essentials before driving next time: phone, keys, and license!
Forgetting to bring your driver's license when going out is indeed a headache, and I've made this mistake too. Now there's a solution! Quickly open the Traffic Management 12123 APP to apply for an electronic driver's license, which is recognized in most cities across the country. If you haven't registered for the electronic version yet, don't worry. Just avoid driving too far, stay to the right, slow down, and proceed cautiously. If stopped for inspection, explain honestly and provide your ID number for the officer to verify. A tip: keeping an expired license shell in the trunk can be quite useful as it has the license number for quick verification. Once home, immediately set up a fixed spot for your driver's license in your everyday bag to develop a habit that can save you a lot of trouble.
This situation is common but requires calm handling. In my 25 years of driving, I've encountered it twice. The key takeaway is: when pulling over for inspection, proactively provide your name and ID number - the enforcement system can verify your license status. Nowadays, traffic police mainly check for valid driving credentials rather than insisting on physical copies. Of course, registering for a digital driver's license in advance is the safest approach. If you encounter an officer who insists on impounding the vehicle, contact family to deliver the license or take a taxi home to retrieve it. Sudden braking or lane changes that draw attention are riskiest - maintaining steady driving actually improves safety. Developing a habit of taking a 3-second dashboard video before driving can prevent such issues.
