What to Do If You Forget Your Driver's License on the Road?
2 Answers
Driving without carrying your driver's license does not mean driving without a license. In such cases, traffic police will handle it as "forgetting to bring the license" rather than "driving without a license." The traffic police will not detain the vehicle owner but will temporarily impound the vehicle until the owner brings the driver's license to the traffic department to retrieve the car. Here are the specific regulations regarding driving without a license: 1. If a motor vehicle driver allows someone without a motor vehicle driver's license or whose license has been revoked or suspended to drive, the motor vehicle driver's license will be confiscated according to the law, and the license may also be revoked. 2. Article 99 of the "Safety Law" stipulates that "driving a motor vehicle without obtaining a motor vehicle driver's license, or when the motor vehicle driver's license has been revoked or suspended, shall be fined between 200 and 2,000 yuan and may also be detained for up to 15 days. 3. For those who do not carry their motor vehicle driver's license with them, regardless of whether the driver violates any traffic laws during the journey, they are 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. Different actions will be taken based on the circumstances of the provided driver's license.
If you suddenly realize you've forgotten your driver's license while driving, don't panic—I've been in this situation a few times. The first step is to find a safe place to pull over and stop driving immediately, as driving without a license could get you pulled over by the police and cause trouble. Quickly check your phone to see if you have a digital driver's license app or a photo of your license saved, as many places now accept electronic versions as temporary proof. Then, contact a family member or friend to bring your license to you—I've tried this method, and it works well, but make sure they can arrive as soon as possible. If the police stop you, explain the situation honestly, show your ID, and cooperate with their investigation. Typically, you might only receive a warning or a small fine. For the long term, I recommend developing habits like keeping your license in a fixed spot in your wallet or setting phone reminders to avoid forgetting it. Safety comes first—don't let a small oversight disrupt your trip.
