What to Do If You Forgot to Bring Your Driver's License
3 Answers
If you have a driver's license but forgot to bring it, you can prove that you indeed possess a license by providing your ID card for verification. Here are specific solutions for not carrying your driver's license: 1. Show a photo of your license: Save a photo of your driver's license, including both the main page and the supplementary page, on your phone. When stopped by traffic police, you can explain that you have a license but didn't bring it, though you have a photo for verification. Note that the photo must be clear. 2. ID card verification: Traffic police can check whether you have obtained a driver's license and its current status using your ID card number. This serves as proof of your license.
Forgetting to bring your driver's license while driving is quite common. Last time I was stopped by traffic police, I immediately explained that I forgot my license and proactively provided my ID number for verification. The officer checked with their device, confirmed I had a valid license, and let me go without a fine. Later, I got smarter by keeping a document holder in a fixed spot in my car and checking it before every drive. Nowadays, you can also apply for an electronic driver's license through mobile apps like 'Traffic Management 12123', which is nationally recognized - just show the digital version during checks. However, note that some provinces haven't fully adopted e-licenses yet, so it's best to check local policies in advance. If you're in a real hurry without physical license, having family members send a photo of your license might help - it's not guaranteed but better than nothing.
I've also forgotten my driver's license at home before. Just be honest if you get checked—the traffic police system is now networked and can verify your license details. Mainly, you'll need to provide your ID number for verification, and at most, you'll get a verbal warning. However, it's worth noting that not carrying your license is technically a violation of traffic rules, punishable by a 1-point deduction and a fine ranging from 20 to 200 yuan. I know a few fellow drivers who got penalized for this, and afterward, they started keeping scanned copies of their licenses in their phone galleries as a backup. The easiest solution is to apply for an electronic driver's license via the "Traffic Management 12123" app—once verified with facial recognition, it holds the same legal status as the physical copy. Of course, the most reliable approach is to develop the habit of keeping both your driver's license and vehicle registration in the center console compartment.
