What to Do If You Miss the License Renewal Deadline?
3 Answers
Solutions for missing the driver's license renewal deadline: The motor vehicle driver should submit the required materials to the vehicle management office at the place where the driver's license was originally issued to apply for a renewal. The vehicle management office will process the renewal within one working day upon approval. Required materials for renewal include two copies of ID card, two recent 1-inch color photos without headwear, original ID card, original driver's license, and a medical examination certificate from a county-level or above hospital. In addition to applying for renewal at the vehicle management office, you can also apply for renewal through the following methods: Renewal via the "Traffic Management 12123" APP. Download the "Traffic Management 12123" APP, then select Service Center -- Expired License Renewal Service -- Fill in the information. The new license is generally delivered by mail. Visit the "Police-Medical-Post" service point at a postal office to process the renewal. The entire process, from registration and medical examination to the production of the new license, takes only half an hour. Currently, this service is only available in a few cities, such as Hangzhou.
I also forgot to renew my driver's license until after it expired. If the overdue period is less than a year, you can simply bring your ID card, photos, and medical examination certificate to the DMV to process it. The key is to check if there are any outstanding traffic violations, otherwise the system will block the procedure. Remember to avoid the peak periods at the beginning and end of the month. Last time I went on a Tuesday morning and it only took half an hour. If it's overdue for more than a year, it's a bit more troublesome—you'll have to retake the written test (Subject 1). Signing up with a driving school to review the theory can get it done in as little as two weeks. Definitely don't delay for more than three years, as the license will be directly revoked and you'll have to start from scratch. Nowadays, you can check the real-time queue numbers at local DMVs on your phone, so picking a less crowded day saves the most time.
From my experience, don't drive immediately after your driver's license expires, as it counts as unlicensed driving and you could get your vehicle impounded with fines. Quickly prepare three things: recent one-inch white background photos, a driver's medical examination report from the hospital, and your original driver's license plus ID card. If it's been less than a year since expiration, go directly to the license renewal window at the vehicle management office to fill out forms—processing fee is around 20 yuan. If it's been over one year but less than two, you'll need to sign up to retake the theory test (Subject 1); just study for a few days using a theory test app. The key is to first check for any outstanding violations on the 12123 app—if there are any, handle them at the traffic police station before renewing to avoid a wasted trip.
