What to Do If Your Driver's License Expires?
2 Answers
Driver's license expiration requires different handling based on the duration of the lapse. Below are the specific procedures for different expiration periods: 1. Less than 12 months: If your license has expired for less than 12 months, you can proceed with the renewal as usual. 2. Between one and three years: If it has expired for more than one year but less than three years, you will need to retake the subject one exam to renew your license. Upon passing the exam, you can obtain your driver's license. 3. More than three years: If the expiration period exceeds three years, you will need to reapply for a driver's license from scratch. Driving with an expired license during this period is prohibited and may be treated as driving without a license. If the expiration exceeds three years, the driver's license is considered invalid and must be reissued through the full licensing process.
I remember my driver's license expired last year, and I almost forgot about it. Luckily, I received a text reminder from the DMV. I immediately prepared the required materials: I took my original ID card to a designated hospital near my home for a simple medical check-up, which included a vision test and hearing check, costing just a few dozen yuan. I also took a few blue-background one-inch photos for backup. Then, I went to the district DMV to queue up—it was crowded—and submitted all the documents, filled out the application form, and paid around 100 yuan. Two days later, I received a text notification and picked up my new license. The whole process was quite quick. Don’t procrastinate, or you might end up driving illegally and getting fined 200 yuan. I usually set a reminder on my phone calendar to avoid such awkward situations. Driving safely with valid documents is a basic responsibility.
