What to Do If Your Driver's License Has Been Expired for Over a Year Without Renewal?
4 Answers
Solution for a driver's license that has been expired for over a year without renewal: The motor vehicle driver should bring the required materials to the vehicle management office where the driver's license was originally issued to apply for renewal. The vehicle management office will process the renewal within one working day upon approval. Required materials for renewal include two photocopies of ID card, two recent 1-inch color photos without a hat, original ID card, original driver's license, and a medical examination certificate from a county-level or above hospital. Renewal and inspection must meet the following conditions: Holders of large passenger vehicle, tractor, city bus, medium passenger vehicle, or large truck driver's licenses must have no points recorded in the current scoring cycle, or holders of other permitted vehicle-type driver's licenses must have less than 12 points recorded in the current scoring cycle; Holders of large passenger vehicle, tractor, city bus, medium passenger vehicle, or large truck driver's licenses who have points recorded in a scoring cycle, and holders of other permitted vehicle-type driver's licenses who have been involved in a traffic accident causing death and bear equal or greater responsibility without having their driver's license revoked, must have completed the inspection education; The applicant must have no pending road traffic safety violations or traffic accidents; The applicant's physical condition must meet the driving license requirements; The motor vehicle driver's license must not be under circumstances of being legally seized, detained, temporarily suspended, revoked, canceled, or annulled.
Last year, my driver's license was overdue for renewal by more than a year, which made me extremely nervous. I rushed to the DMV to handle it, and they informed me that if it's overdue for over a year, I'd have to retake the written test (Subject 1). I spent a few days reviewing the driving theory, passed the test, paid a 200 yuan fine, and finally got my new license. The whole process was troublesome but straightforward: bring your ID card, medical examination certificate, and photos to the DMV, fill out the forms, and apply. During the overdue period, you must not drive—otherwise, it counts as unlicensed driving, and if caught, you could face fines or even have your vehicle impounded. I recommend setting a phone reminder for license renewal deadlines—don’t procrastinate like I did. Safety should always come first. Now I’ve learned my lesson and check my license status six months in advance.
I found that after my driver's license had been overdue for more than a year, the DMV required me to retake the test to renew it, usually just passing the written test (Subject 1). When handling this, I reminded myself not to drive there—it's risky and illegal. It's better to take a taxi or ask a friend to drop me off. I brought copies of my ID card and photos, and when filling out the application form, I clearly stated the reason for the delay. If the delay is too long, there's a risk of cancellation, requiring re-enrollment in driving school. Handling it early brings peace of mind, and I felt much more relaxed after completing it. From now on, I'll regularly check the expiration date of my driver's license, which I've stuck on the fridge as a reminder.
When my driver's license was overdue for more than a year, I had to stop all driving activities and go directly to the DMV to handle it. The process might include taking a theoretical exam and completing additional procedures, bringing along my medical examination report and photos. I got it done quickly when I went through it—safety first, don't risk driving illegally anymore.
