What to Do If Your Driver's License Has Expired and Not Renewed?
2 Answers
If the renewal period for your driver's license has passed, you can still renew it promptly. The consequences of not renewing an expired driver's license are as follows: 1. If the driver's license has been expired for less than one year: As long as the holder renews it in time, there will be no issues. 2. If the driver's license has been expired for more than one year but less than three years: The license will be in a 'revocable but recoverable' status, and the holder must apply at the vehicle management office to take the subject one exam. Only after passing the exam can the license be reinstated. 3. If the driver's license has been expired for more than three years: The license will be forcibly revoked, and the holder must re-enroll in a driving school and retake all exams to obtain a new license.
Last week, I realized my driver's license had expired two months ago when I went to renew it. Fortunately, it hadn’t been over a year, so I could directly go to the vehicle management office to get it sorted. I brought my ID card and old license to the medical center first for a vision and color blindness test, and got the medical report in twenty minutes. Then, I spent twenty yuan at the photo booth for a white-background ID photo. Finally, I filled out the application form and paid the fee at the counter—the whole process took about an hour. The staff mentioned that driving during the overdue period would count as unlicensed driving, and if caught, the penalty would be a 1,500-yuan fine and vehicle impoundment! I immediately set a reminder in my phone calendar for ten years later. I advise everyone not to be as careless as I was—you can renew it 90 days in advance. Also, downloading the 'Traffic Management 12123' App allows you to book an appointment, saving you from waiting in line.
