What to Do If Your Driver's License Has Expired for Over a Year?
2 Answers
Here are the steps to handle a driver's license that has been expired for over a year: Subject 1 Exam: If your motor vehicle driver's license has expired for more than one year without renewal, it will be revoked. However, if the revocation period does not exceed two years, you can apply at the local vehicle management office to take the Subject 1 exam. Passing the exam will restore your license. License Renewal: If your driver's license has been revoked for more than two years, you will need to retake all the exams. If your license has expired, you should renew it immediately. Documents Required: If your driver's license has expired within the past year, you can still follow the normal renewal procedures. You will need to provide a physical condition certificate issued by a county-level or military regiment-level medical institution, original and photocopies of your ID, the original driver's license, a motor vehicle driver's license application form, and three recent 1-inch color photos with a white background. You can choose to process the renewal at the nearest traffic police station, vehicle management office branch, or one-stop units authorized by the traffic management department.
My driver's license expired over a year ago, and dealing with it was a bit troublesome. First, I had to apply at the vehicle management office to retake the driver's license test, as you can't directly renew it after one year. I prepared copies of my ID card, the old driver's license, and photos, then signed up for a written test (Subject 1) review course. Before the exam, I practiced a lot of mock questions on my phone and spent about a week preparing. The key thing is you can't drive without a license—it's risky. If an accident happens, the insurance company won't cover it, and you could face a fine of several hundred yuan. I was too busy with work and didn’t pay attention to the date, so I’ll set a phone reminder or check the validity period using the 12123 Traffic Management App to avoid making this mistake again. After two years, I’ll also have to retake the road test, which wastes time and affects travel convenience. Overall, it’s best to handle it as soon as possible—safety first.
