What to Do If Your Driver's License Hasn't Been Renewed for Over 6 Years?
2 Answers
If your driver's license hasn't been renewed for over 6 years, it will be completely revoked, and you must retake the driver's license test to drive again. Time regulations: If it has expired for less than a year, you can renew it normally; if it has expired for more than one year but less than three years, the license will be revoked, but you can renew it by passing the subject one test; if it has expired for more than three years, the license will be invalid and cannot be renewed. Penalties for an expired driver's license: You are not allowed to drive a motor vehicle during the expired period, otherwise, it can be treated as driving without a license. If your driver's license has been expired for less than a year, although you can renew it at any time, driving on the road will result in a 200 yuan fine. If your driver's license has been expired for more than one year without renewal, the traffic management department will revoke it according to the law. Among them, if the expiration is less than three years, the driver must retake and pass the subject one test to restore their driving qualification. Driving on the road during this period will result in a fine ranging from 200 to 2000 yuan. If your driver's license has been expired for more than three years, it will be completely revoked, and you must retake the driver's license test to drive again. Otherwise, driving on the road will be treated as driving without a license, resulting in a 2000 yuan fine and up to 15 days of administrative detention.
I've actually experienced the situation where my driver's license wasn't renewed after six years. Back then, I was too busy to notice, and it ended up being expired for nearly two years. At that time, I checked the regulations: if it's expired within one year, you can directly renew it, though you might have to pay some fines; if it's expired between one to three years, you'll need to retake the written test (Subject 1); and if it's expired for more than three years, it's all over—you'll have to start from scratch and retake the entire driving test. I remember rushing to the vehicle management office with my ID, photos, and medical examination report, and it took me several days to pass the theory test and finally get the new license. It was a profound lesson. Now, I make sure to check my license's validity every year and set a reminder on my phone to avoid making the same mistake again. Everyone should stay vigilant and handle it early to be safe.
