What to Do When Driver's License Points Reach 12?
4 Answers
If your driver's license accumulates 12 penalty points, the following measures will be taken: If the points reach 12 during the probationary period, the license will be revoked, and you will need to re-study and retake the driving test. If the points reach 12 after the probationary period, you will be required to undergo 7 days of study and training, followed by a retake of the theoretical test (Subject 1). Below is additional information: 1. Legal Basis: According to Article 23 of the Road Traffic Safety Law, traffic management authorities under public security organs impose administrative penalties for traffic violations by motor vehicle drivers and implement a cumulative penalty point system (hereinafter referred to as the point system), with a 12-month cycle. 2. Standards for Large Vehicles: Drivers holding licenses for large buses, tractors, city buses, medium-sized buses, or large trucks who accumulate points (but less than 12) within a cycle, drivers of other vehicle types involved in fatal accidents with equal or greater responsibility (without license revocation), and school bus drivers must also participate in study sessions. This is part of the inspection and education process.
A few days ago, my colleague encountered this situation—he absentmindedly accumulated 12 demerit points while driving. He had to immediately report to the DMV with his ID card, where the staff issued him a "Full Score Education Notice." For the next seven days, he had to attend traffic law classes on time, just like going back to driving school. During this period, he absolutely couldn’t touch the steering wheel—getting caught would count as driving without a license. After completing the classes, he had to retake the written test (Subject 1). I even helped him practice hundreds of questions from the test bank. Only after passing could he get his license back; failing would mean repeating the training. The whole process takes over ten days—it’s both time-consuming and costly. Driving really requires constant adherence to the rules.
If your driver's license accumulates 12 penalty points, you must follow the official process. You are required to register at the vehicle management department within 15 days, and they will arrange a seven-day traffic regulations training. During this period, the compulsory traffic insurance for your vehicle will also increase in price, which is quite unfavorable. The training content covers traffic regulations knowledge, and daily attendance is mandatory without absence. The exam is scheduled after the training, and you need to bring the training certificate and a medical examination form. If you are busy with work, you can apply for online learning, but the final exam must be taken on-site. It's best not to drive during this entire process; you can use ride-hailing services instead. Actually, checking your penalty points record on the 12123 app every three months and handling traffic violations in advance is the best practice.
My cousin had all his points deducted last year, and the process was quite a hassle. First, he had to surrender his license at the DMV, then attend a seven-day consecutive training course. The course covered common traffic violations and traffic regulations, with six hours of instruction each day. Before retaking the written test, he had to schedule and pay for it, and it was best to practice with mock tests to get familiar with the question types. After passing, he could apply for a temporary driver's license while waiting for the official one. For commercial drivers, it's even more troublesome—they have to cancel their professional driving permits and retake the exams. My brother had to commute by shared bikes for half a month during that time, and now he drives extra carefully.
