What to Do When the Motor Vehicle License Expires?
2 Answers
If the motor vehicle license has expired, it is necessary to renew it immediately. Before going, make sure to handle any traffic violations. The motor vehicle license must undergo an inspection within 90 days before the expiration date. Non-exempt vehicle owners should bring a power of attorney, the vehicle license, and the compulsory traffic insurance policy to the vehicle inspection station at the designated location for vehicle inspection. After passing the inspection, the inspection qualification mark can be directly applied for at the station. For vehicles exempt from inspection within six years, the public security traffic management department will no longer inspect the vehicle when issuing the inspection mark. They will only review the motor vehicle inspection mark application form, the motor vehicle license, the compulsory traffic insurance certificate, the vehicle and vessel tax payment or tax exemption certificate, and verify the handling of traffic safety violations and traffic accidents. If the requirements are met, the inspection mark will be issued, noted on the supplementary page of the vehicle license, and the motor vehicle inspection mark application form will be filed in the motor vehicle records.
Last time I drove out, it suddenly occurred to me that my vehicle license might have expired. Upon checking, it indeed had, so I immediately pulled over and didn’t dare to drive any further. I quickly searched on my phone for the local vehicle management office’s contact to schedule a replacement. The staff informed me that I needed to bring my original ID card, the expired vehicle license, and photos of the vehicle, preferably taken at a photo studio to meet the required dimensions. The process wasn’t complicated: upon arrival, I filled out an application form, queued up to pay a fee of about 10 yuan for the replacement, and received the new license after a 20-minute wait. However, it’s crucial to remember not to drive there, as getting caught by traffic police could result in a 200-yuan fine and 3 demerit points—far too risky. This experience taught me a valuable lesson, and I’ve set a calendar reminder to check the validity annually to avoid last-minute panic and delays. Additionally, if an accident occurs while the license is expired, insurance companies won’t cover the claim. Safety is paramount, so it’s best to take a taxi or public transport for a few days until the new license is in hand.