What to Do When Your Driver's License Expires?
2 Answers
If your driver's license has expired, you need to renew it. The required materials include: 1. ID card and its copy; 2. Original driver's license; 3. Recent 1-inch color photo with white background and no hat; 4. Application form for motor vehicle driver's license; 5. Medical examination certificate; 6. For non-local residents, the original and copy of the local residence permit are also required. Precautions before renewing the driver's license include: 1. Handle any traffic violations in time, otherwise the system review will not pass; 2. Driving a motor vehicle on the road before receiving the new license will be considered as driving without a license; 3. The validity period of the new driver's license is six years. If the driver has not accumulated 12 penalty points in each scoring cycle during the six-year validity period, they can renew it to a ten-year validity license. If the driver has not accumulated 12 penalty points in each scoring cycle during the ten-year validity period, they can renew it to a long-term valid driver's license.
My driver's license expired once, and I panicked for a moment but quickly handled it calmly. First and foremost, never drive on the road—the fine for driving without a valid license is hefty. Immediately prepare your original ID card, the expired driver's license booklet, and two one-inch white-background ID photos. Then, find a hospital or a designated DMV facility that conducts driver medical exams, and spend around 30-50 yuan to complete basic checks like vision and color blindness. Bring all the materials to the DMV, take a number, and proceed with the renewal. If the license has been expired for less than a year, you can directly apply for a replacement. Nowadays, many cities also allow you to schedule the renewal via the Traffic Management 12123 App, saving time and effort. Remember, you can apply for a new license up to three months before the expiration date—next time, I’ll definitely get it done ahead of time.
