What to Do When Your Driver's License Is Lost and Needs Renewal?
2 Answers
Go to the service window of the local vehicle management office to obtain and fill out the "Motor Vehicle Driver's License Application Form" correctly. Submit the required documents and the completed "Motor Vehicle Driver's License Application Form" at the window. Upon approval and acceptance, a driver's license management service acceptance receipt will be issued. The vehicle owner should pay the processing fee at a POS machine or any branch of China Construction Bank using the driver's license management service acceptance receipt. The processing time is three working days. When collecting the new license, you will need the driver's license management service acceptance receipt, the original driver's license, and the identity proof of the person collecting it.
Losing your driver's license and having to replace it is indeed frustrating. I recently went through this myself. The first reaction is not to panic—immediately go to the nearest police station or traffic police office to report the loss and obtain a lost certificate. This is a legal requirement to protect yourself from misuse. Then head straight to the DMV—remember to bring your original ID card, as identity verification is mandatory for license replacement. If your license is about to expire, inform the staff to apply for a renewal at the same time to save hassle. I recommend booking an appointment in advance via the traffic management app to avoid wasting a whole day in line. You’ll need to retake your license photo on-site, which costs around 50 yuan. Don’t drive while waiting for the new license—it’s too risky and could lead to fines or points deducted. I had a friend drive me around for a few days. Now, I keep my license in a fixed wallet slot to prevent loss and set a phone reminder to renew it three months before expiration.