What to Do When Your Driver's License Reaches 12 Demerit Points?
2 Answers
If the driver's license is Class C, accumulating 12 demerit points at once requires retaking the subject one exam. After passing the exam, the driver's license can be reinstated. For Class A or B licenses, the penalties are more severe, involving not only retaking the exam but also a downgrade in license class. Below are specific details about driver's licenses: 1. Classification: According to the "Motor Vehicle Driver's License Business Work Standards" officially issued by the Ministry of Public Security, a graded system for motor vehicle driver's licenses has been introduced, dividing licenses into 15 classes: A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, C1, C2, C3, C4, D, E, F, M, N, and P. 2. Renewal Rules: If a motor vehicle driver does not accumulate 12 demerit points in any scoring cycle during the six-year validity period of the driver's license, they can renew it for a ten-year validity period. If they continue to avoid accumulating 12 demerit points in any scoring cycle during the ten-year validity period, they can renew it for a long-term valid driver's license.
Last year, I accidentally accumulated 12 penalty points while driving and panicked a bit at the time, but immediately went to the traffic police station to sign up for the full-point education program. I had to stop driving and first attend a 7-day traffic safety course at a designated location, which covered traffic laws, case studies, etc. After completing the course, I had to take an exam. Only after passing the exam could I regain my driver's license; failing meant retaking it. The whole process was quite troublesome, but it couldn’t be ignored—otherwise, my license would have been revoked. I dutifully attended the classes, reflected on my habit of running red lights, and later drove more carefully, accumulating far fewer points. My advice is not to delay if you find yourself in this situation—handle it immediately. Also, follow the rules more diligently in daily driving to reduce the risk of violations.
