
To renew your driver's license in another city, you need to visit the local vehicle management office. Below are the key points to note for out-of-town license renewal: 1. For renewals in a different city, you must submit your application within 90 days (three months) before the expiration date. In this case, there's no need to transfer your file to the residence location for processing. 2. Pay special attention to the expiration date when renewing. If your driver's license expires and is subsequently canceled by the vehicle management office, you'll be required to return to your original location to extend its validity. If the license has been expired for too long, renewal cannot be processed in another city. The required documents for out-of-town driver's license renewal are as follows: 1. For local residents: Original and photocopy of ID card, motor vehicle driver's license, and medical examination certificate. 2. For non-local residents: Original and photocopy of ID card, original and photocopy of work residence permit or temporary residence permit, motor vehicle driver's license, and medical examination certificate.

Last time when my driver's license expired while I was out of town, I went directly to the local DMV to handle it. Now that the traffic management systems are interconnected nationwide, you can apply for a license renewal by bringing your ID card, old driver's license, and medical examination form. There's no need to return to your hometown for the medical check-up either—you can simply complete the driver's physical examination at a top-tier hospital in another city, and the report will be uploaded online. At the Hangzhou DMV, I got my new license sorted out in just half an hour. The staff also reminded me to download the Traffic Management 12123 APP on my phone, saying that future renewals can be scheduled in advance, and even the mail-in service for expired license renewals can be handled online, saving me another trip.

Did you notice? Now you can renew your driver's license at post office branches! When my license expired during a trip to Qingdao, I saw a traffic management service sign at a roadside postal savings office. With just my ID card, they handled everything on-site from photo-taking to medical check-up, and I got my new license in 20 minutes. But two things to note: first, only some major cities' post offices offer this service, so call ahead; second, for out-of-town processing, you'll need a temporary residence permit or rental contract to prove you actually live there. Later, I also helped a friend get it done at a community street office in Suzhou. Bottom line – it's much more convenient than making a special trip to the DMV.

I had to visit three places for my out-of-town license renewal: the DMV, a designated hospital, and a photo studio. First, check the local DMV location on the 12123 Traffic Management APP. Remember to bring four items: original ID card, soon-to-expire driver's license, 1-inch white-background photo (can also be taken at DMV self-service machines), and the most important - the medical report. Don't go to the wrong hospital for the physical exam; it must be a DMV-connected designated hospital. Last week when helping a friend with the process, the staff specifically mentioned that if the license has been expired for less than one year, it's processed as a normal renewal, but over one year requires retaking the written test.


