Where to Renew an Expired Vehicle License?
2 Answers
An expired vehicle license should be renewed at an inspection station. Unlike a driver's license, a vehicle license does not have a fixed validity period. Each time the vehicle passes an annual inspection, the expiration date on the license will be updated. Generally, when people refer to an expired vehicle license, they actually mean that the vehicle's annual inspection has expired. The vehicle license is the legal document that permits a motor vehicle to operate on roads within China. It consists of three parts: the license holder, the main page, and the supplementary page. The front of the main page contains the endorsed certificate core, while the back displays the vehicle's photo, which is sealed in a plastic cover. The supplementary page also contains an endorsed certificate core. There are two types of expiration for a vehicle license: 1) Annual inspection expiration, meaning the vehicle was not inspected by the due date. Vehicles that fail the annual inspection are not allowed to operate on roads and will face penalties if driven. 2) License validity expiration, which is equivalent to not having a license at all. Vehicles without a valid license are also prohibited from operating on roads and will be subject to the same penalties.
I just renewed my vehicle license last month and got quite a scare when it expired, rushing to the local vehicle management office. Generally, you should go to the vehicle management office in the city where your car was originally registered. Booking an appointment on their official WeChat account in advance can save you a lot of time. Remember to bring the original ID card of the vehicle owner, the expired vehicle license, the vehicle registration certificate, and one photo each of the front and rear of the vehicle. Upon arrival, first queue up to fill out the application form, then have your car inspected for lights and emissions at the inspection station. If everything checks out, submit your materials and pay the fee—you can get your new license the same day at the earliest. It’s best not to wait until the last few days to handle this, as driving with an expired license could result in fines and penalty points if caught by traffic police. Also, check if any of your traffic violation records have been cleared to avoid delays. If your car is quite old, it might be more cost-effective to get an annual inspection done at the same time to save multiple trips. Although the process is straightforward, knowing the required documents in advance can prevent wasted trips.
