Will I be fined when renewing an expired driver's license?
2 Answers
No fine is imposed when renewing an expired driver's license. If the driver's license has been expired for less than one year and is in an overdue renewal status, the driver can bring their ID card, expired driver's license, and a medical condition certificate issued by a county-level or above medical institution (or a military medical institution at the regimental level or above) to the vehicle management office to complete the renewal procedures without taking any subject exams. If the driver's license has been expired for more than one year but less than three years, it will be in a 'revocable but recoverable' status. During this period, the driver only needs to pass the subject one exam at the vehicle management office to proceed with the normal renewal procedures. If the driver's license has been expired for more than three years, it will be in a 'revoked' status, meaning the driving qualification is canceled and cannot be restored. The driver must retake all subject exams like a new applicant to obtain a new driver's license.
Last time, I renewed my driver's license three months after it expired and got fined 200 yuan. The staff at the vehicle management office explained that if the driver's license is overdue for a certain period, such as more than a month, a fine must be imposed according to regulations. The purpose is to encourage everyone to handle it promptly and not delay. On that occasion, I also paid 50 yuan for processing fees and a medical examination. The whole process was quite fast, taking about half an hour. But since then, I've learned my lesson: driver's licenses are generally valid for 6 or 10 years, and you should start preparing for renewal 90 days before expiration. I recommend everyone set a phone alarm reminder to avoid forgetting like I did. If you don't drive while your license is expired, it's not as bad, but if you're caught driving with an expired license, the penalties are more severe—you might face additional fines, points deducted, or even license suspension. The foundation of safe driving is having valid documentation, and renewing early saves both money and hassle. Now I keep these details in mind to avoid other troubles.
