Will the validity period be updated when replacing a damaged driver's license?
3 Answers
When replacing a damaged driver's license, the validity period will not be updated. Validity period of a driver's license: Article 56 of the "Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driver's Licenses": If a motor vehicle driver has not accumulated 12 penalty points in any scoring cycle during the six-year validity period of the motor vehicle driver's license, the driver's license will be replaced with a ten-year validity period; if the driver has not accumulated 12 penalty points in any scoring cycle during the ten-year validity period of the motor vehicle driver's license, the driver's license will be replaced with a long-term valid one. Penalties for an expired driver's license: Driving a motor vehicle is prohibited during the expired period, otherwise it may be treated as driving without a license. If the driver's license has been expired for less than one year, the driver can replace it at any time, but driving on the road will result in a fine of 200 yuan. If the driver's license has been expired for more than one year without replacement, the traffic management department will cancel it according to the law. If the expiration period is less than three years, the driver must retake and pass the subject one exam to restore the driving qualification. Driving on the road during this period will result in a fine ranging from 200 yuan to 2000 yuan. If the driver's license has been expired for more than three years, it will be completely canceled. The driver must retake the driver's license exam to drive again. Otherwise, driving on the road will be treated as driving without a license, resulting in a fine of 2000 yuan and administrative detention for up to 15 days.
I've been driving for over twenty years and had to replace my driver's license several times due to accidental wear and tear. Each time, the DMV staff clearly informed me that the validity period would not be renewed. The new license still calculates its validity based on the original issuance date. For example, if I obtained my license in 2010 with a ten-year validity, renewing it in 2025 would still mean it expires in 2030. This seems quite important, as many people mistakenly believe that getting a new license resets the validity period, leading them to overlook the renewal deadline. I recommend keeping your driver's license in a protective sleeve or taking a photo backup with your phone to avoid accidental damage. When renewing, bring your ID card, old license, and relevant photos—it usually takes half a day to complete. If your license is about to expire, don’t delay; go directly to the DMV to renew it to avoid affecting your daily driving.
As a young driver, I accidentally crumpled my driver's license in the washing machine last year and promptly went to get a replacement. After getting the new one, I realized the expiration date remained unchanged—still the original date. Initially, I thought the validity period would reset, but after consulting staff at the nearby DMV, they explained that replacement only addresses damage issues and doesn’t extend the validity. This reminds us: always check the expiration date when inspecting your license, and don’t let a replacement make you complacent. The process was actually quite simple—I brought my ID and the damaged license that day and waited about an hour to receive the new one. A quick tip: if you usually carry your license while driving, consider using a waterproof pouch to protect it and avoid hassle. Plus, replacement fees aren’t expensive—safety first.
