bǐqǐ jiàshǐzhèng dàoqī yǐhòu huànzhèng, tíqián huànzhèng gèng fāngbiàn.

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Breakdown of bǐqǐ jiàshǐzhèng dàoqī yǐhòu huànzhèng, tíqián huànzhèng gèng fāngbiàn.

• 以后yǐhòu: after
• 提前tíqián: in advance

Questions & Answers about bǐqǐ jiàshǐzhèng dàoqī yǐhòu huànzhèng, tíqián huànzhèng gèng fāngbiàn.

What does 比起 mean here, and how is it different from just 比?

比起 means compared with or when compared with. In this sentence, it introduces the thing being used as the comparison point:

比起驾驶证到期以后换证，提前换证更方便。
= Compared with renewing the driver’s license after it expires, renewing it early is more convenient.

Compared with plain 比, 比起 often feels a little more like “as compared with…” and is very common when the first part is a longer phrase or clause.

• A 比 B 更方便 = A is more convenient than B
• 比起 B，A 更方便 = Compared with B, A is more convenient

So this sentence could also be rearranged as:

提前换证比驾驶证到期以后换证更方便。

Both are natural.

Why does the sentence start with 比起驾驶证到期以后换证 instead of putting 提前换证 first?

Chinese often puts the comparison background first, then gives the main point after it.

So:

比起驾驶证到期以后换证，提前换证更方便。

literally feels like:

As for compared with renewing after expiration, renewing early is more convenient.

This order helps set up the contrast before stating the conclusion. It is especially common in written or semi-formal Chinese.

A more straightforward word order is:

提前换证比驾驶证到期以后换证更方便。

This may feel easier to English speakers because it matches A is more convenient than B more directly.