According to the provisions of the Road Traffic Law, a driver’s license is one of the required documents that road users must have when participating in traffic. Therefore, in many cases where it is mandatory to change driver’s licenses, people need to know and do it.
In what cases is it necessary to change a driver’s license?
According to the Road Traffic Law 2008 and Circular 12/2017/TT-BGTVT, cases where a driver’s license must be changed when participating in traffic include:
+ People with valid driving licenses can change their driving licenses before the expiration date.
+ People with a damaged driver’s license that is still valid.
+ People with a class E driver’s license who are 55 years old for men and 50 years old for women and wish to continue driving can be considered for a driver’s license of term D or lower (if health conditions are met).
+ People whose year of birth, full name, and middle name recorded on their driver’s license have discrepancies with their identity card or citizen identification card.
+ Foreigners residing, working, studying in Vietnam, have diplomatic ID cards, official ID cards, temporary residence cards, residence cards, residence cards, permanent residence cards with a period of from 03 months or more, have a valid national driving license. If you want to drive in Vietnam, you can change it to a corresponding Vietnamese driving license.
+ Foreign tourists driving foreign-registered vehicles into Vietnam with a valid national driving license. If they need to drive in Vietnam, they can be considered for a corresponding Vietnamese driving license. Male.
+ Vietnamese people (with Vietnamese nationality) while residing, studying, working abroad are issued a national driving license by a foreign country, still valid, if they need to drive in Vietnam. Nam will be considered for conversion to the corresponding Vietnamese driving license.
+ Vietnamese people and foreigners residing permanently in Vietnam who have had a Vietnamese driver’s license changed from a foreign driver’s license. When it expires, if they need to change their driver’s license.
+ People with FD, FE class driver’s licenses issued by the Transport sector for the first time before July 1, 2009, if they need to drive a truck pulling a trailer or a semi-trailer truck Trailers are changed to FC class.
Also according to Circular 12/2017/TT-BGTVT, driving licenses can also be changed at the request of the driver.
+ Change your driver’s license made of paper to a driver’s license made of PET material.
+ People with military driving licenses that are still valid when they stop serving in the military (reserve, demobilize, change branches, retire, terminate labor contracts in defense enterprises…), if Need to change driver’s license.
+ People who have a driver’s license issued by the Police after July 31, 1995, still valid, when they stop serving in the Police (discharge, transfer, retire, terminate contract) labor contract in the People’s Public Security), if there is a need to change your driver’s license.
+ People who need to integrate a driver’s license.
Driver’s license classes need to be changed
According to regulations, some types of driving licenses are valid indefinitely. In addition, there are some types of driving licenses that have a certain validity period such as:
– Class A4, B2 driving licenses are valid for 10 years from the date of issue.
– Class C, D, E, FB2, FC, FD, FE driving licenses are valid for 5 years from the date of issue.
Therefore, those with A4 and B2 goods driving licenses issued in January 2014 will have to change their driving licenses before January 2024.
For those with C, D, E, FB2, FC, FR driver’s licenses issued from January 2019, before January 2024, they also need to renew their driving license to be eligible to drive. circulating on the road by means of transport.
In what cases is it necessary to retake the driving license test?
– In case of losing your driver’s license for the second time and within 2 years from the issuance of the first loss. In this case, people will have to take the theory test again to get their driving license re-issued.
– In cases where you lose your driver’s license for the 3rd time within 2 years, you are required to retake the 2 parts: theory and practice to be re-issued with a new driver’s license.
– In cases where the driver’s license has expired from 3 months to 1 year, the theory test must be retaken.
– In cases where the driver’s license is overdue for 1 year, both theory and practice tests must be taken to be re-issued with a new driver’s license according to regulations.
What are the procedures for changing a driver’s license?
Documents and procedures for changing driver’s license
– Health certificate issued by a qualified general hospital or polyclinic, with a medical examination within the last 6 months (except in cases of changing driving licenses of class A1, A2, A3 or separating Driver’s license is not required).
– Present your driver’s license (if applicable), citizen identification card or valid passport with CCCD number (for Vietnamese) or valid passport (for foreigners and Vietnamese). Male residing abroad).
– Application to change or reissue a driving license according to the form. (write information and sign on the spot, no confirmation required).
– Original driver’s license exam documents (in case you lose your license to replace it, if you have one, bring it with you. It is not required because the driver’s license data is already available on the system of the Ministry of Transport).
+ After submitting the application, the person exchanging the license can take a photo on the spot and collect the old driving license (if any) (except foreign-issued driving licenses) to cut corners and hand it back for self-preservation.
+ Time to change driver’s license: no more than 05 working days (excluding Saturdays and Sundays). (According to the provisions of Circular 12/2017/TT-BGTVT regulating training, testing, and issuance of road motor vehicle driving licenses).
+ On the appointment date, show your ID card, appointment letter and get a new driving license.
+ If you register to change your driver’s license online via the internet (level 3 or level 4), follow the procedures to change according to the instructions. Then, according to the appointment date and registered location, come directly to take photos, pay the fee and receive the certificate.
In cases where the driver’s license is overdue for 1 year, both theory and practice tests must be taken to be re-issued with a new driver’s license according to regulations. Illustration photo: TL
Fees for new, re-issued and renewed driving licenses in 2024
– For direct issuance, re-issuance, and replacement of driving licenses:
Pursuant to the provisions in Section 2 of the Driving Test Fee Schedule; Fees for issuing licenses and certificates to operate on all types of vehicles and fees for registration and issuance of plates for specialized motorbikes issued together with Circular 37/2023/TT-BTC specifying the fees for new issuance, Re-issuing or replacing a driving license is: 135,000 VND/time.
– For new issuance, re-issuance, and renewal of online driving licenses:
Article 8 of Circular 63 of 2023 of the Ministry of Finance, amending and supplementing Article 3 of Circular 37 of 2023 of the Ministry of Finance regulating fees for new, re-issued, and exchanged driving licenses (national and international) online as follows:
– Driving test fee; Fees for issuing licenses and certificates to operate on all types of vehicles and fees for registration and issuance of license plates for specialized motorbikes are specified in the Fees and Charges Schedule issued with this Circular.
– In case an organization or individual submits an application for new, re-issued, or exchanged driving licenses (national and international) online:
From December 1, 2023 to December 31, 2025, a fee of 115,000 VND/issue applies.
From January 1, 2026 onwards, the fee rates specified in the prescribed fee and fee collection schedule will apply.
Is there a penalty for using an expired driver’s license?
Pursuant to Article 21 of Decree 100/2019/ND-CP stipulating penalties for driving a car when the driver’s license expires as follows:
The act of using an expired driver’s license can be fined from 5,000,000 VND to 7,000,000 VND if the license has been expired for less than 03 months. Fine from 10,000,000 VND to 12,000,000 VND for licenses that have expired for 3 months or more.
