According to Circular No. 12/2017/TT-BGTVT, Article 17, A1, A2, and A3 driving licenses are valid indefinitely, while all other types of licenses are only valid for a certain period. Let’s explore the procedure for renewing a driver’s license with Bach Hoa XANH!
1. Driving Licenses with Expiration Dates
- B1 licenses are valid until the driver reaches the age of 60 for men and 55 for women. For men over 50 and women over 45, the license is valid for 10 years from the date of issuance.
- A4 and B2 licenses are valid for 10 years from the date of issuance.
- C, D, E, FB2, FC, FD, and FE licenses are valid for 5 years from the date of issuance.
Therefore, except for licenses for driving motorcycles with two or three wheels (A1, A2, A3), all other types of licenses must be renewed before their expiration date.
For reference: It’s easy with a few small notes
2. When to Renew Your Driving License
According to the dichvucong.gov.vn website, you will be eligible to renew your driving license in the following cases:
- Paper-based driving licenses that are still valid can be exchanged for PET-based licenses.
- For time-limited licenses, the renewal must be done before the expiration date. The same applies to damaged licenses that are still valid.
- Drivers with an E license who are 55 years old or older for men and 50 years old or older for women can exchange their license for a D or lower category license.
When to Renew Your Driving License
- Cases where the year of birth, name, or middle name on the driving license differ from those on the citizen identification card.
- Driving licenses with serial numbers, issue dates, and expiration dates that match the information in the driving license management system (valid driving licenses).
3. Online Driving License Renewal Procedure
Renewing Your Driving License via the National Public Service Portal
Access the National Public Service Portal
Select “Driving License”
Choose “Renew a driving license issued by the Transport Sector”
Select the Implementing Agency
Click on “Online Submission”
Log in to your account on the National Public Service Portal
- A request for a new or renewed driver’s license using the form provided here.
- A health certificate appropriate for the vehicle category to be driven, issued by a competent medical authority (if required).
- A copy of your current driver’s license (no notarization required).
Renewing Your Driving License via the Directorate for Roads of Vietnam Website
Access the Directorate for Roads of Vietnam Website
Fill in all the required information
4. In-Person Driving License Renewal Procedure
Step 1 Prepare the Necessary Documents
- Original driving license application documents (in case of loss, if available, but not mandatory)
- Request for a new driving license.
- Health certificate (valid for 12 months from the date of issuance by the competent authority, as specified) for the driver of the vehicle, issued by a competent medical authority as per regulations.
- Copy of your driving license and ID card or citizen identification card or passport that is still valid (for Vietnamese citizens) or passport that is still valid (for foreigners or Vietnamese living abroad).
In-Person Driving License Renewal Procedure
Step 2 Submit the Application
Submit your application for a driving license renewal to the Directorate for Roads of Vietnam or the Provincial Department of Transport.
Note: If you are submitting your application in person, you must have your photo taken at the licensing authority and present the original copies of the above-mentioned documents for verification.
Step 3 Pay the Fee
According to Circular No. 188/2016/TT-BTC, the fee for renewing a driving license with a new template is VND 135,000 per renewal.
Step 4 Receive Your New License at the Submission Location
The processing time for renewing a driving license should not exceed 5 working days (excluding Saturdays and Sundays) from the date of receiving a valid application.
5. Frequently Asked Questions
What is the penalty for losing your driving license?
A driving license is one of the mandatory documents required for anyone driving a vehicle. Therefore, driving without a license or failing to carry it while driving is a violation of the Road Traffic Law and will result in a fine. According to Decree 100:
- For cars: Driving without a license is subject to a fine of VND 4-6 million, and failing to carry a license is subject to a fine of VND 200,000-400,000.
- For motorcycles: Driving without a license is subject to a fine of VND 800,000-1.2 million, and failing to carry a license is subject to a fine of VND 100,000-200,000.
Frequently Asked Questions about Driving License Renewal
In what cases can a driving license not be renewed with a new template?
- Temporary foreign driving licenses; international driving licenses; foreign driving licenses, military driving licenses, or police driving licenses that have expired, have been erased, torn, or damaged to the extent that the necessary information is unreadable, or have significant differences in identification; foreign driving licenses not issued by a competent authority;
- Discharge decision from the military that is more than 6 months old from the date of the driving license renewal application for military driving licenses issued by the Ministry of Defense;
- Driving licenses issued by the transport sector that are not in the driving license management system, list of records, or license management book;
- Applicants who do not meet the health standards as specified.
Cases where a driving license cannot be renewed with a new template
Where can I renew my driving license?
- The Department of Transport’s application receiving unit in the province/city where the driving license was issued.
- The application receiving unit of the Department of Transport in the province/city where you reside or work.
- The provincial/municipal Public Service Center.
- The Directorate for Roads of Vietnam.
If your driving license is about to expire, you should immediately prepare the necessary documents and start the renewal process. Hopefully, this article has provided you with useful information.
