Where can I renew my driving license?

The process of issuing or renewing driving licenses is currently very straightforward and can be done online on public service websites. The following article will provide detailed instructions on the procedures for issuing, renewing, and changing driving licenses for cars and motorcycles according to the latest PET plastic card format regulations

1. People who are eligible for a new driving license:

If a driving license on paper or a PET plastic card is lost, damaged, expired, or has incorrect information, it can be replaced with a new PET plastic card with a QR code.

Existing driving licenses that are still valid can continue to be used without the need for replacement. However, unlimited driving licenses (A1, A2, A3) are encouraged to be replaced with the new format. If the old format is still being used, there is no need to retake the theory test when replacing it.

When replacing a car driving license (with an expiration date), a health certificate must be included in the replacement application. However, if replacing a motorcycle driving license (A1, A2, A3) without an expiration date, a health certificate is not required.

Individuals with valid or expired driving licenses within 03 months can replace them without retaking the driving test. If the license is expired for 03 months to less than 01 year, a theory test must be taken to obtain a replacement. If the expiration is 01 year or longer, both the theory and practical tests must be retaken.

Where to replace a driving license: Individuals who want to replace their driving license can choose to submit their application at one of the following locations:

The licensing department of the Department of Transport where the driving license was issued.

The licensing department of the local Department of Transport where the individual resides, works, or is currently located.

The administrative service center of the province or centrally governed city where the individual resides, works, or is currently located.

The Vietnam Road Administration.

Documents and procedures for replacing a car or motorcycle driving license:

2. Regarding documents and procedures:

The individual must personally visit one of the above-mentioned locations and prepare and submit the following documents:

A health certificate issued by a qualified hospital or clinic, with a health examination conducted within the past 6 months (except for cases of replacing A1, A2, A3 driving licenses or splitting driving licenses).

Present the existing driving license (if available), identification card, citizen identification card, or valid passport with the citizen identification number (for Vietnamese citizens) or the valid passport (for foreigners or Vietnamese citizens residing abroad).

• Request form for changing and reissuing driver's license according to the new template. (Write information and sign on the spot, no need for confirmation).
• Original driver's license document (in case of lost license, if available, bring it, not mandatory as driver's license data is already available in the Ministry of Transport's system).

3. Regarding fees:

The fee for issuing and changing the driver's license according to the new template is 135,000 VND. (Circular 188/2016/TT-BTC stipulates the fee collection, payment, management, and use for issuing licenses).

If changing the driver's license for cars, an additional health examination fee will be charged for the driver (excluding tests and X-rays): 160,000 VND/person (according to Circular 37/2018/TT-BYT and related documents amending the maximum price range for medical examination services).

4. Cases where the driver's license cannot be changed to the new template:

a) Temporary driver's license issued by a foreign country; International driver's license; Expired, erased, torn, or insufficiently identifiable driver's licenses issued by foreign countries, military, or police authorities; Foreign driver's licenses not issued by authorized agencies;

b) Driver's license issued by the Ministry of Transport but not found in the Driver's License Information System, list of issued licenses, or license management register;

c) Decision to join the military beyond the 06-month deadline for military driver's licenses issued by the Ministry of Defense; d) Individuals who do not meet the health requirements.

5. Penalties for losing driver's license:

According to Decree 100/2019/NĐ-CP on handling administrative violations in the field of road traffic (amended by Decree 123/2021), when a driver loses their license while driving, if detected by traffic police, a violation report for not carrying a driver's license will be made.

If, after the violation report is made, the driver gets a new license and presents it to the traffic police, the penalty will be changed to a violation for not carrying the license (motorcycle: Fine from 100,000 to 200,000 VND; car: Fine from 200,000 to 400,000 VND).

If unable to obtain a new license, the penalty will be for the violation of not having a license (motorcycle under 175 cc: Fine from 1 million to 2 million VND, motorcycle above 175 cc: Fine from 4 to 5 million VND; car: Fine from 10 to 12 million VND).