Important points in training and granting of driving licenses from January 1, 2025

Driving license expired 1 day must retake theory test

Circular No. 35/2024 has many changes compared to current regulations related to people with expired driving licenses. Accordingly, people with driving licenses of classes B, C1, C, D1, D2, D, BE, C1E, CE, D1E, D2E, DE that have expired for less than 1 year from the date of expiration must take a theory test according to regulations. Driving licenses that have expired for 1 year or more from the date of expiration must take a theory test, driving practice in the form and on the road.

The new circular of the Ministry of Transport also stipulates: People with a driver's license of the above categories that is lost but has expired for less than 1 year must take a theoretical test; those that have expired for 1 year or more from the date of expiration must take both a theoretical and practical test. Driver's licenses in this case must be listed in the Department of Transport's records and must not be confiscated or processed by competent authorities.

The Law on Road Traffic Safety recently passed by the National Assembly stipulates that: People with a driving license can change or reissue it before the expiration date stated on the license. This means that people with an expired driving license, even just 1 day, will have to retake the test when they want to change to a new driving license.

Therefore, in Circular 35/2024 of the Ministry of Transport guiding the implementation of the Law on Road Traffic Safety and Order, the Ministry of Transport stipulates: People whose driving license has expired for less than 1 year will have to retake the theory test, those whose license has expired for more than 1 year will have to retake the practical test.

Regarding the re-issuance of driving licenses, in the new circular, the Ministry of Transport allows people whose driving licenses are lost and still valid to be considered for re-issuance immediately without having to wait for verification. The re-issuance of lost driving licenses is carried out according to the provisions of this circular. In addition, the Ministry of Transport stipulates that driving licenses will not be re-issued in the following cases: Driving licenses are not included in the driving license information system at the Vietnam Road Administration, the list of driving license issuance (management book); driving licenses have not been re-issued to people who violate traffic safety order and have not completed the request of the competent state agency to resolve and handle the violation case.

According to the representative of the Vietnam Road Administration, this is possible because at present, technology has developed, the traffic police force can immediately update the violation handling data for cases of temporary detention or revocation of driving licenses. The issuing agency will update the database to check and reissue driving licenses.

Course duration

According to the Circular of the Ministry of Transport, theory can be studied in a concentrated form or by distance learning, self-study with guidance.

Notably, the Ministry of Transport requires all classes of car driving licenses to study full theory in the form of concentrated training or distance learning, self-study with guidance.

In particular, those who need to be granted driving licenses of classes: B, C1, C, D1, D2, D, BE, C1E, CE, D1E, D2E and DE must complete the theoretical program according to regulations and can choose one of the following learning methods: Concentrated at a driving training facility or distance learning, self-study with guidance according to regulations of law on driver training and testing activities.

For practical driving lessons, you must study in a concentrated form at a driving training facility.

Regarding car driver training time, the new circular of the Ministry of Transport stipulates: Time for review, final test and holidays to build the total training time in the driver training program is not more than 90 days.

The duration of subjects and the number of kilometers traveled in the new circular are for the first time called minimum compared to the old regulations. The total course duration is also limited to a maximum of no more than 90 days for all training levels.

The new regulation also clearly states: Learners are tested at the end of the course when they attend at least 70% of the theory courses; study enough time and at least 50% of the kilometers of driving practice on the driving range; study enough kilometers and at least 50% of the time of driving practice on the road.

Drop the transport profession

The new point of the new Circular is to remove the subject of transport operations. The names and duration of the remaining theoretical subjects remain almost unchanged.

Students studying for B and C1 driving licenses learn theory with the following contents: Road traffic laws; driving techniques; structure and common repairs; ethics, traffic culture and prevention of harmful effects of alcohol and beer when participating in traffic; learn software to simulate traffic situations.

Transport operations is a theoretical subject for professional drivers, from class B2 (old) and above. Thus, when this part of the new driver training program is removed, it can be understood that all driving licenses of all classes will no longer be professional.

For professional drivers, they must be trained and certified in various professional skills at the enterprise according to the regulations of the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Industry and Trade, for example, a certificate of professional training in driving for transport business.

The driving practice subject, in terms of content, number of hours of study and distance traveled per student, remains unchanged.

PL