Nghe An province issues guidelines for issuing, renewing, and reissuing driver's licenses starting from the beginning of 2025.

1.Driving licenses issued before the effective date of this Law shall continue to be valid for the period indicated on the license.

2.In the case of individuals holding a driver's license issued before the effective date of the Law, if they wish to exchange or renew their driver's license, the conversion process is as follows:

a) A Class A1 driver's license can be exchanged or reissued as a Class A driver's license with the restriction that it only allows the driver to operate two-wheeled motorcycles with a cylinder capacity of less than 175 cm³.³ or have an electric motor power of less than 14 kW;

b) A Class A2 driver's license can be exchanged or reissued for a Class A driver's license;

c) A Class A3 driver's license can be exchanged or reissued for a Class B1 driver's license;

d) A Class A4 driver's license can be exchanged or reissued for a certificate to operate specialized motor vehicles for those operating tractors with a payload of up to 1,000 kg and a certificate of training in road traffic law for those operating specialized motor vehicles;

d) A Class B1 automatic driving license can be exchanged or reissued as a Class B driving license with the restriction that it can only be used to drive automatic cars;

e) Driving licenses of class B1 and B2 can be exchanged or reissued to class B or class C1 driving licenses and certificates for operating specialized motor vehicles for those operating tractors with a payload of up to 3,500 kg;

g) Class C driver's licenses remain unchanged and can be exchanged or reissued for the same class, as well as certificates for operating specialized motor vehicles for those operating tractors with a payload exceeding 3,500 kg;

h) A Class D driver's license can be exchanged or reissued for a Class D2 driver's license and a certificate for operating specialized motor vehicles for those operating tractors with a payload exceeding 3,500 kg;

i) Class E driver's licenses can be exchanged or reissued for Class D driver's licenses and certificates for operating specialized motor vehicles for those operating tractors with a payload exceeding 3,500 kg;

k) A Class FB2 driver's license can be exchanged or reissued for a Class BE or Class C1E driver's license and a certificate for operating specialized motor vehicles for those operating tractors with a payload of up to 3,500 kg;

l) A Class FC driver's license can be exchanged or reissued for a Class CE driver's license and a certificate for operating specialized motor vehicles for those operating tractors with a payload exceeding 3,500 kg;

m) A Class FD driver's license can be exchanged or reissued for a Class D2E driver's license and a certificate for operating specialized motor vehicles for those operating tractors with a payload exceeding 3,500 kg;

n) A Class FE driver's license can be exchanged or reissued for a Class DE driver's license and a certificate for operating specialized motor vehicles for those operating tractors with a payload exceeding 3,500 kg.

3.The validity period of the driver's license under the new regulations is as follows:

a) Driving licenses of categories A1, A, and B1 have no expiration date;

b) Driving licenses of class B and class C1 are valid for 10 years from the date of issuance;

c) Driving licenses of categories C, D1, D2, D, BE, C1E, CE, D1E, D2E, and DE are valid for 05 years from the date of issuance.

4.Driving license points

a) The driver's license point system is used to manage the driver's compliance with traffic safety laws and regulations on road traffic, and consists of 12 points. The number of points deducted for each violation depends on the nature and severity of the violation. Data on points deducted from a driver's license will be updated in the database system immediately after the penalty decision takes effect and the person whose points have been deducted will be notified.

b) A driver's license that has not had all points deducted and has not had any points deducted within 12 months from the date of the last point deduction will have all 12 points restored.

c) If all points on a driver's license are deducted, the license holder is prohibited from operating any vehicle on public roads under that license. After a period of at least six months from the date all points were deducted, the license holder may participate in a knowledge test on traffic laws and regulations organized by the traffic police. If they pass, their full 12 points will be restored.

d) The driver's license will retain the same number of points as the license before the exchange, reissuance, or upgrade after the renewal, reissuance, or upgrade.

e) The person authorized to impose administrative penalties has the authority to deduct points from a driver's license.

5.A person whose driver's license has expired.

- If the license expires less than one year after the expiration date, a theoretical test must be taken as prescribed in point a, clause 1, Article 17 of Circular 35/2024/TT-BGTVT to obtain a driver's license.

- If the license has expired for more than one year, the theoretical and practical driving tests (on the driving course and on the road) must be retaken to obtain a driver's license as stipulated in Clauses 1, 2, and 3, Article 17, Circular 35/2024/TT-BGTVT.

6.Individuals whose driver's licenses are lost but have expired, whose names are on the records of the Department of Transportation, and who are not currently subject to confiscation or processing by competent authorities, must take an examination on the following topics:

- If the license expires within one year, a theoretical examination must be taken to obtain a driver's license as stipulated in point a, clause 1, Article 17 of Circular 35/2024/TT-BGTVT.

- If the license has expired for more than one year, the theoretical and practical driving tests (on the driving course and on the road) must be retaken to obtain a driver's license as stipulated in Clauses 1, 2, and 3, Article 17, Circular 35/2024/TT-BGTVT.

7.Individuals whose driver's licenses are lost but still valid may be considered for reissuance. The reissuance of lost driver's licenses is carried out in accordance with the provisions of Clauses 2, 3, and 4, Article 36, Circular 35/2024/TT-BGTVT.

8When a driver's license is damaged and unusable, or when it expires, citizens who need to renew their driver's license issued by the Ministry of Transport can choose to follow the procedures outlined below:

Method 1To complete the procedures, go directly to the Public Administrative Service Center of Nghe An Province, Address: No. 16, Truong Thi Street, Vinh City, Nghe An Province, Telephone: 0889.391.818.

- Method 2:Go directly to the Central Post Offices in the districts, cities, and towns of Nghe An province to complete the procedures.

- Method 3:Complete the online driver's license renewal procedure by accessing the National Public Service Portal at the following address:https://dichvucong.gov.vnThe online public service portal for exchanging driver's licenses of the Vietnam Road Administration is located at:https://dvc4.gplx.gov.vn

Thanh Le