Regulations regarding the validity period of B1 driver's licenses that drivers should know.
Depending on how long the license has expired, the driver may or may not have to retake the B1 driving test.
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| If my B1 driver's license has expired, do I need to retake the test? (Illustrative image) |
When is a B1 driver's license valid?
According to Articles 59 and 60 of the 2008 Road Traffic Law, individuals aged 18 and above can register to study and take the B1 driving license test. Upon passing the test, students will be issued a B1 driving license, allowing them to operate automobiles in traffic.
Article 17 of Circular 12/2017/TT-BGTVT stipulates the validity period of a Class B1 driver's license as follows:
"A Class B1 driver's license is valid until the driver reaches the age of 55 for women and 60 for men; in cases where the driver is over 45 for women and over 50 for men, the license is issued for a period of 10 years from the date of issuance."
According to this regulation, the validity period of a B1 driver's license is determined based on the driver's age at the time the license is issued:
- For drivers aged 45 or under (female) or 50 or under (male): A Class B1 driver's license is valid until the driver reaches the age of 55 (female) or 60 (male).
- For drivers over 45 years old (female) or over 50 years old (male): A Class B1 driver's license is valid for 10 years from the date of issuance.
If my B1 driver's license has expired, do I need to retake the test?
According to Article 36 of Circular 12/2017/TT-BGTVT, when a driver's license expires, the driver can apply for a renewal. Depending on the length of time the license has expired, the driver may or may not have to retake the B1 driving test. Specifically:
- For B1 driver's licenses that have expired less than 3 months ago: Drivers will be reissued their licenses without having to take the driving test.
- For B1 driver's licenses that have expired for 3 months to less than 1 year: Drivers will be reissued a B1 driver's license after passing the theory test.
- For B1 driver's licenses that have expired for one year or more: Drivers will be reissued a B1 driver's license after passing both the theory and practical driving tests.
