What is the latest Traffic Law in Vietnam in 2025? What are the new traffic fines in Vietnam in 2025?

What is the latest Traffic Law in Vietnam in 2025?

Currently, the latest Traffic Law 2025 is the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety 2024, replacing the Law on Road Traffic 2008.

Some highlights of the latest Traffic Law 2025 include:

(1) Change in driver's license classification

According to Article 57 of the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety 2024, from 2025, the driver's license will be upgraded to 15 categories: A1, A, B1, B, C1, C, D1, D2, D, BE, C1E, CE, D1E, D2E, and DE. Currently, according to the Law on Road Traffic 2008, there are 13 categories including A1, A2, A3, A4, B1, B2, C, D, E, FB2, FD, FC and FE.

Simultaneously, the law also changes the vehicle types permitted for each category, for example:

- The new A1 category is issued for motorcycle drivers from over 50cc to 125cc.

- The new A category is issued for motorcycle drivers over 125cc.

The current A1 license is issued for motorcycles from 50cc to under 175cc, and A2 for motorcycles over 175cc.

- The new B1 category will no longer be issued for automobile drivers like the current B1 but will be for three-wheeled motorcycle drivers.

(2) Driver's license with a point-based evaluation

As per Article 58 of the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety 2024, each driver's license will have 12 points per year to evaluate the traffic law compliance of the driver.

Each violation of traffic safety regulations will result in a deduction of points based on the nature and severity of the violation. Information about the deducted points will be recorded in the management database and notified to the involved driver immediately when a sanction decision takes effect.

If points remain within the year, the driver's license will be restored to 12 points the following year. If points are fully deducted in a year, the driver will not be permitted to operate a vehicle under the registered license category.

After 6 months from the point deduction, the driver can participate in a knowledge test organized by the traffic police to restore points. Those who pass will have their driver's license restored to the full 12 points.

(3) Additional cases for "three people" from January 1, 2025

According to Clause 1, Article 33 of the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety 2024, a two-wheeled motorcycle or moped driver is allowed to carry one person, except in the following cases where they can carry up to two people:

- Transporting a patient for emergency;

- Escorting a person who violated the law;

- Children under 12 years old;

- Elderly or disabled people.

What is the latest Traffic Law in Vietnam in 2025? (Image from the Internet)

What are the new traffic fines in Vietnam in 2025?

On December 26, 2024, the Government of Vietnam issued Decree 168/2024/ND-CP stipulating administrative penalties for violations in the field of road traffic, amending and replacing certain points, clauses, and articles of Decree 100/2019/ND-CP (amended and supplemented by Decree 123/2021/ND-CP).

Under the new regulations, many violations will have significantly higher administrative penalties compared to the present. For instance, the act of opening a car door or leaving it open unsafely causing a traffic accident will increase from 400,000-600,000 VND under Decree 100/2019/ND-CP to 20-22 million VND.

Moreover, actions such as disregarding traffic signal orders also see penalties increase significantly, from 4-6 million VND to 18-20 million VND for cars, and from 800,000 VND - 1 million VND to 4-6 million VND for motorcycles.

Specifically, there are 27 actions, groups of violations for cars, motorcycles which will see an increase in administrative violation fines as follows:

(1) Fines for cars:

(2) Fines for motorcycles

What is the registration fee for cars in Vietnam?

Based on Clause 5, Article 8 of Decree 10/2022/ND-CP, the registration fee rate for automobiles, trailers or semi-trailers towed by automobiles, and vehicles similar to automobiles is 2%, except for the following cases:

(1) Cars with up to 9 seats (including pickup cars): a first-time registration fee rate of 10%.

In cases where a higher rate needs to be applied to suit the practical conditions of each locality, the People’s Council of provinces and centrally run cities shall decide to adjust the increase, but not exceeding 50% of the general rate stipulated at this point.

(2) Pickup trucks with a permissible gross vehicle weight under 950 kg and fewer than 5 seats, VAN trucks with a permissible gross vehicle weight under 950 kg, pay a first-time registration fee rate equal to 60% of the first-time registration fee rate for cars with up to 9 seats.

(3) Battery-powered electric cars:

+ Within 3 years from the effective date of Decree 10/2022/ND-CP: a first-time registration fee rate of 0%.

+ In the next 2 years: a first-time registration fee rate of 50% compared to petrol, diesel vehicles of the same seating capacity.

Note: The types of automobiles stipulated in (1), (2), and (3): pay a second-time registration fee rate of 2% applied uniformly nationwide.

Based on the type of vehicle as stated in the Certificate of quality, safety, and environmental protection issued by the Vietnam Register, the tax authority determines the registration fee rate for automobiles, trailers or semi-trailers towed by automobiles, and vehicle types similar to automobiles as per the above regulations.