From January 1, 2025, are driver's licenses issued before 2025 allowed to continue to be used in Vietnam? Is it necessary to retake the exam for the license?
From January 1, 2025, are driver's licenses issued before 2025 allowed to continue to be used in Vietnam? Is it necessary to retake the exam for the license?
From January 1, 2025, are driver's licenses issued before 2025 allowed to continue to be used in Vietnam? (Internet image)
On June 27, 2024, the National Assembly of Vietnam passed the Road Traffic Safety and Order Law 2024.
According to the Road Traffic Safety and Order Law 2024, there are many changes in the categories of driver's licenses from January 1, 2025. Therefore, can a driver's license issued before 2025 continue to be used from January 1, 2025?
Based on the provisions of Article 89 of the Road Traffic Safety and Order Law 2024, a driver's license issued before 2025 can continue to be used according to the expiration date stated on the license.
Driver's licenses issued before 2025 can still be used according to the expiration date stated on the license without retaking the test. When the license expires, the driver must take an examination to be reissued a driver's license.
Driver's licenses issued before January 1, 2025, if not yet renewed or reissued according to new regulations, can be used as follows:
(1) Category A1 driver's licenses can continue to operate motorbikes with an engine capacity from 50 cm3 to below 175 cm3 or electric motor power from 04 kW to below 14 kW;
(2) Category A2 driver's licenses can continue to operate motorbikes with an engine capacity of 175 cm3 or more or electric motor power of 14 kW or more and vehicles stated for Category A1 licenses in section (1);
(3) Category A3 driver's licenses can continue to operate three-wheeled motorbikes, vehicles stated for Category A1 licenses in section (1), and similar vehicles;
(4) Category A4 driver's licenses can continue to operate tractors with a load capacity up to 1,000 kg;
(5) Category B1 automatic-only driver's licenses for non-professional drivers can continue to operate automatic transmission cars carrying up to 08 passengers (excluding the driver's seat); automatic transmission trucks, including special-purpose automatic transmission trucks, with a load capacity under 3,500 kg;
(6) Category B1 driver's licenses for non-professional drivers can continue to operate cars carrying up to 08 passengers (excluding the driver's seat); trucks, tractors with a load capacity under 3,500 kg;
(7) Category B2 driver's licenses for professional drivers can continue to operate cars carrying up to 08 passengers (excluding the driver's seat); trucks, tractors with a load capacity under 3,500 kg;
(8) Category C driver's licenses can continue to operate trucks, tractors with a load capacity of 3,500 kg or more and vehicles stated for Category B1, B2 licenses in sections (5), (6), (7);
(9) Category D driver's licenses can continue to operate cars carrying from 09 passengers (excluding the driver's seat) to 29 passengers (excluding the driver's seat) and vehicles stated for Category B1, B2, C licenses in sections (5), (6), (7), (8);
(10) Category E driver's licenses can continue to operate cars carrying over 29 passengers (excluding the driver's seat) and vehicles stated for Category B1, B2, C, D licenses in sections (5), (6), (7), (8), (9).
(11) Category FB2, FD driver's licenses can continue to operate vehicles stated for Category B2, D licenses in sections 8), (9) when pulling a trailer; Category FC driver's licenses can continue to operate vehicles stated for Category C licenses in section (8) when pulling a trailer, tractors pulling semi-trailers; Category FE driver's licenses can continue to operate vehicles stated for Category E licenses in section (10) when pulling a trailer or passenger cars with a connected carriage.
| Current Status, Driver's licenses are currently regulated in Article 16 of Circular 12/2017/TT-BGTVT and include: A1, A2, A3, A4, B1 automatic-only, B1, B2, C, D, E, FB2, FC, FD, FE. |
Driver's License Categories in Vietnam from January 1, 2025
Based on Article 57 of the Road Traffic Safety and Order Law 2024, the categories of driver's licenses from January 1, 2025 are as follows:
| Category | Eligible Recipients |
| Category A1 | Issued to drivers of motorbikes with an engine capacity up to 125 cm3 or electric motor power up to 11 kW Issued to disabled persons operating three-wheeled motorbikes for the disabled |
| Category A | Issued to drivers of motorbikes with an engine capacity over 125 cm3 or electric motor power over 11 kW and vehicles stated for Category A1 licenses; |
| Category B1 | Issued to drivers of three-wheeled motorbikes and vehicles stated for Category A1 licenses; |
| Category B | Issued to drivers of cars carrying up to 08 passengers (excluding the driver's seat); trucks and specialized cars with a designed total mass up to 3,500 kg; vehicles stated for Category B licenses pulling a trailer with a designed total mass up to 750 kg |
| Category C1 | Issued to drivers of trucks and specialized cars with a designed total mass over 3,500 kg up to 7,500 kg; vehicles stated for Category C1 licenses pulling a trailer with a designed total mass up to 750 kg; vehicles stated for Category B licenses; |
| Category C | Issued to drivers of trucks and specialized cars with a designed total mass over 7,500 kg; vehicles stated for Category C licenses pulling a trailer with a designed total mass up to 750 kg; vehicles stated for Category B and C1 licenses |
| Category D1 | Issued to drivers of cars carrying over 08 passengers (excluding the driver's seat) up to 16 passengers (excluding the driver's seat); vehicles stated for Category D1 licenses pulling a trailer with a designed total mass up to 750 kg; vehicles stated for Category B, C1, C licenses |
| Category D2 | Issued to drivers of cars (including buses) carrying over 16 passengers (excluding the driver's seat) up to 29 passengers (excluding the driver's seat); vehicles stated for Category D2 licenses pulling a trailer with a designed total mass up to 750 kg; vehicles stated for Category B, C1, C, D1 licenses |
| Category D | Issued to drivers of cars (including buses) carrying over 29 passengers (excluding the driver's seat); sleeper buses; vehicles stated for Category D licenses pulling a trailer with a designed total mass up to 750 kg; vehicles stated for Category B, C1, C, D1, D2 licenses; |
| Category BE | Issued to drivers of vehicles stated for Category B licenses pulling a trailer with a designed total mass over 750 kg |
| Category C1E | Issued to drivers of vehicles stated for Category C1 licenses pulling a trailer with a designed total mass over 750 kg |
| Category CE | Issued to drivers of vehicles stated for Category C licenses pulling a trailer with a designed total mass over 750 kg; tractor-trailers |
| Category D1E | Issued to drivers of vehicles stated for Category D1 licenses pulling a trailer with a designed total mass over 750 kg |
| Category D2E | Issued to drivers of vehicles stated for Category D2 licenses pulling a trailer with a designed total mass over 750 kg |
| Category DE | Issued to drivers of vehicles stated for Category D licenses pulling a trailer with a designed total mass over 750 kg; passenger cars with a connected carriage. |
Validity of Driver’s Licenses in Vietnam from January 1, 2025
According to Clause 5, Article 57 of the Road Traffic Safety and Order Law 2024, the validity of driver's licenses in Vietnam from January 1, 2025, is as follows:
- Category A1, A, B1 licenses: no expiry date;
- Category B and C1 licenses: valid for 10 years from the date of issuance;
- Category C, D1, D2, D, BE, C1E, CE, D1E, D2E, and DE licenses: valid for 5 years from the date of issuance.
The Road Traffic Safety and Order Law 2024 will be effective in Vietnam from January 01, 2025, except for Clause 3 of Article 10, which will be effective from January 01, 2026.
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