If the operators of motorbikes lose their driver licenses, do they need to take the examination or apply for re-grant of driver licenses in Vietnam?

If the operators of motorbikes lose their driver licenses, do they need to take the examination or apply for re-grant of driver licenses in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Clause 2 Article 36 of the Circular 12/2017/TT-BGTVT stipulating re-issuance of driving license as follows:

2. Drivers whose driving licenses is lost, remaining unexpired or having expired for less than 03 months shall be considered for re-issuance of driving license.

The application includes:

a) Written request for renewal or re-issuance of driving license according to form prescribed in Appendix 19 enclosed herewith;

b) Original application in accordance with driving license (if any);

c) Health certificate issued by competent medical facilities as prescribed except for re-issuance of A1, A2, A3 class driving license with permanent validity;

d) The copy of people’s identity card, citizen’s identity card or unexpired passport for Vietnamese citizens or unexpired passport for foreigners and overseas Vietnamese.

The applicant shall be photographed when submitting the application at Directorate for Roads of Vietnam or Department of Transport, and must present the original copy of aforesaid documents (except for sent original documents) for comparison. The driving license shall be reissued after 02 months from the day on which the valid application is submitted, provided the license is not confiscated by a competent authority or the driver’s name is not on the list of the management authority.

As regulations above, when you lose your motorbike driver license, you will not need to take the test again. You will be able to be re-issued. You need to prepare 01 set of documents including the above-mentioned documents and bring it to the Directorate for Roads of Vietnam or the Department of Transport to carry out procedures for re-issuance of a motorbike driver license.

What are the fines imposed on operators for failure to have driver licenses when joining traffic in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Clause 5 Article 21 of the Decree 100/2019/NĐ-CP (amended by Clause 11 Article 2 of the Decree 123/2021/NĐ-CP) stipulating penalties for offences against regulations on qualification for operating motor vehicles as follows:

5. A fine ranging from VND 1,000,000 to VND 2,000,000 shall be imposed upon an operator of a two-wheeled motorcycle whose engine displacement is under 175 cm3 and motorcycle-like vehicles who commits any of the following offences:

a) Failure to have a driver license or using a driver’s license that is not issued by a competent authority or using a falsified driver’s license;

b) Possessing an international driver’s license issued by any of the Member States of the Convention of Road Traffic 1968 (except for international driver’s licenses issued by Vietnam’s authority);

c) Using an invalid driver’s license (driver’s license template number at the back does not match the latest issued template number in the driver’s license management system license).

A fine ranging from VND 1,000,000 to VND 2,000,000 shall be imposed upon an operator of motorbike for failure to have a driver license when joining traffic in Vietnam.

What is validity period of driver licenses in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 17 of the Circular 12/2017/TT-BGTVT (amended by Clause 3 Article 2 of the Circular 01/2021/TT-BGTVT) stipulating validity period of driving licenses in Vietnam as follows:

1. Class A1, A2, A3 driver's license with no term.

2. A class B1 driver license is valid until the driver is full 55 years old for women and full 60 years old for men; In case the driver is over 45 years old for women and over 50 years old for men, the granted driver license is valid for 10 years from the date of issue.

3. A class A4, B2 driver's license is valid for 10 years from the date of issue.

4. Class C, D, E, FB2, FC, FD, FE driver licenses are valid for 5 years from the date of issue.

5. The validity period is indicated on the driver license.

As regulations above, the validity period driver licenses for operating motorbikes in Vietnam is indefinite.

Best regards!