Latest requirements for driving learners in Vietnam

Latest requirements for driving learners in Vietnam (Internet image)

Regarding this issue, LawNet would like to answer as follows:

1. Requirements for driving learners in Vietnam

Requirements for driving learners according to Article 7 of Circular 12/2017/TT-BGTVT (amended in Circular 38/2019/TT-BGTVT) are as follows:

- Vietnamese citizens, foreigners who are eligible for residing, working or studying in Vietnam.

- Minimum ages (to the time of attending the test), health and educational level as prescribed; those who apply for license upgrade may learn in advance but must be old enough to attend the test as prescribed.

- Learners that apply for a license upgrade must obtain time and number of kilometers of safe driving as follows:

+ B1 class with automatic transmissions to B1: at least 01 year of driving and 12,000 km of safe driving;

+ B1 class to B2: at least 01 year of driving and 12,000 km of safe driving;

+ B2 class to C, C class to D, D class to E; B2, C, D, E classes to F; D, E classes to FC: at least 03 years of practicing as a driver and 50,000 km of safe driving;

+ B2 class to Article, C class to E: at least 05 year of practicing as a driver and 100,000 km of safe driving.

+ If a learner who applies for a license upgrade commits administrative violation against regulations on road traffic and has his/her driving license suspended, the safe driving period shall begin from the date on which he/she finishes abiding by the decision on penalty for administrative violation.

- Learners that apply for upgrade their license to D, E classes must obtain lower secondary education degree or above.

2. Forms of training in Vietnam

 Forms of training according to Article 8 of Circular 12/2017/TT-BGTVT is as follows:

- Applicants for class A1, A2, A3, A4 and B1 licenses might learn the theories themselves but must apply for the test at institution licensed for training; applicants for class A4 and B1 licenses must be tested and issued with certificates of course completion of the training course.

- Applicants for class B2, C, D, E and F licenses must be trained at institutions licensed for training, tested, and issued with certificates of basic training or certificates of course completion.

Within more than 01 years from the day on which the training institution finishes the examination and consideration of graduation certificates, if the applicant is not granted basic-level training certificates or training certificates, he/she must apply for a new course again.

3. Regulations on Driver licenses

Regulations on Driver licenses according to Article 59 of the Law on Road Traffic 2008 are as follows:

- Depending on types, engine capacity, mass and utilities of motor vehicles, driver licenses are classified into driver licenses with unlimited validity and driver licenses with limited validity.

- Driver licenses with unlimited validity are of the following categories:

+ Category A1, granted to drivers of motorcycles with a cylinder capacity of between 50 cm3 and under 175 cm3;

+ Category A2, granted to drivers of motorcycles with a cylinder capacity of 175 cm3 or higher and those prescribed for category-A1 driver licenses;

+ Category A3, granted to drivers of three-wheeled motor vehicles and those prescribed for category-A1 driver licenses and similar vehicles.

- Disabled people operating three-wheeled motor vehicles designed for them shall be granted category-A1 driver licenses.

- Driver licenses with limited validity are of the following categories:

+ Category A4, granted to drivers of tractors of a mass of up to 1,000 kg;

+ Category B1, granted to non-professional drivers of passenger cars of up to 9 seats, trucks and tractors of a mass of under 3,500 kg;

+ Category B2, granted to professional drivers of passenger cars of up to 9 seats, trucks and tractors of a mass of under 3,500 kg;

+ Category C, granted to drivers of trucks and tractors of a mass of 3,500 kg or higher and vehicle types prescribed for category-B1 and -B2 driver licenses;

+ Category D, granted to drivers of passenger cars of between 10 and 30 seats and vehicle types prescribed for category-B1, -B2 and -C driver licenses;

+ Category E, granted to drivers of passenger cars of over 30 seats and vehicle types prescribed for category-B1, -B2, -C and -D driver licenses;

+ Driver licenses of categories FB2, FD and FE, granted to drivers who already possess driver licenses of category B2, D or E to drive vehicles prescribed for these categories of driver licenses when pulling trailers or articulated passenger cars;

Driver licenses of category FC granted to drivers who already possess driver licenses of category C to drive vehicles prescribed for this category of driver license when pulling trailers or tractors pulling semi-trailers.

- Driver licenses are valid nationwide and in the territories of countries or territories with which Vietnam has signed mutual driver license recognition commitments.

>> CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ARTICLE IN VIETNAMESE