What is the validity period of driving licenses in Vietnam?

What is the validity period of driving licenses in Vietnam? (Internet image)

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

1. Classification of driving  licenses in Vietnam

According to Article 16 of Circular 12/2017/TT-BGTVT, regulations on Classification of driving  licenses are as follows:

- A1 class licenses issued to:

+ Persons controlling two-wheeled motorbikes with cylinder volume from 50 cm3 to less than 175 cm3;

+ Disabled controlling motor tricycles intended for the disabled.

- A2 class licenses issued to persons controlling two-wheeled motorbikes with cylinder volume from 175 to cm3 and over and other types of vehicles intended for A1 class.

- A3 class licenses issued to persons controlling motor tricycles, vehicles intended for A1 class and similar vehicles.

- A4 class licenses issued to persons controlling small tractors with loading capacity up to 1,000 kg.

- B1 class (automatic transmission) issued to persons who do not practice as a driver for controlling following types of cars:

+ Automatic transmission 9-seat cars including driver seat;

+ Trucks, including special trucks (automatic transmission) with design loading capacity less than 3.500 kg;

+ Cars intended for the disabled.

- B1 class licenses issued to persons who do not practice as a driver for controlling following types of cars:

+ 9-seat cars including driver seat;

+ Trucks, including special trucks with design loading capacity less than 3.500 kg;

+ Tractors hauling a trailer with design loading capacity less than 3,500 kg.

- B2 class licenses issued to persons who practice as a driver for controlling following types of cars:

+ Special cars with design loading capacity less than 3.500 kg;

+ Cars intended for B1 class.

- C class licenses issued to drivers controlling following types of cars:

+ Trucks, including special trucks with design loading capacity from 3.500 kg and over;

+ Tractors hauling a trailer with design loading capacity from 3,500 kg and over;

+ Cars intended for B1 and B2 classes.

- D class licenses issued to drivers controlling following types of cars:

+ 10 to 30-seat cars including driver seat;

+ Cars intended for B1, B2 and C classes.

- E class licenses issued to drivers controlling following types of cars:

+ Cars from 30 seats and over;

+ Cars intended for B1, B2, C and D classes.

- Persons who have obtained B1, B2, C, D and E class licenses may haul another trailer with design loading capacity no more than 750 kg when controlling respective types of cars.

- Issuance of F class licenses to persons who have obtained B2, C, D and E class licenses for controlling respective types of cars hauling another trailer with design loading capacity more than 750 kg, semi-trailer, articulated buses is prescribed as follows:

+ FB2 class issued to drivers for controlling B2 class cars hauling another trailer and may control types of cars intended for B1 and B2 classes;

+ FC class issued to drivers for controlling C class cars hauling another trailer, semi-trailer trucks and may control types of cars intended for B1, B2, C and FB2 classes;

+ FD class issued to drivers for controlling D class cars hauling another trailer and may control types of cars intended for B1, B2, C, D and FB2 classes;

+ FE class licenses issued to drivers for controlling E class cars hauling another trailer and may control articulated buses and types of cars intended for B1, B2, C, D, E, FB2 and FD classes.

- License classes for drivers controlling sleeper buses, city passenger buses (used for transport business) are prescribed in Clause 9 and 10 of Circular 12/2017/TT-BGTVT. The number of seats in a car is determined according to the number of seats in the same type of bus or passenger cars with the same size limit.

2. What is the validity period of driving licenses in Vietnam? 

Specifically, Article 17 of Circular 12/2017/TT-BGTVT (amended in Circular 01/2021/TT-BGTVT) stipulates the validity of driving licenses as follows:

- The validity period of A1, A2, A3 class licenses is permanent.

- The validity period of B1 class licenses shall expire when drivers reach the age of 55 for female and 60 for male; if drivers are over 45 (female) and over 50 (male), validity period is 10 years since the date of issuance.

- The validity period of A4, B2 class licenses are 10 years since the date of issuance.

- The validity period of C, D, E, FB2, FC, FD, FE class licenses is 05 years since the date of issuance.

Ho Quoc Tuan

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