In 2025, how long does it take for a driver's license to expire before having to retake the test?

Lawyer Nguyen Thu Thuy, YouMe Law Firm LLC replied:

Point a, Clause 2, Article 34 of Circular No. 35/2024/TT-BGTVT regulating training, testing, granting driving licenses, granting and using international driving licenses, training, testing, and granting certificates of training in road traffic law knowledge, effective from January 1, 2025, stipulates the granting of driving licenses to people whose driving licenses have expired as follows:

a) People with driving licenses of classes B, C1, C, D1, D2, D, BE, C1E, CE, D1E, D2E, DE that have expired.

Overdue less than 1 year from the expiration date must take a theoretical test according to the provisions of Point a, Clause 1, Article 17 of this Circular to issue a driving license.

Overdue for 1 year or more from the expiration date, the driver must take a theoretical and practical driving test in the form and on the road to issue a driving license according to the provisions in Clause 1, Clause 2 and Clause 3, Article 17 of this Circular. The application for the test is made according to the provisions in Clause 3, Article 29 of this Circular.

Clause 3, Article 29 and Point b, Clause 1, Article 15 of Circular No. 35/2024/TT-BGTVT stipulate the records for test takers whose driving licenses have expired as follows:

The driver prepares 01 set of documents and submits them directly to the Department of Transport. The documents include: a) A copy or an electronic copy certified from the original or an electronic copy issued from the original book of one of the following documents: temporary residence card, permanent residence card, diplomatic identity card, official identity card (for foreigners);

b) Application form according to the form specified in Appendix XXVI issued with the Circular;

c) The driver's health certificate issued by a qualified medical examination and treatment facility according to the provisions of law on medical examination and treatment is still valid.

Thus, the issuance of driving licenses of classes B, C1, C, D1, D2, D, BE, C1E, CE, D1E, D2E, DE that have expired and the records for test takers whose driving licenses have expired are carried out according to the regulations cited above.