Mr. Do Hung in Bac Ninh asked: I have had a class A1 driver's license since 2015. Because my driver's license allows me to drive a motorbike up to 175cc, I am currently driving a 150cc Exciter motorbike. I know that in 2025, class A1 driver's license will only be issued to people driving 125cc motorbikes. So do I have to retake the driver's license test?
Responding to this issue, Lawyer Nguyen Thu Trang, Hanoi Bar Association, said that according to the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety, effective from January 1, 2025, there are 15 categories of driving licenses.
Accordingly, there are 2 classes for motorbikes as follows:
Class A1 is granted to drivers of two-wheeled motorbikes with a cylinder capacity of up to 125 cm3 or an electric motor capacity of up to 11 kW.
Class A is granted to drivers of two-wheeled motorbikes with a cylinder capacity of over 125 cm3 or an electric motor capacity of over 11 kW and the types of vehicles specified for class A1 driving license to drive motorbikes up to and including 175 cm3.
However, people should not worry. The Law on Road Traffic Safety and Order, which comes into effect from January 1, 2025, has transitional provisions.
Clause 1, Article 88 of the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety is as follows: Driving licenses issued before the effective date of this Law shall continue to be used according to the term stated on the driving license.
Clause 2, Article 88 also stipulates that driving licenses issued before the effective date of this Law, if not yet exchanged or reissued in accordance with the provisions of this Law, shall be valid as follows:
Class A1 driving license is allowed to continue driving two-wheeled motorbikes with cylinder capacity from 50 cm3 to under 175 cm3 or with electric motor capacity from 04 kW to under 14 kW.
Class A2 driving license allows to continue driving two-wheeled motorbikes with cylinder capacity of 175 cm3 or more or with electric motor capacity of 14 kW or more and types of vehicles specified for class A1 driving license as prescribed in Point a of this Clause.
In case a person whose driving license was issued before the effective date of the Law on Road Traffic Safety and Order needs to change or reissue the driving license, he/she shall do as follows:
A class A1 driving license can be changed or reissued to a class A driving license with the restriction that it can only be used to drive two-wheeled motorbikes with a cylinder capacity of less than 175 cm3 or with an electric motor capacity of less than 14 kW.
Class A2 driving license is changed and reissued to Class A driving license.
Thus, from January 1, 2025, when the Law on Road Traffic Safety comes into effect, those who have previously been granted a Class A1 driver's license do not need to change their license but can continue to use it with the same guaranteed rights as at present. If they need to change their driver's license, they will not lose their rights.
