VietNamNet newspaper has received many inquiries from readers wondering if they can get a replacement driver's license if they lose it.

In response to this, lawyer To Bao Long of Hiep Thanh Law Firm, Hanoi Bar Association, stated that, according to the law, re-issuance will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

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Illustrative image. Photo: Nam Khánh

Specifically, Clauses 2 and 3 of Article 36 of Circular No. 12 of the Ministry of Transport, which regulates the training, examination, and issuance of driver's licenses for road motor vehicles, stipulate:

Individuals whose driver's licenses are lost, if they are still valid or have expired for less than 3 months, may be considered for a replacement license.

The file includes:

The application for exchanging (reissuing) a driver's license must follow the form prescribed in Appendix 19 issued with Circular 12;

Original documents matching the driver's license (if applicable);

The driver's health certificate must be issued by an authorized medical facility in accordance with regulations, except in the case of renewing an unlimited driver's license for categories A1, A2, and A3;

Regarding the procedure for renewing a driver's license, it can be done online through the National Public Service Portal or in person at the driver's license renewal points of the Departments of Transport.

After two months from the date of submitting all required documents and paying the prescribed fees, if the driver's license is not found to be confiscated or processed by competent authorities, and the applicant's name is listed in the records of the driving test management agency, then the driver's license will be reissued.

"Within 5 working days from the date of application for re-issuance of the driver's license, the Department of Transport shall reissue the driver's license and return it once the driver has fulfilled the obligation to pay the fee; in case the driver's license is not reissued, a response must be provided stating the reason," lawyer Bao Long said.

Furthermore, Clause 3, Article 36 of the Circular also stipulates: Individuals whose driver's licenses are lost or have expired for 3 months or more, whose names are on the records of the examination management agency, and who are not currently subject to seizure or processing by competent authorities, must retake the examination on the following subjects within 2 months from the date of submitting all valid documents as prescribed:

If the license has expired for 3 months to less than 1 year, the theoretical examination must be retaken as stipulated in point a, clause 4, Article 21 of Circular 12;

If the license has expired for one year or more, a re-examination is required in the theoretical part as stipulated in point a, clause 4, Article 21 of Circular 12, as well as a practical driving test on the driving course and on the road.

"Therefore, based on the above regulations, in cases where a person requests a renewal of their driver's license that is still valid or has expired for less than 3 months, they need to prepare the following documents: an application for driver's license renewal (according to the mẫu form); original documents corresponding to the driver's license (if any); and a driver's health certificate issued by an authorized medical facility as prescribed."

After completing the necessary documents, applicants for a driver's license renewal can submit their application to the Department of Transportation or apply online. Drivers will have to pay a renewal fee of 135,000 VND per application. In cases requiring a re-examination of the theory test for car categories B1, B2, C, D, E, and F, the examination fee is 100,000 VND per application; for those requiring a re-examination of the practical test, the fee for the driving test on the course is 350,000 VND per application, and 80,000 VND per application for the practical test on the road,” said lawyer To Bao Long.