Drivers in Ukraine will face significant changes in the rules for using driver's licenses after the country joins the European Union. According to information received from Taras Melnychuk, a representative of the Cabinet of Ministers in the Verkhovna Rada, currently valid licenses will retain their legal force exclusively within the territory of Ukraine.
Where old licenses will be valid
The government has approved new norms for issuing driver's documents. According to them, all licenses issued to citizens before the official accession to the EU will remain valid until their expiration date. However, the geography of their use will be narrowed: familiar Ukrainian licenses will become legal only within the country.
For those planning to travel abroad, the mandatory exchange of old documents for licenses of the unified European format is provided. Without this procedure, driving a car in partner countries will become impossible.
New rules for issuance and exchange
The Ministry of Internal Affairs has already explained the details of the new procedures for drivers. In particular, first-time licenses will be issued for a term of only two years. This is a temporary period, after which the document can be replaced without retaking exams, provided that the driver has no more than two fines for traffic violations.
Exchange of the license becomes mandatory in case of opening a new license category. There are also nuances for owners of professional categories (for example, category C for driving trucks). If a vehicle of the corresponding category is not used, the scheduled exchange of the license every 5 years is not required.
It is important to note that the scheduled replacement of documents will not require retaking exams. The only mandatory condition for obtaining a new license will be the presence of a valid medical certificate.
