Ukrainian drivers are facing significant changes in the rules for issuing and the validity of driver's licenses. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine (MIA) has introduced new terms that harmonize national legislation with European standards. Now, after the first exchange, the document will be valid for 15 years for most drivers, and for 5 years for professional drivers of cargo and passenger transport.
How the validity period of licenses is now determined
The Main Service Center of the MIA explained that the changes are aimed at implementing modern approaches to granting drivers access to operate vehicles. At the same time, the basic principle for beginners remains the same: the first driver's license is issued for a period of two years.
The department emphasized that the two-year period for a novice driver is arranged only once in a lifetime. This rule applies regardless of which category the driver opens first. For example, if a person first obtained category A, and after six months opened category B, the new two-year period does not start over. The count begins from the date of issuance of the first license.
A similar situation applies to experienced drivers. If a person has had category B for many years and opens category C or D, they do not acquire the status of a novice driver again.
Conditions for extension without exams
After the two-year period expires, the license issued for the first time can be exchanged without retaking the theoretical and practical exams. The main condition is that during these two years, the driver must not have committed more than two administrative offenses in the field of road safety.
After such an exchange, the license will be issued for 15 or 5 years, depending on the category of the vehicle. This applies to passenger cars, motorcycles, as well as cargo and passenger transport.
Document exchange in the future
The Main Service Center of the MIA also emphasized that the new validity periods will apply not only after the first two-year license, but also during subsequent document exchanges. This refers to cases where the license is changed due to opening a new category, loss or theft of the document, its damage, or a change in personal data.
In this case, the new license will be issued with a validity period established for the corresponding category of vehicles, and the count of this period starts anew. For example, if a driver has a category B license issued for 15 years and applies for an exchange after changing their surname, they will receive a new document that will again be valid for 15 years.
What has remained unchanged
The MIA assured that the procedure for obtaining and exchanging a driver's license has not changed. Drivers can still apply to MIA service centers for document processing. Previously, RBC-Ukraine reported on how to exchange licenses after expiration, what has changed for novice drivers, and where a new license can be obtained.
We also wrote about whether drivers in Ukraine would have to change valid documents. Now, thanks to the new rules, Ukrainian drivers will be able to use their licenses for longer without the need for frequent replacement.
