Effective 1/7, a new regulation from the Ministry of Public Security, Circular 108/2026, will permit individuals holding car driving licenses expired for less than 30 days to renew them without an examination. This circular supersedes Circular 12/2025, which previously outlined regulations for driving license examinations, issuance, and international driving license use.

The new regulation categorizes the renewal process for expired car driving licenses into three periods. For licenses expired for less than 30 days, calculated from the expiration date to the submission of a complete and valid application, individuals can renew without an examination. If a license has been expired for 30 days to under one year, the holder must retake the theory test. For licenses expired for one year or more, individuals are required to retake both the theory test and practical driving tests, covering both on-track and on-road components, before a new license can be issued.

This regulation also extends to cases where a driving license is lost but has already expired. Renewal is permitted provided the applicant's information is available in the driving license management system or through archived records as stipulated.

Candidates taking the driving theory test in Quang Tri, May 2025. Photo: Van An.

Circular 108/2026 represents a notable relaxation compared to Circular 12/2025, extending the grace period for expired licenses by one month. Previously, Circular 12/2025 mandated that any car driving license holder whose license had expired, even by a single day, had to retake the theory test. Exemptions from the examination were only granted in cases of illness, natural disaster, fire, or epidemic, and only with verifiable proof. Under the old rules, licenses expired for less than one year required a theory retest, while those expired for one year or more necessitated retaking both theory and practical driving tests, both on-track and on-road.

Many drivers had expressed difficulties with the previous regulation, stating that due to forgetfulness or work commitments, they often sought to renew their licenses several days after expiration, wishing for a grace period to complete the process.

With Circular 108/2026, this regulation has been revised. Now, only individuals whose driving licenses have been expired for 30 days to under one year are required to retake the theory test. Those with licenses expired for less than 30 days can renew without an examination, removing the previous dependence on force majeure conditions.

Pham Hai