How long before you can change your driver's license?

Deadlines for replacing a driver's license

When a driver needs to change his license, it is extremely useful to have information that regulates the timing of replacing a driver’s license. All road users should know that there is no universal answer to how long it takes to change a driver's license and how long it will take to replace them. It all depends on the circumstances defining a particular situation. In this article we will analyze all aspects related to time costs, based on the current legislation of the Russian Federation.

How long does it take to replace a license?

According to the rules for issuance and replacement, the owner of a driver’s license can replace it at any convenient time. The main thing is that after the loss of the legal validity of the driver’s license, the citizen does not get behind the wheel of a vehicle, because he can earn a fine for driving without the appropriate documents (5-15 thousand rubles).

If, for example, today you changed your last name, lost your driving license, or their license expired, driving a car is strictly prohibited, but no one obliges you to change them on the same day.

Thus, if the driver has to change his license, then he can change them without being guided by any deadlines. This applies to the following cases:

If the replacement period has long expired and a lot of time has passed, the car owner will be able to exchange his driver’s license in at least a month, at least in 10 years. You will not have to take exams for the right to drive a vehicle due to the statute of limitations. You will be easily issued a driving license if you provide a standard package of documents to the traffic police.

How long does it take to change your driver's license?

Rights that are yet to be replaced can be changed ahead of schedule, at any time; there is no specific time frame. The term of the temporary residence permit is usually 10 years from the date of receipt. After this period it is canceled and becomes invalid. It is quite logical that going out on the road with such a document is quite risky, since the offender will face a hefty fine and the car will be sent to the impound lot. Therefore, it is better to monitor the deadline and change your rights in advance.

Russian Government Decree No. 326, dated March 23, 2017, allows you to make a replacement in advance, at any time, regardless of the expiration date of your driver’s license. They can be exchanged for new ones even on the day of receipt, without explanation.

How long does it take to exchange a driving license at the traffic police?

The timing of replacement of rights depends on the efficiency of their owner. At the traffic police, this procedure should not take more than 1 day if the motorist has prepared the necessary list of documents. You will spend most of your time standing in line. The identity exchange process is as follows:

Submission of documents and their verification by an employee of the State Traffic Inspectorate;
Photographing and production of a driver's license;
Signing and obtaining new licenses

These actions take no more than 1 hour. Contacting the traffic police through the State Services website will help you save your time significantly. In this case, you won't have to stand in line.

If you change through the MFC, this process may take up to 5 days, but the undeniable advantage is that you do not need to visit the State Traffic Inspectorate. The replacement operation is divided into 2 steps:

Initial visit and application
Within 5 days, a new driver’s license is produced and issued upon a second visit.

This is all nonsense, the main time sink during which to change your license is preparing a medical certificate and going through the necessary doctors. These manipulations can take from 1 day to a week. Therefore, it is better to plan the replacement of the power supply in advance.

How many days before the expiration date can you change your driver's license?

Driving a vehicle without documents, as well as with an expired license, is an offense that entails penalties. To avoid problems, you need to reissue your certificate on time.

What the law says

Modern driver's licenses that citizens of the Russian Federation receive have a limited expiration date.

Thus, domestic rights, according to Federal Law No. 196, are valid for 10 years, and international documents are valid for only 3 years.

If the certificate is replaced early, in accordance with Clause 32 of Government Decree No. 1097, the period of validity of the rights issued before the expiration of the old ones will be equal to:

10 years from the date of issue, subject to the provision of a valid medical certificate;
the remaining validity of the old form in the absence of a certificate of passing a commission for the right to drive a vehicle of the specified category.

It is the medical certificate of form 003-B/u that will be the decisive factor in issuing new licenses.

How many days before the deadline to start registration and where is the best place to apply?

According to the legislation of the Russian Federation regarding the time and rules for replacing a driver’s license, today you can exchange a document at any convenient time, both before the end of the period and in the first days after, and without re-examining for knowledge of traffic rules.

A new form can be obtained within 7-10 days, but only with a medical certificate. You can apply to replace your old form:

in the MFC;
at the local traffic police department;
on the Gosuslugi portal.

In the first and second cases, the citizen submits documents in person on the agreed days and in order of priority.

You need to make an appointment with specialists in advance. To do this, you will have to visit the government office in advance and take a ticket indicating the date and time of the visit.

The entire procedure at the MFC or traffic police department takes about 1 hour and costs 2,000 rubles. If everything is in order, you can receive a new certificate on the day of application.

The simplest of all methods is to submit an application through State Services.

Any citizen of the Russian Federation who is officially registered in the system and has an active non-qualified access key to the advanced capabilities of the portal can leave a request. When filling out an electronic application, you can also receive a 30% discount on payment for services.

Is it possible to replace a driver's license before it expires? How much?

The validity of a driver's license in 2019 is 10 years from the date of issue or last replacement. In order not to run into a five-digit fine, you need to exchange them on time. Therefore, it is advisable to do this before their expiration time. Is it possible to change your rights before their expiration date, by how much, how to do this and what documents, including a certificate, are needed for this, let’s find out!

Replacement of rights no earlier than six months before expiration - is this true?

No. The most widespread information on the Internet is replete with this particular period - supposedly, a license can be exchanged only six months before the expiration of the 10-year validity period. And that's not true. But where did this myth come from?! Let's explain!

Several years ago, the question of how sooner you can change your driver’s license was not regulated by any legal act. But everything changed on March 23, 2017, when this rule was regulated by amendments to PPRF No. 1097 “On admission to driving a vehicle.” And since before this the period for replacing licenses in advance before their expiration was not regulated, the traffic police established their own rules, and most often it was about the fact that you can exchange a driver’s license only six months before the end of their validity.

How long before the end can I change my license in 2019?

Today, motorists have the right to replace their driver’s license for any period before the end of their validity, at least six months, at least a year, at least 5 years, but there are 2 subtleties.

As we noted above, changes have been made to Government Decree No. 1097. They are established by another PPRF - number 326, and it is in it that paragraph 32 of the first document is replaced, in which it became regulated that drivers can change their license plate at any time, but with a big nuance - more precisely, two:

if you simply contact the MREO of the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate or the MFC to exchange your licenses before their expiration date without any documents (except for a passport and old licenses), then you will be given new ones for exactly the same period as the old ones were valid - that is, it will just be an update plastic driver's document,
If, when replacing your license, you present a valid (not expired) medical certificate, then you will be issued a new license for a new period of 10 years.

The above is regulated by the same paragraph 32 of the regulations:

If the applicant submits a medical report, a Russian national driver's license to replace a previously issued Russian national driver's license on the grounds established by subparagraphs "b" - "d" and "e" of paragraph 29 of these Rules is issued for 10 years , unless otherwise provided by federal laws.

And these 2 conditions, in the presence or absence of a medical certificate, are relevant for replacing a driver’s license on the following grounds:

if your full name or other data specified in your license has changed,
if you have lost your old driver's license,
if the device has deteriorated (got wet, rubbed, torn, etc.),
if you contacted government agencies simply to replace this document without any reason.

Thus, you can change your license ahead of schedule at any time, but in order for a new driver’s license to be issued to you for a new 10 years, you must provide a medical certificate.

About the medical certificate

This is the most labor-intensive and time-consuming thing you will need to do when replacing your driver's license. It is advisable to allocate at least half of your working day for this.

A medical certificate can be obtained anywhere, not necessarily at the registration address, but the medical institution must be licensed for this. But there is also a possible problem in this matter - the traffic police may not accept a certificate if the drug addiction specialist and psychiatrist-narcologist were not examined at the registration address or in a commercial institution.

How to replace?

The instructions for replacing rights before the expiration date are no different from the standard ones - if the license period had already expired.

You can sign up for the exchange of a driver's document through State Services. To do this, go to the appropriate service, click the “Get service” button (you must be logged in to your account) and fill out all fields of the form.

Next, you can pay the state fee for replacing your license directly through the portal. In this case, a discount will be provided. Thus, it will cost you to exchange your rights:

2000 rubles when paying by any method, except for State Services,
1400 rubles when paying through GU online.

About categories of rights

Of course, in the new license that you decided to replace before the expiration date, you will have the same categories to which you are admitted by the right to drive, which were in the old license, but only on the condition that during the medical examination and receipt certificates did not reveal contraindications to the management of certain (or all categories).

If you have studied for a new category

In this case, when undergoing a medical examination, it is imperative to ask to check these new categories and undergo appropriate additional examinations, if necessary, on the direction of a doctor.

And when you contact the traffic police to change your driver’s license before the expiration date, take with you, among other documents, a certificate of completion of courses for new categories.

Do I need to retake the exam?

No. Despite attempts by legislators to introduce mandatory re-examination when replacing licenses due to the expiration of a 10-year period, as of November 30, 2019, this rule has not yet been introduced, and drivers have the right to obtain a new license ahead of time or after its expiration without passing the exam.

However, there is common sense in replacing licenses right now, even if they have not expired, since the draft law on the traffic rules exam is under consideration.

There are no other reasons for exchanging your driver's license earlier than the deadline.

Will they be forced to pay fines?

In practice they can. In theory, they have no right to do this. The 2019 legislation does not provide in any regulatory act for mandatory payment of all existing fines for traffic violations in order to replace rights.

If this is required of you by the traffic police MREO, then ask for a written refusal - inspectors are required to provide it when submitting a written (or electronic through State Services) application. Most often, this kind of illegal demands ends there.

Is it possible to change the rights to new ones before the expiration date and for how much?

Replacing rights earlier

A driver's license is issued for exactly 10 years, after which you are required to change it. But sometimes this has to be done sooner - in case of loss, destruction or theft of old rights. For how long in this case will new ones be issued in 2019? We will answer these questions in order in the article.

Is it possible to exchange rights for new ones before the expiration date?

Yes. And this does not require any justification. However, in practice, it is not uncommon for the traffic police MREO to refuse a replacement with the motivation “ your old ones have not expired and are normal .” This is illegal because, according to the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation (hereinafter referred to as “ RF PP ”) No. 1097:

29. The issuance of a Russian national driver's license to replace a previously issued Russian national driver's license is carried out in the following cases:
.
f) upon the will of the applicant before the expiration of the driver’s license .

Thus, you can change rights to new ones at any time:

when replacing rights ahead of schedule in case of loss,
in case of damage or loss,
in case of theft,
just if you want to change them.

The latter may also have its reasons for the car enthusiast. For example, it seemed to you that the traffic police officers put a mark on your license, or you simply don’t like the photo, you have changed a lot in appearance, and the traffic police officers who stop you on the road do not believe that it is you in the photo and your rights. And a large number of similar examples.

Duration of new rights

So, we found out that rights in 2019 can be exchanged for new ones at any time before expiration. But there is an important subtlety. Although you can change your driver's license ahead of time, the new license issued will be valid exactly until the date until which the old one was valid. And to avoid this misunderstanding, you will have to undergo a medical examination and obtain a medical certificate. This process is not easy, but as a result of successfully obtaining a medical certificate, you will be given a new license for a new 10 years. This is prescribed by paragraph 32 of the RF PP No. 1097:

32. In the case of issuing a Russian national driver's license to replace a previously issued Russian national driver's license on the grounds established by subparagraphs "b" - "d" and "f" of paragraph 29 of these Rules, the previously established validity period of the driver's license does not change.

If you present a certificate to the traffic police stating that there are no contraindications to driving a car, you can replace your license in the event of its loss, damage, theft, and so on. They cannot be extended for a new 10 years for only one reason: if there are contraindications to driving a car (subparagraph “e” not mentioned in the quote above).

Thus, if you replace your license before the expiration of its 10-year validity period, you will be given a new license for a new 10 years upon presentation of a medical certificate and with the same period as the old ones, if you do not provide such a certificate.

At the same time, if someone convinces you of different information, then the rules for replacing rights have changed quite recently - until March 23, 2017, the period for replacing rights was regulated for six months. And after the above, paragraph 32 of the RF PP No. 1097 was supplemented with the paragraph quoted above, which is valid for 2019.

About the medical certificate

If you already have it - you have done it before, then keep in mind that according to the new rules it is valid for 1 year from the date of issue. If the medical certificate is more than a year old, then you will be given a new license instead of the old one for the same period, and not for the current 10 years.

Will I need to take an exam?

No. Replacing a driver's license ahead of schedule does not oblige the driver to take a theoretical exam on knowledge of traffic rules. For 2019, this needs to be done only in 2 cases:

What is needed to replace rights before the expiration date?

To do this you will need a standard set of documents:

Your general passport,
old driver's license (if available),
an application to replace rights with new ones indicating the basis (expression of will is also a basis),
medical certificate, if you need to get a new license with a new period of 10 years,
receipt of payment of state duty - 2,000 rubles (if paid through State Services - 1,400 rubles) for new rights.

It is better to submit the application through the State Services in the appropriate replacement service. This way you can get a discount (when paying online through the website), as well as the ability to choose the time of visiting the MREO traffic police department without queuing.

Car owners also have the opportunity to replace their vehicle through multifunctional centers (MFC). But you will need to apply there in person.

Replacing a driver's license: when and why do you change your license?

It seems that the ten years for which a driver receives a license will last a long time. However, experience suggests that before you have time to look back, the validity period of the document has already expired. However, replacement of the device may be necessary even before the 10-year period. Under what circumstances it is necessary to replace, where to do it and in what order, we will talk in this article.

When is it necessary to replace a driver's license?

You need to contact the traffic police service if:

The license expires . It is necessary to take care of the replacement at least a month before the “overdue” date, otherwise, if stopped by road safety authorities, you will be fined for driving with an expired license.
Passport details have changed . Changing your first or last name is a reason to replace your ID. Girls who changed their data due to marriage can drive with their old license. They are considered valid provided that they are accompanied by a passport and marriage certificate. But according to current legislation, administrative or criminal liability is not provided for in this case. Difficulties with rights to a maiden name will arise if the vehicle needs to be sold or registered in your name.
The ID is lost or damaged . Mechanical damage due to which the inscriptions have become difficult to read (scratches, stains) invalidates the document.
Medical contraindications have arisen that prohibit driving a certain category of vehicle.

Important! A driver's license issued with errors in registration is also subject to replacement. For example, the full name is indicated incorrectly, the Latin transcription does not correspond to the canons, etc.

Fine for driving with an expired license

According to Article 12.7 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of Russia, driving with an expired license faces a fine of 5-15 thousand rubles. If driving is aggravated by alcohol or drug intoxication, the following may be added to the monetary compensation:

100-200 hours of community service;
imprisonment for a period of 2 months or more.

The car is then transported to the impound lot.

A car owner who has entrusted driving the car to a driver with an expired license will have to part with an amount of up to 30,000. Amendment: the owner has the right to prove that he did not know about the violation, in which case a fine will not be issued. But proving ignorance in practice to Russian traffic police officers is a difficult task. So before you let your friends drive, it’s better to check the validity period of their driving license.

Required documents to replace a driver's license

The procedure for obtaining new rights in the Russian Federation has been simplified as much as possible. There is no need to prepare a lot of certificates and permits. To apply for an extension or replacement of a temporary residence permit, a minimum list of documents is required:

passport;
old VU (in case it is lost);
medical certificate in form No. 003-В/у;
paid receipt for state duty.

How to change your driver's license

It is possible to replace national rights:

when contacting the traffic police;
in any of the MFC branches;
using the online form of the public services portal.

International laws are also changed in the above authorities and on the website. The only difference is the expiration date. IDPs are issued for three years, while a Russian water permit is valid for 10 years.

Nice information! Regardless of where the driver's license is renewed, you do not need to retake the driving test and license.

New driver's license

Procedure for replacing a driver's license

Each method of replacing a power supply has its own advantages and disadvantages.

How to replace a driver's license through the public services portal

A method that does not require communication with government officials. The replacement is carried out online on the official website of government services. If you are a confident Internet user, this option for registering a new license will not take much time.

Replacing rights is a simple procedure

The step-by-step replacement of rights through the public services portal is as follows:

Go to the official website of government services.
Register and create a personal account.
Use the “service search” search box or go to the “popular services” section by clicking on the corresponding button.
Select the “services for individuals” section, subsection “Ministry of Internal Affairs”.
In the menu that appears, select section No. 3, sub-item “replacement of driver’s license”.
Click the “get service” button.

Next, the site will “issue” electronic forms to fill out: city, region, district of registration, application for replacement of the driver’s license. All documents must be filled out carefully and without distorting the information, so as not to perform identical actions repeatedly.

To obtain rights, you will have to upload two photos. You can pay the state fee online by debiting money from your mobile phone account, bank card, or e-wallet. You can also print out a receipt and pay it at the bank.

Replacement of a driver's license at the traffic police

To change your license at the state inspection, you need to go to the nearest office with the traditional “Kit” - an identity document, an old driver’s license, a medical certificate in the prescribed form, a receipt with the state fee paid. The application will be issued on the spot. The website gibdd.ru will help you find the nearest branch. You can also check the work schedule there.

Replacing a computer through the MFC

The optimal solution for people who do not trust online registration, but value their time. To replace rights you need three simple steps:

Collect a package of documents (passport, medical certificate, old driver's license, receipt of state duty).
Contact the multifunctional center closest to your home or work.
Fill out an application for a replacement driver's license.

Application for new licenses

Registration of documents at the MFC is free. The center will also take an electronic photo free of charge if the driver does not have a “recent” photo with him. Communication with MFC employees takes 20-40 minutes. New licenses can be ready in an hour or within 5 working days. It all depends on the number of people who want to replace the device. For example, in Moscow the wait may take 9 calendar days.

Where and how to get a medical certificate

The certificate requires the conclusions of a therapist, ophthalmologist, narcologist and psychiatrist. It is allowed to undergo a medical examination in any medical institution that has permission to issue certificates in form No. 003-B/u

Although it is not prohibited by law to undergo examination in commercial clinics, experienced drivers recommend obtaining a medical certificate from public hospitals. “State employees” usually work closely with the traffic police, they are more trusted. In addition, it is cheaper to be examined in municipal institutions. The only downside is that you may lose time waiting in line.

Timeframe for obtaining a driver's license and cost of replacement

Public services, which include the work of the traffic police department of the MFC and the public services portal, are provided free of charge. However, this does not mean that replacing the VU will be free.

The amount of the state duty for the services of replacing a driver’s license: 2,000 rubles when issuing a license on a plastic basis and 3,000 rubles for replacing the driver’s license with a new one with a built-in “identifier”.

Until 2021, Russian drivers can replace their license with a discount of up to 30%. When paying through a bank, please note that there is a commission, usually not exceeding 10% of the total amount.

State duty amounts according to Article 333.33 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation

The following categories of citizens are exempt from paying the state fee

veterans and disabled people of the Great Patriotic War;
civil service employees (senior and mid-level officials).

Other drivers can replace their driver's license only after paying the state fee. The paperwork process will not begin until you present your paid receipt.

The time frame for obtaining a new driving license depends on the category of rights:

State duty is not the only expense item.

Certificate in form No. 003-В/у is also paid. A state hospital licensed by the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate will charge 1,500 rubles for issuing a medical certificate + about 3,000 rubles for an examination by a psychiatrist and narcologist. Tariffs for private owners vary, so it is impossible to calculate the exact amount. In Moscow and Kazan it differs significantly.

The 30 percent discount provided by the state for paying state fees is more relevant than ever in such a situation. Saving 600-900 rubles is not unnecessary, so if your license expires in the next year, use the services now. From January 2021, the discount will no longer apply.

Grounds for refusal to issue a driver's license

The issuance of a new driving license for the required category of vehicle may be refused. The grounds are regulated by Article 23.1 of the Federal Law “On Road Safety”.

According to the law, the driver will not receive a license in the following cases:

there are medical restrictions;
The personal file contains repeated recorded violations of traffic rules and a corresponding criminal record.

Medical contraindications to driving are diseases in which road safety is at risk. These may be low visual acuity, paralysis of the upper/lower limbs, diseases of the nervous system (in particular, the vestibular system, which causes sudden dizziness). A driver's license may be denied if the driver is hard of hearing and does not use a hearing aid.

Important! An absolute ban on replacing the ED applies to persons diagnosed with drug addiction, mental retardation or personality disorders. Such a driver is not responsible for his actions, therefore he cannot obtain a license until he is discharged from the dispensary with a statement permitting driving.

Most medical contraindications are solvable. Thus, vision can be corrected with the help of glasses and lenses, and joint diseases or missing fingers can be compensated by transferring to a vehicle with automated control.

As for convicted persons, Russian legislation does not provide grounds for refusal to issue/replace a driver’s license. Unless, of course, the person caused a car accident and is not deprived of his rights under the article. In this case, the driver's license can be restored only after the end of the period of criminal/administrative liability.