Is it possible to replace a driver's license ahead of time?

In accordance with the law, a driver's license is issued for a period of 10 years. This is a standard period, but there are exceptions here too.

During this period of time, the owner may need to change rights before the specified period. If such a possibility exists, then how exactly to do this?

Not always before the expiration date, there is time to take the necessary actions to replace the document. Therefore, many drivers are interested in whether it is possible to change their license before its expiration date.

With the exception of some cases prescribed by law, early replacement of driving licenses in 2019 at the request of the driver is not regulated by any regulatory documents. Therefore, traffic police inspectors can provide this service at their own discretion.

The procedure for replacing a license is carried out by employees of the examination division of the State Traffic Inspectorate . This can be done at the motorist’s place of residence or at any traffic police department of your choice.

To replace rights, you must collect a certain package of documents . A valid medical certificate plays the main role. You also need to pay a government fee. In 2019, its size is 2000 rubles.

How to find out the expiration date

You can view the expiration date of the document on the front side of the plastic license.

Immediately below the driver’s date of birth, in a separate line, the first date of issue of the document is indicated . Next to her is the last day of action.

On the reverse side, next to each category of vehicle, the period during which the driver has the right to drive a specific type of transport is indicated.

One of the reasons why car owners are interested in whether it is possible to exchange a driver’s license ahead of schedule is a possible innovation. Since a new type of license with microchips is planned.

When the ID is changed ahead of schedule

The official website of the traffic police says that replacement is possible a maximum of six months before the moment when the rights lose their legal force. Therefore, you should study all the nuances in detail.

There have been some changes in 2017. A positive innovation for the driver is that failure to pay all fines does not provide grounds for refusal to obtain a new document for car owners.

But fine debts should not accumulate for a long time. Because very soon their amount will double.

According to the law, it is possible to replace rights before the expiration date if the following circumstances arise:

Changing the driver’s personal data, last name, place of registration.
Rights have been stolen or lost.
Damage to the document, wear, deformation, which makes it impossible to read the data.
Replacement required when adding a new category.
The appearance of health problems in the car owner, for example, the need for optical vision correction.
Identification of false information or fake certificates submitted by the driver to issue a license.

Most often, personal data changes for women upon marriage . Not everyone is in a hurry to change their driver's license.

Some people think that it is enough for the traffic police officer to present a marriage certificate or a copy of it certified by a notary. But since 2014, the rules have been slightly changed. In accordance with the innovation, any changes in the personal data of the car owner entail a replacement of rights.

At the same time, every driver should take into account that early replacement of a license due to expiration due to medical conditions or changes in personal data has one caveat. It lies in the fact that the period of validity of the updated document is limited to the date specified in the old rights.

In addition to the above circumstances, you have to change your driver’s license ahead of schedule if you change your citizenship . This reason has become a very pressing problem for the residents of Crimea.

Until recently, the exchange of Ukrainian rights for Russian ones was carried out at the request of the residents of the peninsula.

But since June 2017, transport companies and private carriers in Crimea are prohibited from hiring drivers without retraining, passing a theoretical exam, and obtaining a Russian driver's license.

If the rights were stolen, then in order to obtain a duplicate, you need a certificate from law enforcement agencies about the suspension of the investigation or the closure of the criminal case . It is issued 2 months after contacting the police.

Documents for early replacement of a certificate

In order to exchange your license ahead of schedule, you should contact the relevant department of the State Traffic Inspectorate and submit the necessary package of documents:

Driver's ID card.
The rights that need to be replaced, if they remain.
A medical certificate valid at the time of submission of documents. This certificate is valid for 2 years. If the document is expired, the driver's license will not be changed. The exception is cases when a certificate is not required, for example, when the owner’s personal data is changed.
A receipt confirming payment of the state fee. The fee for issuing a new document is 2,000 rubles. To obtain a temporary permit to drive a vehicle, if the original document is lost, you will have to pay 800 rubles.

In addition to the above, you should first make copies of your passport and medical certificate. Since these documents must be kept in the traffic police department.

To obtain new rights, you must write a written application. Its sample can be found on the information board in the examination department of the State Traffic Inspectorate.

Now it is possible to replace rights using the Internet. This can be done through the State Services portal - https://www.gosuslugi.ru as follows:

go through the registration procedure on the site and gain access to the user’s personal account;
order this service.

If the document was changed prematurely, the expiration date will correspond to the period specified in the original certificate.

If the driver's license expires, the replacement procedure will proceed in the same way.

You should ensure that it is completed two weeks before the date indicated on the certificate. You cannot drive a vehicle with an expired license.

Sometimes drivers complain that the traffic police department refuses to replace their license, explaining that the deadline for replacement has not yet arrived. For example, there are 20 or 30 days left. It is important to understand this. that such activity is illegal.

In this case, you must obtain a written refusal from the traffic police officers. They are obliged to issue it as a response to the driver’s written request. If you receive a refusal, you must contact the head of the department. Practice shows that if a written refusal is required, rights change without problems.

It is possible to change your driver's license ahead of schedule . The legislation provides a number of reasons for carrying out such a procedure.

At the same time, it is important for every car owner to take into account that it is not worthwhile to simply change this document. This is pointless and a waste of time.

Video: Car owners can replace their driver's license before it expires

Replacement of a driver's license before its expiration date. What is the basis for replacing rights in 2019? Legal advice

Life situations often happen that a driver needs to replace his driver’s license (DL) before its expiration date. This may be due to loss, theft, damage, or change of personal data. In addition, many citizens are interested in the question: “Is it possible to change rights in advance, before the replacement deadline a month - two or several days before the expiration date?” For example, if a person’s license expires on February 1, and he wanted to complete the replacement procedure at the end of January? Can traffic police officers refuse to replace a driver’s license early, and on what basis does the refusal occur?

Few drivers know that to replace a previously issued driver’s document, only the desire and expression of the citizen’s will is enough. In this case, the applicant is not required to indicate the reason for his application and prove the necessity of this event. That is, any person who has a valid driver’s license can, at any time during its validity, contact the traffic police and ask for a service to replace it. However, in practice, some drivers are faced with the subjective opinion of traffic police inspectors, who, under the pretext of “why do you need to replace the driving license? You have normal valid rights,” they refuse to provide this public service. Read about all the nuances of early replacement of a driver’s license in our article.

Where can I find out the validity period of my ID?

Every driver's license contains information about its validity period in two places: on the front and back.

On the front side, in the line numbered “4a”, the date of issue of the document is written, and in line “4b” is the expiration date.

On the reverse side, in column “10”, opposite the open category, the date of issue of the driver’s document is written, and in column “11” the expiration date is indicated.

Law on early replacement of rights

A modern driver's license is issued for a period of ten years. This provision of the law is regulated by Government Decree No. 1097 of October 24, 2014, in particular paragraph No. 32. This legislative act contains in its content all the subtleties and nuances in the issues of allowing citizens to drive vehicles on the territory of our state, including issues of early replacement of the driver’s license.

And if you are interested in the question: “Is it possible to change a driver’s license ahead of time?” and you really want to understand this topic, then lawyers advise you to carefully read PP No. 1097. You can find the current version of the document on the Internet, in particular on the websites “ConsultantPlus” and “Garant”.

In what cases can you change your license ahead of time?

A driver who is puzzled by the answer to the question: “Is it possible to change a license before its expiration?” can be calm, because every citizen has the legal right to replace a driver’s document early. The above-mentioned Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation clearly states six cases when it is possible to issue a Russian national driver's license to replace a previously issued similar document, namely:

due to a change in personal data specified in the document;
due to expiration date;
due to physical wear and tear of the document and its impossibility of further use;
due to theft, theft or loss of a document;
due to changes in health status;
at the will of the applicant for early replacement of the document.

The last point may include any reason why the driver wants to part with his old license and get a new document. For example, you have changed a lot in appearance (since the issuance of the driver's license) and the traffic police officers cannot recognize you in the photo. Or the driver simply doesn’t like the photo that is pasted into his license. Or you stopped wearing glasses, got vision correction and would like to replace your driver's license for this reason. According to subparagraph “e”, paragraph No. 29, Chapter III of Government Decree No. 1097, any reason is sufficient for a citizen to express his will through an application for early replacement of the VU.

you must understand that the refusal is unlawful according to PP No. 1097 of October 24, 2014, Chapter III, paragraph 29, subparagraph “e”;
this must be reported to the inspector;
If your knowledge of the legislation of the Russian Federation does not impress the traffic police officer, then you need to demand a written refusal from him. The request must be made in writing, indicating the address for response;
as a rule, the matter does not come to an official refusal, and a service is provided to a literate citizen.

Retaking the exam

Re-taking the exam, namely its theoretical part, when replacing a driver's license early is only necessary if you receive it after deprivation. Therefore, in 2019, if a driver replaces a document before its expiration (for any reason other than forced deprivation), there is no need to take the exam.

Medical certificate

“Is it possible to change rights in advance?” - the drivers ask. A clear answer: “Yes! Driving licenses can be replaced early! However, there is a significant nuance in this issue; it relates to the availability and provision of a medical certificate for the right to drive a vehicle:

if the driver does not provide a medical certificate when changing his driver’s license early, then “the previously established validity period of the driver’s license does not change”;
If the driver presents a valid medical certificate when changing his driver's license early, then a new driver's license is issued for a period of 10 years. The period begins to be calculated from the moment of issue.

The procedure for replacing a certificate with a new one

Knowing the answer to the question: “Is it possible to change your license in advance?”, you can proceed directly to the procedure of replacing your driver’s license with a new one. The action algorithm will depend on several factors, namely:

you want to save time;
you want to save time and money;
you don’t think about saving resources and know only one way to contact the traffic police.

So you want to save time. Therefore, you do not want to go to the traffic police without an appointment and rely on chance while waiting for your turn to see the inspector. MFCs - multifunctional public service centers - work for you. With the help of a specialist, you can submit an application and a package of documents for early replacement of rights, as well as set a place and time for receiving a new document. That is, the applicant can, at his discretion, choose any traffic police department in the city that seems to him to be the most conveniently located. You need to come to the State Traffic Inspectorate with original documents only to obtain a new driver's license.

If you want to save time and money at the same time, then use the state portal of State Services. To pre-register and submit an application, you do not need to go anywhere; it is enough to have an authorized personal account on the portal, Internet access and suitable office equipment for preparing documents. On the site you need to select the tabs: “SERVICES” Þ “TRANSPORT AND DRIVING” Þ “DRIVING LICENSE”. The application is filled out electronically and scanned documents are attached. In this case, the state duty will be cheaper by 600 rubles (1,400 rubles in total). The applicant also chooses the time and place to receive the document. You only need to go to the traffic police to pick up your license.

If you do not use a computer, office equipment, or have free time, you can make an early replacement directly at the traffic police. To do this, you just need to come to any State Traffic Inspectorate office in your locality with a package of documents and take a place in line. As a rule, all traffic police departments have a terminal for electronic recording in the current queue. As soon as you wait your turn, the inspector will accept the documents and within an hour to an hour and a half you will receive your new license.

Regardless of the method of filing an application, you must submit a certain package of documents:

passport;
old rights, if available;
application of the established form;
paid state duty;
medical report if you wish to obtain a license for ten future years.

Innovations for 2019

The innovations affected mainly the medical certificate itself.

Firstly, the certificate has changed its appearance ; it no longer uses the driver’s photo.

Secondly, the validity period of the certificate . Currently it is 12 months.

Thirdly, the content of the certificate . To obtain a medical report for category “B” you only need to go through: an ophthalmologist, a narcologist, a psychiatrist and a therapist who will sign the main certificate. The narcologist and psychiatrist do not make notes in the medical report, but issue their own separate certificates.

Fourthly, the regulations for early replacement of rights . Government Decree No. 1097 was supplemented with a clause on calculating the validity of a driver’s license: with or without the use of a medical report.

In addition to the innovations related to medical certificates, the following has changed for motorists:

the opportunity arose to change the rights ahead of schedule because “I wanted to”, without explaining the reason. In the application it is enough to write “at the will of the applicant”;
The rule regulating the early replacement of a military license no earlier than six months before its expiration date was abolished. Now you can apply for a new driver's license at any time.

Conclusion

Is it possible to change rights before the expiration date? Answer: Yes, in 2019 you can replace your driver’s license early. In addition to loss, loss, theft, wear and tear of a document, or changes in personal data, a sufficiently compelling reason for replacement may simply be the will of the driver. In other words, any driver, at any time during the validity period of his driver’s license, may “simply want to change his license” and this will be enough to carry out the procedure. The factor determining the validity of the new driver's license will be the provision of a valid medical certificate. If a certificate is submitted during re-registration, the term of the new rights will be ten years. If the applicant does not provide a certificate, the new rights will expire in accordance with those previously received.

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.

Is it possible to change rights before their expiration date in 2020?

The State Traffic Inspectorate quite often introduces new rules. Particularly important are the changes relating to the preparation of documents for a car and the right to drive a vehicle. These innovations are not always clear to motorists; the question often arises whether it is possible to change a driver’s license before its expiration date. Previously, the law obliged the driver to change his license only after its expiration date, as well as in case of damage or loss.

Today, according to the new law, any driver can change his current driving license for a new one for many other reasons, or without indicating any significant justification in the application. Car owners will also be pleased that not only has the exchange process been simplified, but also various options have been offered for its implementation. Changes have also been made to the medical examination process, which now affects the period for issuing new driving licenses.

Legal basis for admission to driving a vehicle and the timing of issuing driver’s licenses

Any adult Russian (from 18 years of age, sometimes from 16) can receive a document allowing him to drive personal transport. According to the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated October 24, 2014 N 1097 (as amended on August 14, 2018) “On admission to driving vehicles” (together with the “Rules for conducting examinations for the right to drive vehicles and issuing driver’s licenses”), persons are allowed to drive vehicles who passed the exam and passed the medical examination.

The exam is carried out in the department of the State Traffic Inspectorate and includes three stages:

Testing theoretical knowledge of traffic rules, the legislative framework, rules of first aid in case of an accident.
Testing primary knowledge in the field of management of the type of transport whose category the examinee has chosen.
Road driving test.

If the candidate is a student of an educational institution that has permission to provide such services, then he takes the exams for the first two points there.

If a candidate driver’s medical report indicates any restrictions on driving a vehicle, then he is provided with a specially equipped car to pass the practical exam. If you have hearing problems, the presence of a sign language interpreter is required.

If the examinee does not pass any part of the exam, then the first time he is allowed to repeat it after a week, and the next time only after 30 days. After successfully passing the theory, the practical exam must be taken within six months.

The certificate is valid for 10 years from the date of issue, after which it is subject to scheduled replacement. In some cases described in the law, premature replacement of rights may be required, so it is worth knowing in what cases and how to do it correctly.

In what cases can you change rights before their expiration date?

Documents allowing you to drive a vehicle are issued for 10 years. Replacement is necessary earlier than the date specified in the document in the following cases:

loss of document. Restoring it is quite simple, you just need to contact the traffic police department with a package of necessary papers, write an explanatory note on the spot and pay the fine;
damage that makes it difficult to read important information. The procedure is identical to that carried out in case of loss. You also need to write an explanation, pay a fine and provide all the necessary papers as with a regular replacement upon expiration;
changing the driver's personal data. Most often, married women fall under this clause. Renewing your passport is a must, but your driver's license is often forgotten. It is not prohibited to show old licenses to traffic police officers, but then a marriage certificate must be attached to them;

Sample of filling out an application for replacement of a driver's license due to a change of surname

changes in health that affect driving ability. For example, deterioration of vision, hearing, problems with the musculoskeletal system;

if, when applying for a license, the driver provided any certificate that turned out to be false. From the moment this fact is confirmed, the VU will be considered invalid;

if you have completed training for a new category and it needs to be entered into the document;

when changing citizenship.

If the replacement occurs with the provision of new medical examination certificates, then the document is issued for a period of 10 years, and if without updated health data, then the expiration date is transferred from the old sample.

Innovations for 2020 regarding early replacement of rights

In 2020, innovations for car owners will make it much easier for them to replace their driver’s licenses.

First of all, the changes affected the certificate of passing a medical examination. It no longer uses the owner's photo, it is only valid for 1 year, and adjustments have been made to its content. If the driver has category B, then to obtain a certificate you need to obtain a report from an ophthalmologist and a therapist, as well as go through a narcologist and a psychiatrist, who will issue separate certified forms.

The validity period of new rights for early exchange has also changed, and it depends on the availability of a medical examination. Previously, it was impossible to replace rights unless there was a legal reason or before the end of the term in less than six months. Now everything depends on the desire of the driver, who can indicate in the reason column “at the will of the applicant.”

In 2020, you can obtain a new plastic document without paying previously accumulated fines. This is a very delicate point, since there are no legal grounds for refusal, but based on Art. 32.2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, a fine may be imposed, administrative arrest for up to 15 days or community service may be imposed. Therefore, it is better not to use this innovation, and to avoid unnecessary problems and expenses, pay all fines in advance.

Procedure for replacing old rights

At the moment, you can replace your driver’s license in a couple of clicks, avoiding long queues and even getting a discount. Previously, this procedure took some time, and for this period the driver was issued a temporary document. Now in just 1.5 hours you can get a permanent driver’s license, the main thing is to prepare all the certificates, applications and pay the state fee on time.

Do I need to take an exam?

The theoretical part of the exam regarding knowledge of traffic rules must be passed if the acquisition of a license occurs after their forced deprivation as an administrative punishment. For example, when driving while intoxicated.

Where can I make a replacement?

To facilitate and speed up the exchange procedure, it can be done in three different ways:

in the multifunctional center (MFC) of your region. To find out where the nearest center is located, you can visit the website and select the most convenient office. Preparation of documents will take up to 7-10 days, since they will still be sent to the traffic police;

online. The procedure is carried out through the State Services portal. To do this, you need to create your own account on the website, log in and pay the state fee. Interestingly, the Internet portal provides a 30% discount on this service, which will cost 1,400 instead of 2,000 rubles.

Payment can be made through a bank card, Webmoney or mobile operator. Next, the most convenient location of the traffic police department is selected, and it contains the date and time for the appointment. Conveniently, you will no longer need to write an application on the spot, since it will be filled out electronically when submitting an application;

Replacing a driver's license on the State Services portal

at the traffic police department. You need to select the nearest unit and visit it to get a ticket with the appointment time. It's better not to be late, as you might miss your turn. At the appointed time, you should come to the office with a package of documents and after 1.5 hours you can leave with new rights.

Required documents

The package of papers that must be provided to replace the driver's license may differ depending on the division of the State Traffic Inspectorate. The standard list looks like this:

Passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation.
Receipt with payment of state duty in the amount of 2000 rubles.
Medical report from the necessary specialists.
An old sample that has expired.
Certificate from place of residence or temporary registration.
Photo 3.5 x 4.5 cm, matte. It is better to do it in advance, as it is necessary that it meets the standard.
Statement.