A driver's license is issued for a certain period after which it must be replaced. Driver's license renewals in 2021 are virtually unchanged from previous years as no significant changes have been made.
The replacement procedure is mandatory for every driver and cannot be skipped. According to the law, an expired driver's license is equivalent to no driver's license at all, and therefore serious administrative penalties may be imposed. In addition to the expiration of the document, replacement can occur for other reasons (change of last name, first name).
The procedure for replacing a driver's license is enshrined in regulations. Today, the procedure can be performed in various ways. The most important thing is that the replacement happens quite quickly and you don’t have to spend a lot of time in queues.
When is it necessary to change a document?
The law sets out the conditions when replacing a driver's license is mandatory. Ignoring the requirement is not allowed, since in the future all documents may be declared invalid.
Mandatory replacement is carried out in the following cases:
- changing a person’s personal data for any reason;
- loss or serious damage to a driver’s license;
- receiving a new category. You can use the old rights, but not under the new category;
- expiration of ten years from the date of receipt of the document.
It is for this last reason that drivers most often forget to check their license. While an expired document cannot be used. You can start replacing your driver's license in advance - 6 months before the ten-year deadline.
If there are serious reasons, the driver's license may be terminated early. For example, due to deteriorating health conditions due to which the person cannot drive a car.
Replacement of rights in the MFC
When replacing a driver's license at the MFC, you will have to wait from one to two weeks. The documents submitted are the same as those submitted to the State Traffic Inspectorate, plus a photo in electronic format will be required. The state duty for this replacement method will also be 2,000 rubles.
First, you will need to come to the MFC, take a coupon, wait until you are invited, then submit documents and photos. The staff of the multifunctional center will inform you about the readiness of the license and the date of its receipt.
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Where does the replacement take place?
Any actions related to a driver’s license are carried out by the traffic police. This government body issues new rights, changes old ones, and monitors compliance with established rules. Today, you can apply not only through a personal visit, but also by making an appointment in advance. In addition, the application can be submitted through the MFC, which will independently redirect it to the right place. This is especially convenient when the traffic police department is far away and the work schedule does not allow you to come on your own.
IMPORTANT !!! It is worth remembering that since the MFC does not independently resolve issues, but is only an intermediary, it will take more time to receive and process the request. In this regard, it is not recommended to contact such centers when the deadline for replacing a driver’s license is already close to the end.
You can contact any convenient traffic police department, and it does not matter your place of residence or registration. Theoretically, you can change your rights even in another region.
Thus, there are 3 main ways to replace a driver’s license:
- by submitting all documents to the MFC, from where they will be sent further independently. The disadvantage of this method is the increased waiting time, so resorting to it when time is short is not recommended;
- through a personal visit to the traffic police, where an application is submitted on a first-come, first-served basis. As with many other government agencies, queues are extremely common and the likelihood of spending many hours waiting is high;
- pre-registration through government services. All preliminary steps and stages of filling out documents take place in your personal account directly on the website. Thanks to this, a lot of time is saved. The replacement itself still takes place at the traffic police, but by appointment from the website, so you won’t have to wait long. Today, the latter method is the most common and convenient. In addition, it has additional advantages, which will be discussed below.
What documents will be required
The Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation establishes an exhaustive list of documents that will be required to replace a driver’s license. It is recommended to collect and prepare them in advance, since some of them require material costs and time. Of course, you can assemble the entire package in one day, but it is better to take care of this in advance.
At the moment, the documents required to renew a driver’s license will be as follows:
- a drawn up and completed application requesting replacement and issuance of a new document. If you contact the traffic police and the MFC in person, you can make an application in advance. If the replacement takes place online, simply fill out the form provided on the website;
- passport;
- a medical certificate confirming that there are no obstacles to driving a vehicle. There are some nuances associated with obtaining these documents, so it makes sense to look at them separately;
- a valid or expired driver's license. It is worth remembering that replacement can begin no earlier than six months before the expiration date of the document;
- receipt for payment of state duty. In most cases, there is no need to print a receipt, since all information immediately goes into a single database.
IMPORTANT !!! It is recommended that you make copies of key documents yourself in advance, since sometimes inspectors require them, and printing them directly on site can be difficult.
Depending on the place where the driver’s license is replaced, photographs may take place directly at the department, or you will have to bring the photographs yourself. To avoid unnecessary expenses and misunderstandings, you should clarify this nuance in advance.
The inspector does not have the right to demand other documents. Otherwise, you can appeal the decision to a higher official or to court.
Deadlines for replacing a driver's license upon expiration in 2021
Important! In the comments, reader Sergei said that when paying to an account in Minsk on Kalvariyskaya, the regional traffic police do not accept documents, but send them to Dzerzhinsky 3. If someone is going to Kalvariyskaya, then they only need to pay to the Minsk region or Minsk district.
- International Economic Office of the Minsk City Executive Committee on Dzerzhinsky Ave., 3. VU exchange from Tuesday to Saturday from 8:00 to 13:00 and from 14:00 to 16:00. Sunday and Monday are closed. Phone: 270-08-08.
- IEO of the State Traffic Inspectorate of the Minsk Region on the street. Kalvariyskaya, 27. Replacement of “old” rights is carried out from Tuesday to Saturday from 8:00 to 13:00 and from 14:00 to 16:30. Sunday and Monday are closed. Phone: 229-06-64.
- IEO UGAI GUVD on the street. Timiryazeva, 114. Working hours are also from Tuesday to Saturday from 8:00 to 13:00 and from 14:00 to 16:00. Sunday and Monday are closed. Phone: 259-60-11.
Plastic licenses must be issued within 5 days in the same place where you submitted the documents. However, more often this happens faster - on the day of submitting documents.
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- When do you change your rights?
- Replacement upon expiration
- What documents are needed
- State duty
- Replacement procedure
- What if you don't replace your license on time?
- When can you drive without a driver's license?
Driving licenses are issued for 10 years. They will be valid for the same amount of time, even if the validity period of the rights is not specified.
You can drive with your old license until the last day, and then apply for a new one. But it’s better to do this in advance - the traffic police writes on its website that you can submit documents at any time. If you provide a current medical certificate, your license will be granted for another 10 years.
An application to replace a driver’s license after 10 years must be accompanied by a package of additional documents:
- passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation or other document that proves identity;
- receipt of payment of state duty;
- expired driver's license (if not lost);
- medical certificate confirming passing a driver's examination;
- photo, if automated production is not carried out in a particular department (unless photographs are taken on site).
A medical certificate in 2021 is required only during a replacement due to the expiration of the license (10 years), as well as when there is a change in health status. In all other cases it is not necessary to provide it.
In 2021, the application can be received and completed directly from the inspector at the time of submitting documents, or prepared in advance in simple written form.
If you lack at least one document out of 5, you may be denied an application for a replacement license after 10 years.
The procedure for replacing an expired driver's license after 10 years with a personal visit to the traffic police is simple: just show up at the department with a full package of documents during its opening hours and join a live or electronic queue at the window where applications for a replacement driver's license are accepted. Depending on the city and region, the number of windows and the organization of paper delivery may differ, so the nuances will have to be clarified on the spot.
Having successfully submitted a completed application for a replacement driver's license and all documents to the traffic police, you will either be sent to a room for photography, or will immediately be assigned a time and date when you can come for your completed license. Since there are no exams required, everything can usually be done in one visit.
If a driver's license has been lost or stolen, the driver should write a corresponding statement at any traffic police department. Our staff will make adjustments to the database to prevent you from having problems in the future. To obtain a copy, you will need to provide several documents:
- A statement that the driver's license was lost. It can be filled out right at the point of submitting documents.
- Passport or any other document that can confirm identity. If there is no registration in a particular city, difficulties may arise; such drivers are sometimes required to have temporary registration.
- A receipt for payment of the fee for issuing a new certificate, a payment form can be issued upon submission of all documents.
- A medical certificate is needed only if the lost rights have expired and if medical restrictions arise. In other cases, traffic police officers cannot demand it.
In some cases, additional paperwork may be required, namely:
- a diploma of completion of training at a driving school (when replacing a license due to an expired license, it is not needed, but everyone is recommended to keep this document);
- photo for making a new plastic card (if the selected traffic police department does not take photos directly during the registration process. This can be clarified in advance by contacting the department by phone);
After you are issued new licenses, you will find a mark on them indicating that it is a duplicate. There will be no other differences from the lost copy. At the same time, the validity period of the duplicate is not 10 years, like a new certificate. In 2021, the date indicated on the DP will coincide with the mark on the lost DP.
We hasten to dispel the widespread fear about the need to pass exams to obtain a copy of a lost license: you do not need to pass any tests or examinations in 2021 for this, nor do you need to pass a medical commission again.
- After replacing your car license, it will not be superfluous to contact the insurance company that issued the MTPL and CASCO policies so that new information can be entered into them. This procedure is free and does not take much time. You will not need to issue a new policy.
- If you pay the state fee not through the State Services portal, you can usually do this directly at the traffic police department in payment terminals, into which all the details will already be entered. When using the services of the MFC, do not forget to specify the correct details for paying the fee.
You can replace rights in three ways:
- When contacting the traffic police in person
. This is the fastest way, despite the need for personal presence. You need to come to the traffic police department with a prepared package of documents - it all depends on the workload of the employees, but in most cases you can get a new license in a couple of hours. - Through MFC
. The method is convenient, since the MFC is now at every step, but it is suitable for those drivers who are willing to wait a little. Accordingly, you should not go to the MFC on the last day of validity of your old rights. From the moment you submit your application until you receive a new certificate, it takes about 10-14 days. This is explained by the fact that MFC employees send the received documents to the traffic police and then receive them back. - Through State Services
. To do this, a person must be registered on the portal.
Obtaining a medical certificate
One of the most important stages is obtaining a medical document confirming the physical and mental ability of a person to drive a car. Replacement of licenses every 10 years is primarily associated with such confirmations, since someone unable to drive for health reasons poses a danger on the road to other road users.
ATTENTION !!! You can get a certificate in different ways, which will differ in time and money spent. However, in any case, it is necessary to use the services only of those medical institutions that issue conclusions on state-issued forms. Any other certificates are not valid and are not intended for submission to the traffic police authorities.
To obtain a certificate, you must go through an entire commission of doctors. This can be done either in a private licensed clinic or in a public one. In the first case, the entire procedure takes place in one day, but you will have to pay for it. Government services are also paid, although they are cheaper, but you will have to wait longer. Sometimes it takes up to a week for doctors to get through. The most important doctors will be a narcologist and a psychiatrist. Their conclusion must be issued exclusively by government agencies.
You can undergo a medical examination in any region, regardless of the place of registration. In the absence of contraindications, the chief physician issues a conclusion on a special form, which must be attached to the general package of documents for replacing a driver’s license. Depending on the region and location of the examination, the total cost can range from 1 to 5 thousand rubles.
It is worth noting that the law allows the use of a medical certificate obtained after deprivation of rights. However, it is important to remember that the certificate is valid for 1 year from the date of its issue, after which you will have to obtain a new certificate.
How to get a medical certificate to replace your license
The certificate required to replace a driver’s license due to expiration can be obtained from private and budgetary medical institutions. It costs from six hundred rubles, and in order to be issued, you will need to undergo an examination by an ophthalmologist and a therapist. To obtain a final signature from a therapist, you must also submit certificates from a narcologist and a psychiatrist. These specialists can be visited at your place of residence.
Truckers, in addition to the above specialists, will need to visit an ENT specialist and a neurologist, as well as have an electroencephalography done.
You can see doctors in a private clinic in half a day, in a public medical institution - within one or two days.
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Replacement of a driver's license at the MFC
This method can be considered the simplest, but slowest option. It can only be recommended if there is enough time left. First, you need to call the hotline and find out which departments deal with these issues. After this, the collected package of documents is submitted to the center. From the moment you take it you need to wait 1 to 2 weeks. After the employee calls, you can come and receive a new document.
In 2021, what documents are needed at the MFC?
The general list is general and includes:
- a completed application for the production and issuance of a new document. You can take it both on the official website and directly on the spot;
- passport and its copies;
- old driver's license, if not lost;
- medical certificate obtained from a specialized institution;
- receipt for payment of state duty. Today its size is 2 thousand rubles.
In addition to the above documents, you must electronically submit photographs that will be required to issue a new driver’s license.
Is the new law on retaking traffic rules when replacing a driver’s license true?
No. There is no such law as of May 30, 2021. But rumors about the possible introduction of a mandatory test of traffic rules knowledge when changing licenses are not without their roots - back in early 2021, the first rumors about such a change in the procedure for changing licenses appeared on the Internet.
The basis for the appearance of such rumors was the initiative of the Union of Driving Schools of Russia, which proposed such an idea to the government. Later, the head of the traffic police supported the idea. But this remains at the level of proposals for now.
For 2021, there is no law on mandatory re-examination when replacing licenses after expiration.
In particular, passing an exam is not required when replacing a device for the following reasons:
- if the validity period of the rights, which is 10 years, has expired,
- when changing rights due to a change of surname (marriage) or other personal data,
- if the old driver's license has become damaged, lost, stolen, and so on.
Replacement of a driver's license at the traffic police
Today, using this method is extremely inconvenient and unprofitable. Firstly, due to the long waiting time, and secondly, for financial reasons. However, if for some reason it is not possible to use the government services website, you can personally contact the traffic police.
It’s better to arrive either very first, or vice versa, at the end of the queue. Otherwise, you will have to spend long hours waiting. At the same time, the replacement procedure itself is not very long: contact the inspector, fill out an application, submit all documents, take photographs and issue a new document. The list of documents is general and does not differ in any way from the other cases listed above.
Replacement of a driver's license for public services
This method is considered not only the most convenient and fastest, but also the cheapest of all. All documents and applications can be prepared directly at home on the website. To do this, you will need to go to your personal account, go to the appropriate section and fill out the form provided. At the appointed time (usually the next day), you must come to the selected traffic police authority, where a new document is issued. At the same time, you won’t have to waste time in long queues and wait until the inspector is free. All documents have been prepared in advance and you just need to pick up your new license.
IMPORTANT !!! In addition, payment of state fees on the website occurs at a discount. Instead of 2 thousand, its size will be 1400 rubles. You won't have to print any receipts.
The only disadvantage of this method is the need for pre-registration. To create an account on the site, you need to personally appear at a special center where verification takes place. The service can be either paid or free, depending on the location. After activation, you can use your personal account in full.
Responsibility
According to the law, expired rights are equated to their absence and administrative liability is provided for this. The sanction of the article entails a fine of 5 to 15 thousand rubles. In addition, the vehicle is detained and subsequently evacuated to a special impound lot. It is important to note that there is a fee for parking a car. On average, a day will cost from 2 thousand rubles.
To return the car, you will first have to obtain a new license, then pay the imposed fines and parking services. For the driver, such a trip can cost extremely significant amounts. In practice, there have been cases when the amount of all payments and fines exceeded the cost of the car (if it was an old and inexpensive car). We must not forget that with an expired license it may be difficult to demand compensation from the insurance company, and in some cases it will shift all responsibility to the driver.
Thus, the procedure for replacing and renewing a driver's license is extremely important. It cannot be ignored, as it can lead to significant problems in the future.
