Current driver's license format for 2021: enhanced protection against counterfeiting and closer to Western standards

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Published: 04/24/2019

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For 2 years now, discussions have been ongoing on the introduction of a new type of rights in Russia - with an electronic chip embedded in the document. A draft order approving the updated certificate was developed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the summer of 2018 (Project “On a driver’s license and a vehicle registration certificate with electronic storage media” dated August 22, 2018). However, the document has not officially entered into force, and the current version of the driver’s license is from 2014 (No. 92-FZ “On Amendments to the Federal Law “On Road Safety” dated May 7, 2013).

• What does a new driver's license look like? Front side
• back side
• The main differences between the new rights and the old ones

The amendments changed not only the format of the license, but also added new categories and subcategories of driving.

Driver's license photo requirements

So, you came to the photo salon to take a photo of your license. The requirements for such photographs are as follows:

• The size of the photo on the right is 3x4 cm.
• At the moment, there is no stamping corner on the driver's license photo, neither on the left nor on the right.
• Photo paper should only be matte, eliminating the formation of streaks that are inevitable when your fingers touch the document. This allows you to always leave the picture clear and clean. Another reason to use matte paper is its ability to hold print. On a matte surface, ink does not smudge or bleed. The thickness of photo paper should be no more than 0.3 mm.
• The size of a face photographed strictly from the front should be 80% of the total area of ​​the photo (in metric measurement this will be approximately 320 mm).
• Photography requires maximum openness of the face. The forehead and ears should be clearly visible, so hair must be removed from the face by doing an appropriate hairstyle.
• You should be photographed for your license in formal clothing, devoid of cleavage. Clothes with bare shoulders are not allowed.
• Photos wearing hats, headbands and sunglasses are not accepted.
• The image should be sharp and clear. Blurred photographs and photographs with glare are not accepted at traffic police departments.
• People who constantly wear glasses for vision correction can be photographed with or without glasses. Even if the photo was taken without glasses, the license will have a mandatory note stating that the driver is allowed to drive only in them. You can't get your license while wearing just any glasses. Frames with darkened lenses that hide a person’s eyes are not acceptable. Photos with overly massive frames that cover most of the face will also be rejected. Lens glare in the photo is unacceptable.
• The contrast of the photo should be average. Photos that are too light or very dark may be rejected by the traffic police. The presence of shadows is also unacceptable.
• The size of the margin above the head should be 2-4 mm.
• The background color on the old-style license was white. For a new type of driver's license, photographs are taken only on a red background. In accordance with this requirement, photographs for modern driver's licenses must be in color only.
• Photos must have a perfectly flat surface on which no cracks, kinks or scratches are allowed. The presence of any stains is also unacceptable.

Requirements for images for international rights

Do you need to take a photo for international license? The requirements for them are almost no different from those that apply to photographs for Russian documents. The only difference is the size of the photo. Its parameters are 3.5x4.5 cm.

Photo requirements for a medical certificate

When issuing a medical certificate to obtain a license, one matte photograph is required (the matte surface is necessary to obtain a clear print impression), meeting the following requirements:

• The size of the photo for a medical certificate for a license must be 3x4 cm. The size of the face in the photo must be at least 280 mm. The maximum size of the margin left above the head should not exceed 4 mm.
• The facial expression of the person depicted in the photograph should be neutral. Smiling is not allowed, as the person being photographed must remain closed.
• A photo for a medical certificate can be black and white or color: it doesn’t matter, but girls who prefer black and white photos should think about their makeup before going to a photo studio. In black and white photos, bright lipstick on your lips will appear black, and too light will make your lips look bright white. There is hardly a woman who will like such photographs. You should also avoid using purple and blue shades of eyeshadow, as they can create a general feeling of gauntness in the face and bruising around the eyes. To prevent your face from becoming shiny, you can apply a small amount of mattifying foundation or compact powder on it. Guided by the same considerations, you should carefully consider your hairstyle for black and white photography. Don't pull your hair too tightly, putting it in a ponytail or bun. A photograph taken from the front can give the impression that there is simply no hair on the head.
• A photograph for a medical certificate may not have the left corner.
• To give your face a friendly and pleasant expression, you should, at the moment of capturing the frame, remember some pleasant event or something that causes positive emotions.

How to open a new category of rights?

Often drivers who already have a license want to expand their capabilities and get permission to drive other types of transport. The way to resolve this issue depends on which category you need to obtain. All positions containing the number 1 are assigned automatically upon receipt of the right to the main category. This is specified in the legislation on permits to drive vehicles.

All drivers are automatically assigned category M.

If the previously obtained rights do not have such a mark, then you can apply to replace the rights with a new sample. Traffic police officers must make all the necessary notes themselves.

If you want to get a new main category for driving freight or passenger vehicles, the applicant will have to undergo training in the prescribed manner.

It is possible to open a new category in a simplified way by undergoing a short retraining. This opportunity is available to those persons who received their license no more than 3 months ago, since the results of the theoretical exams are valid for 3 months and do not have to be taken again.

To open a new category, you must re-apply to the driving school where you have already completed training, then master practical skills and pass the driving test at the traffic police. The maximum period for delivery is 3 months, and the minimum is one month, i.e. There must be at least 30 days between two exams for different categories.

These requirements also include obtaining a license to drive a vehicle with a manual transmission, if you previously obtained a license for a car with an automatic transmission.

If we are talking about obtaining category E (passenger transport), then it can only be obtained if you have a driver’s license and practical driving skills of one year or more.

What photo options are possible?

Fine amount for driving without a license
In order to avoid misunderstandings and reliably establish who is driving, there are certain mandatory conditions that apply to the parameters of photographs. The requirements relate to the image itself, as well as to the size, color and quality of the image and to the type of photo paper on which it is made.

Just a few years ago, a driver could obtain two types of national licenses. They were divided into old and new type certificates. Different photographs were used in these forms. But after the old form of the certificate was abolished, the photograph for a driver’s license in 2021 began to be carried out in accordance with the standards for the new plastic licenses.

Old driver's license

Drivers previously could choose between the new and old forms of licenses at their discretion when submitting documents. Registration of old rights was cheaper for the owner. To take a photograph, the car enthusiast went to a specialized studio and brought the finished image along with other documents. Photos for old-style licenses were accepted in size 3x4 cm, on a white background. If the driver arrived without a photograph, it could be taken directly at the traffic police for a fee.

But this method of making photographs is no longer used. Photos are not printed in the usual sense.

The quality of such images is certainly higher. This largely explains their widespread use and the refusal to use paper analogues.

New driver's license

Currently, the plastic form on which the driver’s license is placed is produced using special equipment. The traffic police department, which provides the service of issuing driver's licenses, is equipped with optical-electronic equipment. Personnel who have undergone appropriate training apply a new 2018 model photo to the driver's license using computer technology. An automatic process is used to produce color images that comply with current standards and regulations.

You no longer need to go to a photo studio first. This procedure saves the car owner’s time and simplifies the procedure for submitting documents. Moreover, previously the applicant had to ensure the quality of the photo. If the image did not meet the standards, it had to be redone. Today, traffic police officers bear full responsibility for quality.

A driver who wants to thoroughly understand what changes have occurred in the procedure applied in connection with the issuance of licenses must find out for sure whether he will be required to have a photograph of a new type of license, taken in advance.

On the official website of the State Traffic Inspectorate you can get comprehensive information about what documents are currently included in the list of mandatory documents when applying to the traffic police to obtain a driver’s license. The photograph is not included in this listing. This means that they will not demand it.

Read in detail about the list of required documents to obtain a driver's license.

But the driver’s appearance does not always allow traffic police officers to take a photo of proper quality. Any driver should know a number of rules applied when taking photos for a new driver’s license in 2021. If his (her) clothes, makeup or some accessories do not fit into the established standards, you will have to come again - after the appearance is brought into compliance.

Conditions for obtaining rights

The first thing you need to focus on is the age of obtaining a license. The Federal Law “On Road Traffic Safety” determines that a driver’s license for a scooter or light motorcycle can be obtained from the age of 16. It is permissible to take category B from the age of 17, but a license will not be issued until adulthood. Driving the bus, as noted above, is trusted to persons who are already 21 years old. If everything is in order with age, then you need to act according to the following algorithm:

1. You must enroll in a driving school. The cost of driving lessons in Russia varies everywhere. Schools are for-profit organizations that make money. They have the right to set the price for training that interests them. A potential student must ensure that the school is licensed. The check can be carried out on the official website of the traffic police;
2. Passing a medical examination. There are nuances. Firstly, it is not necessary to contact a medical institution at your place of residence. The main thing is that the clinic or center has a license. Secondly, marks on the completion of specialists must be included in a certificate of an approved form. Often, passing the commission is a stumbling block in the issue of obtaining a driver's license. For a person to obtain a driver's license, for example, vision must be very good. If there are problems with it, then, at best, you will have to purchase glasses or contacts; at worst, you will have to accept a ban on all or some driving categories for medical reasons;
3. Passing exams at the traffic police. First you need to pay the state fee (2000 rubles) and submit a package of documents: passport, military ID, medical certificate - nothing special;
4. If the exam is passed, the person will receive his or her driving license.

Photo for a new license

What awaits drivers who drive without a license?

Modern requirements for photography are reflected in Appendix No. 1 to Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs No. 365 dated May 13, 2009, as amended on January 9, 2014. The established parameters comply with the international standard for driving documents under the Vienna and Geneva Treaties of 1968 and 1971, respectively.

Despite the innovation and emerging additional requirements, the previous rights have not lost their legal significance. Therefore, until their expiration date, old and new documents are equivalent. Old-style rights correspond to the following parameters:

• made on a laminated sheet with a photograph of the driver on a white background;
• made on plastic with a photograph on a scarlet background;
• in any case, their legitimacy is equal to the remaining shelf life, after which the documents should be replaced with new ones according to the modern standard.

The rights of the new model have the following characteristics:

• the photograph of the driver is made in color;
• the size of the photo on the right is 21x30 mm;
• the photograph is printed directly onto plastic using an electronic device;
• A barcode with encrypted information about traffic violations is placed on the license.

In the context of changing standards, new requirements are being placed on photography. The documents regulate not only the technical parameters of the driver’s image, but also how the person should be positioned in the picture, what his facial expression should be, and even what is best to wear to be photographed for his license.

Replacing a document

According to modern requirements, each time a driver’s license is replaced for any reason, a photograph must be taken. The main reasons may be:

• replacement due to expiration of rights;
• recovery of lost documents;
• production of rights after theft;
• replacement due to a change in driver data;
• reinstatement after deprivation of the right to drive by court;
• obtaining rights in connection with the elimination of medical contraindications.

Today, the photo on the driver's license is taken directly at the traffic police department on the day the driver applies for the preparation of documents. However, a citizen has the right to submit a completed photograph on electronic media if it meets all the requirements imposed by the traffic police regulations. When restoring or changing your license, you must prepare documents to replace your driver’s license:

• passport;
• old driver's license;
• completed application form;
• receipt of payment of the duty;
• in some cases, a medical certificate.

All of the above requirements are mandatory. The absence of at least one document leads to refusal to issue a new driver's license. Let's look at what photographs are needed for a license according to the regulations that are relevant this year.

Types of driver's licenses in Russia

Over the past decade, driver's licenses have changed their appearance several times. Since the validity of this document is 10 years, some types may be in use. Therefore, at the moment, Russian drivers have four types of licenses:

1. Until 2011, documents were issued on pink letterhead. Their finished size was 105x74 mm. The text was applied to a form, which was then folded along a special line. Lamination became protection against wear.
2. The second type of rights issued before 2011 was a smaller document – ​​85x55 mm. Its peculiarity can be called the material made with the use of degrees of protection against counterfeiting.
3. In the period 2011-2014, plastic IDs began to be issued. This is the first version of the updated document, containing on the reverse side the 9 categories and subcategories that were in effect at that time. The size of the rights is 85.6x54 mm.

4. The latest option, which began to be issued after 2014, already has 16 categories and subcategories of vehicles on the reverse side. Its size has not changed and is similar to the previous version, but there are more degrees of protection against counterfeiting. This driver's document already contains pictograms opposite the vehicle categories, making it compliant with the requirements of the 1968 Vienna Convention.

Conclusion

The category of driver's license allows a citizen to drive a vehicle that is designated as accessible. Driving a vehicle that is not designated in the document makes the driver a traffic violation.

Such a violation entails the citizen's liability in the form of a fine of 5,000 - 15,000 rubles, and the traffic police inspector has the right to deprive the violator of his vehicle and evacuate him to the impound lot. Therefore, it should not be allowed to change the vehicle without the appropriate permit. Before you get behind the wheel, you must undergo special training and pass an exam to obtain the required category.

Didn't find the answer to your question? Find out how to solve exactly your problem - call right now:

Share “2018-2019 driver’s license categories with explanation”

The driver's license, in addition to all other information, indicates what vehicles the motorist can drive. Driver's license categories for 2021 with explanations are below.

The person being photographed and his appearance in the photograph

What threatens a driver who has been deprived of his license when he is stopped again by a traffic police inspector?

The issuance of driver's licenses is carried out using automated workstations. Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia No. 365 of May 13, 2009 (as amended on December 1, 2017) “On the implementation of a driver’s license” (Registered with the Ministry of Justice of Russia on July 10, 2009 N 14302) established the rules for such registration and, according to it, in 2021 a plastic license for drivers vehicles includes a soldered-in color image of the driver that meets the following requirements:

• The position of the head of the person being photographed must be in frontal view and level, no tilting is allowed. Relative to the photograph, the face is centered;
• The direction of view is only towards the center of the camera lens;
• The color of the iris of the eyes must be clearly visible, for which they open wide when taking photographs;
• All parts of the face should be as open as possible, so hair from the forehead, cheeks and ears should be pulled back if possible;
• Hats, caps, scarves and headbands, as well as dark glasses, are not acceptable; optical glasses - on the contrary, must be worn by the driver if he wears them in life as prescribed by a doctor due to impaired vision. In the event that a person with poor vision takes a photo without glasses required for vision, the driver’s “cover” in the notes indicates the fact that glasses are required. It is strictly forbidden to wear glasses with large frames, behind which part of the face may be hidden;
• A woman's makeup should be moderate; it is necessary to ensure that too bright makeup does not distort facial features;
• The expression is normal; you cannot grimace or smile widely to avoid distortion of the main facial features;

The specified requirements apply to the external driver, and the number of provided photos that meet all the requirements is 2 pieces. The photo is taken digitally on a gray background and is located in a specially designated area on the ID.

Category E

The new driver's license does not contain the universal category E, which previously allowed driving all types of vehicles with a trailer.

Holders of a previous type of license for driving vehicles with a trailer, if it is replaced, will be given marks indicating the ability to drive the following types of cars and buses:

• BE - a passenger car that weighs up to 3.5 tons, with a towbar weighing from 750 kg, exceeding the weight of the empty vehicle;
• CE - a truck that weighs from 3.5 tons, with a towbar weighing from 750 kg, exceeding the weight of the empty vehicle;
• C1E is a truck that weighs from 3.5 to 7.5 tons, with a towbar weighing from 750 kg, exceeding the weight of the empty vehicle, with a total weight of up to 12 tons;
• DE - bus connected to a trailer weighing from 750 kg;
• D1E is a bus for 9-16 passengers with a towbar weighing from 750 kg.

Since 2014, each of these marks in the certificate is affixed after passing a separate exam (with the exception of the automatic assignment of the C1E or D1E mark upon receipt of category C or D, respectively).

A special feature of obtaining a document to drive a vehicle with a trailer is the mandatory requirement of at least 1 year of driving experience while driving the same type of vehicle without a trailer.

Photo requirements

Today, almost all traffic police MREOs are equipped with photo studios for photographing drivers according to existing requirements. It is not necessary to bring your photo in 2021. This is not even recommended due to the large number of requirements, violation of which does not allow the use of the image.

Thus, it is not necessary to memorize the given list of photo requirements for the driver.

However, you should familiarize yourself with them before visiting the traffic police, paying special attention to the requirements for facial expressions and appearance. If the driver is dressed inappropriately, he may be denied a license.

In general, the same requirements that were relevant in 2021 apply in 2021:

• photo size – 21x30 mm;
• in a photo studio it is necessary to maintain a light regime without shading, glare and spots;
• there should be no objects or other people in the background;
• the background should be uniform and not very bright;
• the face in the frame should occupy 80% of the photo area;
• There must be a margin of 2 to 4 mm above the head.

You should pay more attention to the requirements that are imposed on the driver himself and his appearance during the photographing process. In 2021, a citizen is required to:

• look strictly into the lens of the lens;
• since the photograph is taken from the front, you should keep your head straight, avoiding tilting down and to the sides;
• Any facial expressions, in particular smiling, are prohibited;
• you cannot squint, as the camera must record the color of the pupils;
• When photographing, you must wear a formal suit; low necklines and bare shoulders are prohibited;
• A woman with bright makeup may be denied registration of driver's documents;
• It is prohibited to be photographed wearing scarves and hats;
• According to the 2021 requirements, driving license photos with or without glasses are no longer allowed to the same extent as before.

The last two points of the requirements deserve comment. As for headdresses, the exception is those attributes that the driver cannot remove for religious reasons. In this case, the person must correspond to the image on the license, so a religious person will always need to wear the headdress depicted in the document while driving.

Due to the new requirements, the question arises whether the person in the photo can be wearing lenses. There are no restrictions on this, so glasses or lenses in the photo are at the discretion of the driver. Only the use of decorative accessories is prohibited if the driver does not have vision problems. Similar requirements apply to photographs for international rights. The difference is in the size of the photograph - in the second case it should be 35x45 mm.

Cost of a set of services

The cost of a photo for a license at the traffic police is included in the total price of the service. If you order a photograph from a third-party studio, its price will be about 200-400 rubles, depending on the region of residence.

What's better to wear to take photos for your license?

Old style driver's license - what it looks like

Until 2011, it was possible to obtain two types of licenses: paper and plastic, the form of which was dictated by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs No. 120 of February 19, 1999. They differed in design, but their content was the same.

Paper ID: shape and size

The official name is "Sample No. 1". The document has the shape of a rectangle measuring 74x105 mm. The necessary information is printed on a sheet of special pinkish paper, which is folded in half and laminated during production. You can see a photo of such rights in an “expanded state” below.

Sample No. 1

The form is coated with a protective pink mesh, RUS watermarks and interspersed with red fibers, including those that glow in ultraviolet light, similar to those found on banknotes. In addition, there is a special monogram on both sides. Other measures to protect against counterfeiting are also used, for example, a special font and printing method, paint that glows in ultraviolet radiation.

Front side

At the very top is the title of the document translated into French “PERMIS DE CONDUIRE”. In certain places on the form it is indicated what information about the driver should be written:

• Full Name.
• Date and place of birth.
• Region of residence.
• signature .
• Location of the traffic police department that issued the document;
• Start and end dates of validity.
• Signature of the traffic inspector who issued the document.

At the bottom right there is a place for a photograph measuring 30x40 mm, on top of which a round stamp of the State Traffic Inspectorate is placed. In the lower field - the series and number of the document, and in two copies - one printed when preparing the form, the second - when filling it out.

Reverse side

The header on the reverse side is occupied by the name of the country that issued the document and its international designation - RUS.

The main place on the back is occupied by a table with the categories of vehicles that the license allows you to drive. There are five of them in total, which corresponds to the real state of affairs at the time of issuance of this type of rights. The table consists of three columns:

• Designation of categories.
• Brief description of vehicles.
• Marks confirming permission.

General photo requirements for a driver's license

In regions where it is not possible to take a photo for a license at the traffic police department, responsibility for preparing the photo falls on the shoulders of the driver

And here it is important to be aware of the list of requirements for photographs, since a low-quality image that is far from the established parameters can cause refusal to issue a certificate

Photo requirements for a driver's license:

1. Photo size: 3x4 cm.
2. Photo paper is matte. This choice eliminates glare, fingerprints, and blurring of stamps placed later on the image.
3. The thickness of photographic paper is no more than 0.3 mm.
4. The color of the photo is color.
5. There should be no corners in the photo on either the right or left side.
6. The area in the photo occupied by the driver's face must be at least 80% of the total.
7. Facial expression is as natural as possible. Changes in facial expressions that significantly change the appearance are not allowed. Eyes should be wide open; squinting is not recommended.
8. Clothing style is strict, classic. Women are not allowed to be photographed with a cleavage or bare shoulders. Makeup should be neutral. Hairstyles for both men and women should be chosen in such a way that the oval of the face is open.
9. It is prohibited to photograph wearing hats, headbands, or sunglasses. The exception is people of certain religious denominations, whose ideology does not allow them to appear in public places with their heads uncovered.
10. The glasses in the photo are acceptable only if there is a medical prescription for constant wearing. In this case, it is possible to take a photo without them, but in this case, a note about existing visual defects will be placed on the license. Tinted glasses and massive frames are excluded. If your glasses glare, it would be best to take them off while taking photos.
11. The image should be clear, sharp, without shadows or bright spots. If the photo is too light or, conversely, dark, the traffic police inspector may also reject the photo and send the citizen to be photographed again.
12. Cracks, scratches and other technical damage are not allowed in the photo. The surface must be perfectly flat.
13. The distance from the head to the top border of the image is 2-4 mm.
14. The background of the photo is plain, without any foreign objects in the frame.
15. Number of pictures – 2 pieces.

The position of the driver's head in the photograph also plays a role. The face should be placed clearly in the center, in frontal view. Turns and head tilts are prohibited.

Current driving license categories

In the above law, Article 25 establishes the following categories of transport:

Category B vehicles coupled to a trailer whose permissible maximum weight does not exceed 750 kg;

Category B vehicles coupled to a trailer, the permissible maximum mass of which exceeds 750 kg, but does not exceed the unladen mass of the vehicle, provided that the total permissible maximum mass of such a combination of vehicles does not exceed 3.5 tons

Category B vehicles coupled to a trailer whose permissible maximum mass exceeds 750 kg, provided that the total permissible maximum mass of such vehicle combination exceeds 3.5 tons

Category C vehicles coupled to a trailer whose permissible maximum weight does not exceed 750 kg

Category D vehicles coupled to a trailer whose permissible maximum weight does not exceed 750 kg

Articulated buses

Driver's license photo

Preparing documents to obtain any type of certificate is always a responsible and troublesome undertaking. Most often, you encounter difficulties when filling out a questionnaire or when choosing photographs. The question of what a driver’s license photo should be is no exception.

New type of rights

A driver’s license is a second passport for a driver, which allows him to drive a vehicle, but at the same time is also a means of personal identification. That is why it is necessary to comply with all the formalities of their execution so that they can be considered valid.

Literally since April last year, all Russian drivers began to receive a new document - outwardly it looks like a pale pink plastic card, which is issued for 10 years

Please note that the old format document will remain valid until it expires

Before you figure out what photos are needed for a driver's license, you should understand what the process of obtaining one looks like today. The new certificate form is produced using special optical-electronic equipment. A fully automated process is provided: the result is a document, the information on which can be read using electronic reading devices.

Information on a document is contained on both sides. On the front page you can find the following information:

1. FULL NAME.
2. Driver's date of birth.
3. Place of his birth.
4. Date of issue of the document.
5. The period of its validity.
6. The authority that issued it.
7. Certificate number.
8. Signature.
9. Seal.
10. Photo.

On the reverse side you can find information about the categories that are open to this driver.

Photo

The photo requirements for a driver's license have not changed in 2015 and remain the same. But there is reason for joy here - due to the special method of producing the form itself, you no longer need to bring your photographs in the general set of certificates and certificates. You must take a photograph directly at the traffic police department where you are submitting documents for the issuance of a certificate.

It goes without saying that now the responsibility for the correctness of the photo falls on the shoulders of the inspection staff, and this makes life much easier for the drivers themselves.

However, you should be aware of certain subtleties that the applicant must comply with. First of all, don't forget to take care of your appearance when you apply. After all, the photographing process will take place on this very day. How well you turn out in the photo will depend on your own vigilance.

So, you need to adhere to the following rules:

• the face should be located strictly in the center of the photo, the gaze should be directed only forward;
• facial expression is neutral, without smiling, sadness or other emotions;
• the eyes must be open so that their color can be seen;
• background – light, monochromatic.

Women are not recommended to wear too bright makeup. Give preference to neutral cosmetics that will not distort the general features of your face. It is advisable that the hairstyle also does not hide your face, so think about it in advance. The head must be uncovered. Head coverings can only be used when required by faith.

The size of the driver's license photo is automatically adjusted; it is usually 3 by 4 cm. Don't forget that you will need photos not only for the license form itself.

Two photographs with a corner will need to be prepared for your exam card at a driving school and the same number for a medical card without a corner. All photographs must be taken on matte paper.

It's better to take all the photos on one day. This way you will look the same in all the pictures, which will make the work of the inspectorate and driving school staff much easier.

Replacing a driver's license and obtaining an IDP: Video

Replacing a driver's license and obtaining an IDP

Renewing a driver's license in 2021.

New driver's licenses

It's better not to buy a driver's license

Categories in the new driver's license

A citizen can only drive the vehicle in which he completed his training. All cars are divided into groups or categories, which are usually designated by Latin letters. There are 7 of them in the new type of license. The list includes motorcycles, public transport, cars and trucks. In addition, the latest sample added 9 subcategories.

Motorcycles and scooters

A license for these types of transport is obtained from the age of 16. Permission to drive a motorcycle, no matter with or without a sidecar, is given by group A.

When a driver has permission to drive the main type of this vehicle, he automatically receives it to the subtypes:

• A1 – driving motorcycles with an engine capacity of up to 125 cm3, scooters.
• M – control of a moped, light ATV.

Passenger cars

To drive a car weighing up to 3500 kg, you need to get a category B license. The number of passengers in a passenger car is no more than 8 people. A trailer up to 750 kg can be used. In this case, the total weight of no more than 3.5 tons is taken into account.

If the trailer is heavier than 750 kg, then group BE is required. The total weight should also not be more than 3.5 tons. If you plan to drive a small car up to 550 kg, which has an engine capacity of 50 cm3, subcategory B1 is enough. The speed of such a car is limited to 50 km/h.

Freight vehicles

To drive a car weighing more than 3.5 tons, you must have a category C license. Such vehicles are classified as cargo vehicles. Permission is required when driving a vehicle with a trailer weighing up to 750 kg. If it has a large mass, CE approval is required.

When it is necessary to drive a truck under other conditions, a citizen must obtain a driver's license with new subcategories:

• C1 – a vehicle from 3500 to 7500 kg, equipped with a trailer up to 750 kg. The total weight must not exceed the permissible maximum.
• CE1 - approval allows you to drive cars with a total weight of no more than 12 tons. The trailer can weigh over 750 kg.

Buses

Drivers of such vehicles are required to obtain a Group D license. The weight of the bus does not matter, but the number of passenger seats is over 8. It is permissible to use a trailer weighing no more than 750 kg. If it is overweight or is an accordion bus, a DE approval will be required.

To drive public transport under special conditions, you must pass exams in the following subcategories:

• D1 – small buses, minibuses for transporting 9–16 people. There is a trailer weight limit of 750 kg.
• D1E - the total weight of the bus is limited to 12 tons, and the trailer is over 750 kg. It is important that it does not exceed the mass of the bus.

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Trams and trolleybuses

The list of categories in the new certificates has been supplemented with the types Tm and Tb. They are needed by drivers of trams and trolleybuses. In previous versions of the document, such types were not distinguished. They simply made special marks giving them the right to operate these types of public transport. Today, all professional trolleybus and tram drivers are required to have licenses with new categories.

Why get an IDP if the new Russian license meets international requirements?

Formally, the existing Vienna Convention of October 8, 1968, which defines a uniform standard for a document for the right to drive a vehicle, allows a driver with an appropriate national license to travel within the countries party to this convention without having an IDP. In theory, the new Russian driver's license should give our drivers the right to drive vehicles on the territory of countries party to the Vienna Convention. In practice, things are different.

Firstly, many countries have established laws according to which all rental companies must rent out vehicles only if foreigners provide an international driver's license. In addition, rental vehicle insurance contracts require the presence of an IDP. Secondly, if you are planning a trip abroad using your own transport, the embassies of many countries may request a copy of the international ID to obtain a visa. Thirdly, a Russian driver’s license, without presenting an international one, can lead to problems with the police. For example, Italian police can easily fine you 300 euros for not having an IDP.

You can get a rental car in most countries upon presentation of an IDP

It becomes clear that having an international driver's license is necessary even when driving a vehicle in those countries that are parties to the Vienna Convention. Here we should not forget that not all countries have signed this convention. Many states, when formulating requirements for documentation confirming the right to drive a vehicle, are guided by the Geneva Convention, signed on September 19, 1949. In these countries, you can drive a vehicle only if you have both a national driver's license and an IDP.

If you need to drive a car in a country that has not signed either the Vienna or Geneva Conventions, then you will be allowed to drive a vehicle only after passing an exam on the territory of that state. Below are the countries party to both conventions.

Countries party to international conventions

Obtaining the right to drive vehicles [edit | edit code]

The following persons are allowed to take the exams:

• have reached the prescribed age,
• having a medical certificate confirming that there are no contraindications to driving a vehicle,
• who have undergone appropriate professional training in the prescribed manner.

For categories “B” and “C”, it is possible for persons over the age of 17 to take exams, but they will be issued a certificate only after reaching the age of majority. Persons undergoing military service may be allowed to take exams for the right to drive vehicles of category “D” and subcategory “D1” upon reaching 19 years of age after appropriate professional training. At the same time, the driving license issued to him based on the results of passing the exams confirms the right to drive vehicles of category “D” and subcategory “D1”, belonging only to the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, other troops, military formations and bodies in which federal laws provide for military service, while These persons will not reach twenty-one years of age.

The exams consist of theoretical and practical exams and are taken in the following sequence:

1. theoretical exam;
2. practical exam on initial vehicle driving skills (except for categories “Tm”, “Tb”);
3. practical exam on driving a vehicle in traffic conditions (except for categories “Tm”, “Tb”, “A”, “M” and subcategories “A1” and “B1”).

A driver candidate who has passed the theoretical exam is allowed to take practical exams over the next 6 months.

A driver candidate who fails one of the exams is not allowed to take the next exam; a repeat exam is scheduled no earlier than 7 days from the date of the previous one. For driver candidates who fail one of the exams on the third and subsequent attempts, a repeat exam is scheduled no earlier than 30 days later.

According to new amendments to the law, starting from November 28, 2017, driving schools that have received the appropriate conclusion from the traffic police can provide driver candidates with the opportunity to take a theoretical and practical exam on initial skills on their territory [13].

As an ID [ edit | edit code]

In Russian legislation there is no single official list of identity documents. The Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, in its decision in the case GKPI 06-1016, recognized that

A driver’s license for the right to drive a vehicle confirms not only the existence of such a right for the person named on it, but also the ownership of the document itself by this person, since it contains all the necessary details to verify the identity of the citizen.

However, a driver's license is not included in other legal acts as an identity document [14] . But it can confirm age when purchasing alcohol and tobacco products [15] [16].

Category and subcategory enable the driver to drive a particular vehicle. Today there are sixteen of them and each can be classified according to its purpose:

Light weight vehicle;

Transport with a trailer;

Vehicles for transporting passengers.