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.
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.
Procedure for replacing a driver's license in 2021
Suppose you are about to replace your driver's license - it is better to follow the procedure, since this determines how much time you have to spend on this procedure. You need to understand whether it is possible to apply for a new license without any preparation, or you should first find out what documents are needed to replace a driver’s license. It will be a shame if the visit to the traffic police or the MFC is “empty”, after which you will be sent for the missing “papers”.
This year, a new procedure for replacing driver's licenses was expected. Indeed, at the beginning of 2021, the Union of Driving Schools came up with a proposal to change the procedure for replacing a driver’s license upon expiration. Namely, they should be issued only after re-passing the theoretical exam on traffic rules.
What prompted this proposal is unknown. Maybe the hope of additional income. Since many, of course, would prefer to take exams not in the examination department of the traffic police, but in a more informal “school” setting. By the way, the traffic police supported the initiative. But it doesn’t matter, since legislators rejected the proposal out of hand.
Although a “sediment remained” - all last year, especially restless drivers, whose deadline for replacing their driver’s licenses was approaching, were in a hurry to change them before the beginning of the new year. Otherwise, you never know, they’ll suddenly change their minds and force you to take the exam, or they’ll come up with additional documents to replace your driver’s license.
Nothing like this has happened yet. So we hasten to reassure the authors of panicked requests like “Replacement, driver’s license, in what order from the new year?” In the former.
No one will check whether the driver has forgotten the rules of the road during the ten years during which he actively drove the car or not.
Passing the exam will only be required when returning a driver’s license after it has been revoked through administrative or criminal proceedings.
All other reasons for replacing it do not require it.
Over the past 10 years, a lot has changed for the better in Russia in terms of paperwork. It has become easier, especially after the transition to electronic interdepartmental document flow. Accordingly, it has become much easier to change rights due to expiration, changed surname, damage/loss. There are three ways to do this, and we'll cover them all.
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.
Legal justification for passing the exam when replacing a license in 2021
Despite the spread of rumors about the mandatory retake of exams if it is necessary to change a driver's license, there is no new legislative act on this topic.
There was a precedent when the Union of Driving Schools of the Russian Federation approached the government with such a proposal, which provoked speculation among Internet users and car enthusiasts.
In fact, legislation in the field of driving by motor transport is regulated by the following act, with amendments: “Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 1097” dated October 24, 2014 states that the replacement of a license is carried out without an exam, and lists specific cases when such a procedure is necessary.
The following options for the need to replace a document have been identified:
- expiration of rights;
- changing the driver’s personal data;
- damage to the document;
- loss or theft of ID;
- significant changes in the driver’s health condition affecting his suitability for using the vehicle;
- personal reasons.
You should not panic and contact the nearest traffic police department to update your document, since the laws of the Russian Federation do not talk about any mandatory passing of exams in 2021.
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.
The procedure for replacing a driver's license through State Services
Create a personal account on State Services. Confirm your identity using the suggested methods. Then log in and search for . Next, follow the instructions in the interface - there is nothing complicated there. After you fill out all the pages, select the traffic police department and the time when it is convenient for you to come there to get your license. Come and get it.
Remember, State Services only allow you to fill out an application and pay a fee. You will still have to bring the documents to replace your driver’s license to the traffic police yourself. And they will take your photo there, that is, they will not give you documents immediately as soon as you enter the office. But the duty on State Services is significantly less. We will dwell on this in more detail below.
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.
How to write an application for replacement of rights?
1. In the upper left part, indicate the date and time when you fill out the application. You must specify the current date. Even if you deliver the documents the next day.
2. In the “Division of the State Traffic Inspectorate” field, you must indicate the name of the traffic police department. If you don’t know the exact name, you can look it up on the official website of the traffic police:
traffic police.rf - contacts - divisions of the State Traffic Inspectorate - region: [required region], type of division: Conducting examinations for the right to drive a vehicle and issuing a driving license - show divisions
3. In the upper right part of the application, write down all the categories that will be open on the new driver’s license (separated by commas).
4. In the “experience since” field, indicate the date of issue of your first driver’s license.
5. The next few fields in the central part of the application are filled out based on the driver’s passport. They include your full name, date and place of birth, registration address (registration), and passport details. Field number 6 indicates the driver's phone number.
6. In section “8. Medical report” indicates the details of the driver’s current medical certificate:
- series and number;
- date of issue;
- name of the organization that issued the certificate;
- categories and subcategories opened in help;
- medical restrictions and indications.
7. Section “9. Certificate of driver's profession" is filled out if the driver receives a driver's license for the first time (after training at a driving school). The application is universal, so when replacing rights, you can simply skip this section.
8. In section “10. Driver's license (if available)" enter the details of the "old" license:
- series and number;
- date of issue;
- name of the unit that issued the rights;
- categories and subcategories open in the certificate;
- medical restrictions and indications;
- special marks.
7701 - series; 987654 - number; April 8, 2009 - date of issue, traffic police 7705 - place of issue, A, A1, B, B1, BE, C, C1, CE, C1E, D, D1, DE, D1E, M - categories, GCL - special mark.
9. In the “Transliteration” section, the driver’s last name, first name and patronymic, written in Latin letters, are indicated. If the driver has a foreign passport, then it makes sense to fill out this section based on it.
10. After this, the application must be printed (on both sides of one A4 sheet), and the current date and the driver’s signature must be placed on the front of the document.
The remaining fields, which are located on the back of the document, do not need to be filled out. They are intended for traffic police officers.
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.
Replacement of rights in the traffic police
This is the traditional way of replacing rights. You come to the traffic police, take a ticket and get in line. When you are called, you will give the documents and wait until they prepare a new plastic (an hour and a half).
From the documents you will need:
- statement;
- passport;
- the plastic that you will change (if any);
- medical certificate in form No. 003-В/у;
- medical certificates from a psychiatrist and narcologist;
- receipt of payment of duty.
The state duty for re-issuance of rights is 2,000 rubles.
Also read: In search of the ideal: how to choose the best car on the secondary market
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.
