The Ultimate Guide to Getting Your Driver’s License Reinstated: Navigating the Complex World of License Revocations

Regarding the reissuance of driver’s licenses, Circular 12/2025/TT-BCA states that individuals with a valid driver’s license who have lost it may apply for a reissue.

Reissuance of a driver’s license will not be granted in the following cases: If the driver’s license information cannot be found in the traffic police bureau’s driver’s license information system or in the list of issued licenses (management book); or if the individual has violated road traffic order and safety regulations and has not fulfilled the requirements set by competent state authorities regarding the resolution and handling of administrative violations in the field of road traffic order and safety.

As per the circular, the requirements for exchanging a driver’s license include: Vietnamese citizens or foreigners who have undergone testing and been issued a driver’s license in Vietnam; individuals whose driver’s license has been damaged and is no longer usable;

Vietnamese citizens or foreign residents in Vietnam who previously exchanged their foreign driver’s license for a Vietnamese one and wish to renew it upon expiration; if there are discrepancies in the date of birth, full name, or other personal information between the driver’s license and the citizen identification or residence card, the competent authority shall issue a new driver’s license; individuals who wish to integrate their unlimited-validity driver’s license with a time-limited one.

Hanoi Police conducting driver’s license testing and issuance

A driver’s license exchange will not be permitted in the following cases: If the individual requesting the exchange does not possess the previously issued driver’s license, and the license information cannot be found in the system or the list of issued licenses; or if the individual has violated traffic regulations and has not fulfilled the requirements set by competent state authorities regarding the resolution and handling of violations.

Additionally, Circular 12/2025 provides specific regulations for the revocation of driver’s licenses. The competent authority for issuing driver’s licenses shall carry out the revocation procedure as follows:

Within 3 working days from the discovery of an individual holding a driver’s license falling under any of the cases specified in Clause 5, Article 62 of the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety, the Director of the Traffic Police Department shall issue a decision to revoke and cancel the driver’s license, as well as terminate the integration of the electronic driver’s license in the electronic data system and digital identity account.

Within 5 working days from receiving the decision on the revocation of the driver’s license, the individual must submit the revoked license to the Traffic Police Unit, which is responsible for receiving and canceling it.

In cases of revocation as per points a and b, Clause 5, Article 62 of the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety, the procedures for re-granting a driver’s license shall follow Clauses 2, 3, and 4, Article 21 of this Circular; the revoked driver’s license as per point c, Clause 5, Article 62 of the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety shall become invalid, and the driver’s license management agency shall update the violation data in the traffic police bureau’s driver’s license information system from the date of detection.

Moreover, individuals who commit violations shall be prohibited from obtaining a driver’s license for 5 years from the date of detection.

Hue Linh (ANTĐ)